Best Anne Arundel County Grants for Nonprofits in Maryland

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

The A Woman’s Work Founders Scholarship, provided by the Longmont Community Foundation, supports women in the Longmont and St. Vrain Valley area who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to their education. With awards ranging from $500 to $5,000, this scholarship prioritizes applicants who have shown resilience in overcoming challenges. By empowering women, the scholarship aims to foster individual achievement and strengthen the community, creating pathways to sustainable futures.

The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program aims to foster research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) while expanding the community of researchers in this field. It targets early-career Principal Investigators (PIs) with limited experience in social science or education research, enabling them to develop expertise in engineering education research and address critical challenges in engineering formation.

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program aims to enhance the library and archival workforce by addressing community information needs and strengthening institutional capacities. It supports innovative projects that explore alternative pathways into library services, advance continuing education, and foster recruitment and retention of future professionals. By focusing on diverse training and development, the program seeks to cultivate a new generation of library leaders equipped to meet evolving challenges.

The Native American Library Services Basic Grant (NAB) aims to enhance library services for Native Communities. By supporting the acquisition of materials, programming, and staff training, the program empowers Tribal libraries to adapt to evolving information needs. This initiative fosters knowledge centers that contribute to community wellness and cultural preservation. Through targeted project activities, the NAB program ensures that libraries effectively meet their users' diverse needs, promoting accessibility and engagement across the nation.

The National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to enhance library services across the nation. By supporting projects that promote adult reading, health and financial literacy, and effective use of new technologies, this initiative fosters community prosperity and builds partnerships among libraries, archives, and museums. The grants ensure that libraries can respond effectively to public needs and enhance their contributions to education and information access.

The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aids Native Communities in enhancing library services. It empowers Tribal libraries to adapt to evolving information needs and serve as vital resource centers. By addressing the unique priorities of each community, this initiative fosters knowledge sharing and supports the overall wellness of Tribal members, ensuring they have access to essential information and resources.

The Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants (2027) aim to enhance library services for Native Hawaiian communities. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, this program empowers organizations to adapt to evolving information needs, promoting wellness and knowledge sharing. By supporting unique priorities across various islands, it fosters stronger community resource centers that serve the cultural and informational needs of Native Hawaiian users effectively.

The National Leadership Grants for Museums, offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, support innovative projects addressing critical needs in the museum sector. These grants aim to enhance museum services for the public by fostering the development and replication of effective practices, tools, and collaborations, particularly leveraging new technologies. Eligible projects can significantly advance the professional field, ensuring museums remain vital community resources.

The Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (2027) program aims to strengthen American Latino history and culture museums by enhancing their capacity to serve communities. It supports initiatives that foster professional development within these cultural institutions, ensuring they can effectively promote and preserve Latino heritage. This grant, offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is crucial for advancing the growth of a dedicated workforce in the American Latino cultural sector.

The Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (NANH) program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), aims to support Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and organizations serving Native Hawaiians. It focuses on preserving heritage and culture through educational services, workforce development, capacity building, community engagement, and effective collections stewardship. This initiative is crucial for sustaining the rich cultural heritage of Native communities.

The 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) Program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to enhance career pathways and professional networks in the museum sector. This initiative focuses on developing current museum staff, recruiting new professionals, and fostering partnerships that promote effective workforce training. By emphasizing peer learning and alternative career pathways, the program seeks to create a robust and diverse museum workforce across the nation.

The Museums for America (MFA) program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), supports museums across the nation in enhancing their educational programs, community partnerships, and collection stewardship. This initiative aims to serve diverse audiences through experiential learning, address community needs, and ensure the proper management of collections. By investing in museums of all sizes, the MFA program plays a vital role in preserving America's cultural heritage for future generations.

The Inspire Grants for Small Museums (2027) initiative, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to empower small museums across various disciplines. This program focuses on project-based funding to enhance public service through educational programs, exhibits, and community partnerships. By supporting small, often underfunded institutions, Inspire seeks to strengthen their capacity to engage communities and improve collections management, fostering experiential learning and discovery.

The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to enhance the capacity of African American museums. This initiative supports professional development for museum staff and promotes accessibility to collections at these institutions and HBCUs. By fostering institutional growth, the program plays a vital role in preserving and showcasing African American history and culture through museum initiatives.

Museums Empowered (2027) is a professional development initiative by the Institute of Museum and Library Services aimed at enhancing museum staff capabilities. It focuses on three vital areas: digital technology, evaluation, and organizational management. By supporting training and learning opportunities, the program seeks to empower museum professionals to effectively utilize digital tools, improve evaluation methods, and strengthen organizational resilience, ultimately fostering growth within museums of all types.

The Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act Program provides funding to enhance the health status of Native Hawaiians through comprehensive health care services. This initiative supports one administrative award to Papa Ola Lokahi and five awards to certified Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems. The program aims to ensure tailored health promotion and disease prevention services within island communities, addressing specific regional health needs from fiscal years 2027 to 2031.

The SCALE initiative aims to combat injury, violence, overdose, and suicide, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among individuals aged 0-44. By enhancing implementation and outreach, this funding opportunity seeks to empower organizations to implement effective prevention strategies, especially in underserved communities, including tribal areas. The program encourages collaboration and continuous improvement to achieve sustainable reductions in these critical public health issues.

The NIOSH K01 grant offers vital support for early-career researchers in occupational health, providing 'protected time' for mentorship and professional development. This funding aims to bridge the gap from postdoctoral training to independent research, fostering the next generation of investigators. By emphasizing skill enhancement and independence, the program plays a crucial role in advancing safety and health research. Applicants must articulate their mentorship needs and demonstrate the potential for increased autonomy in their research careers.

This grant provides essential support to the Tribal Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee, facilitating engagement with the U.S. Department of Energy. The focus is on planning for the transportation of commercial used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, ensuring that the concerns of federally-recognized Tribal governments are addressed. By fostering communication and collaboration, the initiative aims to mitigate potential impacts on Tribal areas from large-scale transportation activities.

The Meyer Foundation provides Rapid Response Grants to support nonprofit organizations addressing urgent challenges related to racial and economic justice in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. These grants are available to core grantee partners and focus on community organizing, advocacy, and direct actions. Eligible organizations must have received funding from the foundation since January 2024. Applications are open from February to November 2026, allowing partners to apply for up to two grants within the year.

This grant aims to enhance national immunization programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region by focusing on capacity building, disease control, and outbreak response. It seeks to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce morbidity and mortality, and improve access for under-immunized populations. The initiative will promote sustainability through evidence-based decision-making and program evaluation, aligning with CDC goals to address public health threats and improve overall immunization impact in the region.

This grant aims to enhance global polio eradication efforts through innovative modeling approaches. It focuses on developing effective strategies for cVDPV2 outbreak response and optimizing surveillance following global WPV eradication. The initiative also seeks to build a skilled public health workforce in statistical and mathematical modeling, assess economic impacts of response strategies, and foster capacity among students to address polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education (HTYPE) Demonstration Program aims to empower local education agencies (LEAs) by funding initiatives that equip school staff to identify and respond to human trafficking signs. Collaborating with nonprofit partners, LEAs will provide students with essential knowledge on avoiding victimization and recognizing trafficking indicators. This program fosters a safer school environment by establishing reporting procedures and safety plans in consultation with local law enforcement, ultimately enhancing awareness and prevention of human trafficking in educational settings.

The Meyer Foundation provides Organizational Development Grants to strengthen nonprofit organizations in the Greater Washington, D.C. region. Focusing on systemic racial and economic inequities, these grants support capacity-building activities such as strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development. Eligible organizations must have received a Meyer grant since January 1, 2022. Applications are continuously accepted, and prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with Meyer staff prior to submission, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing community needs.

Burger Family Foundatio

Our Mission

Inspired by our daughter Penelope and the powerful symbolism of the extra 21st chromosome, our foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Through direct financial assistance, therapy, community, and the healing power of ranch life, we’re building spaces that foster hope, purpose, and belonging.

Pens Pearls

Named after Penelope, Pens Pearls is the financial support arm of our foundation, providing direct assistance to families navigating the unique joys and challenges of raising a child with a disability. From therapy grants to life-changing opportunities, we’re here to lighten the load and ensure every child has the resources they need to thrive.

Through Pens Pearls, eligible families can apply for funding to help cover essential needs, services, or opportunities that make a meaningful impact in their lives. The Burger Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and this program is one of the ways we work to create lasting change—one story at a time.

Qualifications for Pens Pearls Grant Program, are deemed by the strict bylaws of the Burger Family Foundation. Funds are paid directly to provider.