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Community foundation to give nonprofits cash
Friday, Jan. 9, 2009
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Nonprofit organizations have a chance to apply for a grant that is designed to assist them in continuing their important mission of helping the needy in this harsh economic climate that is causing many charities to flounder.
The Community Foundation of Charles County has established the Community Foundation Grant Program that enables 501(c)3 and other charitable organizations to apply for $2,000 grants to help them through the hard economic times, said Gretchen Heinze Hardman, executive director. The foundation, established in 2005 to assist people in setting up endowments so that they can give funds to charities, the arts and other causes, has a total of $12,000 to offer six charities in the county, she said.
The idea to offer the grant program stemmed from the 2008 Priority Needs Assessment for Charles County, Hardman said. Money that will fuel the grants comes from the CFCC's community fund, also known as the unrestricted fund, she said.
Proposals for the grant must address one or more of the needs identified in the Priority Needs Assessment, including arts and culture, education and scholarships, environment, general community improvements, health and wellness and youth initiatives, Hardman said.
To be eligible to apply for a grant, an organization must be a 501(c)3 or other charitable organization, a governmental unit or educational institution, Hardman said. The CFCC will consider all proposals that would serve to further the mission of the organization, demonstration projects, new or special projects and/or collaborations undertaken by an organization and proposals that would match funds required by another funding agency.
"We want organizations to focus on the priority needs assessment," she said. "This is something that community foundations all over the United States are doing. One of our main focuses is to work with charitable causes. Our mission statement is to make Charles County the best place to live and give and part of that is contributing to charitable organizations through this grant program."
Applications for the grants are available on the foundation's Web site, Hardman said, adding that organizations can also drop by the CCFC's office in Waldorf. She asks that people call the office before dropping by to pick up an application.
"We're very excited to be able to give this money to the community, especially during this time of heightened need," said Mary Grant, CFCC board member. "This is also a good opportunity for the foundation to do some outreach in the community to let people know who we are and what we do."
