Grant Guidelines
What We Fund
The Charitable Trust supports programs that contribute to the quality of life in Charles County. We fund programs that keep our community strong, diverse and vibrant.
- Our first priority is to support programs and organizations whose chief purpose is to benefit underserved populations.
- We welcome applications that focus on health and human services, civic and community development, culture and the arts, education and the environment.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must have IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and must operate in Charles County.
- Proposed program activities must be carried out for the benefit of Charles County residents.
- If the proposed grant request involves collaboration with one or more other nonprofits, one organization must act as the lead applicant and submit a single application.
- Nonprofits must be operational for a full three years before applying for a grant, operate with an annual budget, and have a board of at least three members who are not related to one another.
Grant Application Review Process
Program grants are awarded through a competitive process. Staff review each application to ensure its completeness and the applicant’s eligibility. Applications are then reviewed by a panel composed of the Charitable Trust’s Board of Trustees. After all of the grant applications are reviewed and scored by the panel, the Board selects the applications which will receive grants. Awards will be announced in June 2025.
Criteria For Awarding Grants
Criteria for awarding grants include, but is not limited to:
- Goals, objectives and outcomes are clearly defined and achievable, given the available financial and staff resources
- Potential impact program (s) will have on the quality of the lives of underserved populations, such as those living in poverty or from low-income households and individuals with disabilities
- Potential impact on the quality life for residents of Charles County at large, such as arts and culture, the environment and education
- The extent to which partnerships are formed with other organizations to better target services, improve programs and reduce costs
- The extent to which a diverse mix of funding is obtained to support and expand program