Community Investment Tax Credits support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations by awarding allocations of State tax credits for use as incentives to attract contributions from individuals and businesses to benefit local projects and services.

Community Investment Tax Credits complement other State funding programs which offer resources to assist communities with revitalization efforts. As part of an annual, competitive application process, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations apply to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for tax credit allocations. The Community Investment Tax Credit program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects across the State.

Businesses and individuals that donate $500 or more to a qualified organization’s approved project(s) can earn tax credits equal to 50% of the value of the money, goods or real property contribution. These tax credits are in addition to the deductions on both Federal and State taxes as a result of the charitable contribution.  Visit GIVE Maryland for information on specific projects and donate now to nonprofits that have available tax c​redits.

Individuals and businesses must use the tax credits against taxes owed for the year in which the contribution was made and may not be used retroactively for taxes from a prior year. An​y individual or business contemplating making a donation is encouraged to consult with their accountant or tax professional for information about their specific tax benefits.

The Wawa Foundation provides financial grants on a local, regional and national level ensuring that our commitment extends from the local communities Wawa serves to the regional footprint Wawa occupies in the mid-Atlantic and Florida. Only registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating in Wawa’s six-state area are eligible to apply. Organizations must fall into The Wawa Foundation’s three key areas of focus: Health, Hunger and Everyday Heroes. To learn more, review our Criteria for Success.

Wawa Foundation Financial Grants

Our submission windows for grants over $2,500 will be the months of January, April, July and October. Qualified organizations can submit grant requests and Letters of Inquiry during those timeframes. Requests will be reviewed and organizations will receive a response before the next grant submission window opens.

Areas of Focus

Health

The Wawa Foundation will provide funding to organizations committed to saving and improving lives in the communities Wawa serves. Specifically, The Wawa Foundation will support organizations dedicated to Championing Life-saving Research & Care for People in Need by:

• Providing grants to hospitals with a focus on pediatric institutions
• Funding research
• Supporting care and comfort Initiatives

Hunger

The Wawa Foundation will play a leading role in hunger relief in the communities Wawa serves. To achieve this, we will support programs that enable us to Lead Hunger Relief Efforts by:

• Providing food donations to local pantries daily through Wawa Share
• Improving access to food through financial grants
• Enabling Feeding America Food Banks to reach more communities through annual in-store campaigns

Heroes

The Wawa Foundation is committed to Supporting the Heroes Making a Difference Every Day by:

• Showing appreciation and care to our military, veterans, first responders and other heroes in our local communities
• Enhancing the education and mentoring of at-risk youth in grades K-12.
• Supporting heroes through crisis response, blood drives, and volunteering

EarthShare

EarthShare amplifies impact by providing individuals, businesses, and nonprofits the inspiration and tools to create a more just and sustainable planet. For more than three decades EarthShare programs have welcomed new environmental advocates, streamlining and enhancing efforts to create positive change and building a growing movement of change makers, passionate businesses, and nonprofit innovators that will transform our future.

Comprised of the most well-respected and innovative nonprofits, EarthShare’s network tackles our planet’s greatest threats by offering solutions to combat climate change, environmental injustice, threatened food systems, at-risk ecosystems, and a multitude of other issues.

The Energy of One, The Power of Many An EarthShare Grant Program

There is increasing recognition that a shift to a just and sustainable economy is needed to achieve a healthy future that affords equity and opportunity for all. The use of energy in our lives is a critical part of this – but the topic of energy can be complex.

The Energy of One, The Power of Many Grant Program (second round) seeks to fundamentally change the public conversation on energy. The grant fosters innovative approaches to engaging communities on the pervasive impact of energy in our everyday lives and on our environment, while demonstrating the importance and value of renewable energy choice, energy equity, and current innovation around renewables- making them affordable and competitive.

Grantee projects will promote and support public conversations about the impact of energy on our lives and the environment, including climate, air, water, and land. These projects will reach people at the community level to demonstrate the importance and value of energy choice, energy equity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Using innovative approaches to education and outreach, grantee organizations will engage and empower communities in Arizona, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to advance understanding about renewable energy choice. Grantee organizations’ programs will be dedicated to educating community members about the impact their energy choices can have in supporting a cleaner energy future that improves lives and the health of our planet. The results of these projects will be shared as part of the Powering Choice Initiative, most notably via the Initiative website. The objective of the broader, public-facing Initiative is to promote energy choice through education, coalition building, public outreach, and as a connector to more comprehensive information about energy, universality of energy, equitable renewable energy, and energy choice.

Strategy

EarthShare is looking for grantees that can make the complex topic of energy accessible and easily approachable by synthesizing information around broad topic areas that tend to confuse the public such as energy policies, energy sources, energy impact, and energy options. We are encouraging projects that address equity, just transition, and job training in the sustainable energy field. Using funding level ranges and program criteria, the grant program will promote innovative approaches to education and outreach, new and existing collaborative relationships, and momentum across subsequent years.

Operating Assistance Grant

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is committed to assisting Maryland’s local governments and nonprofit organizations build capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals. The Department has consolidated two operating assistance programs into one Operating Assistance Grant application for funding: the Main Street Improvement Program and the Technical Assistance Grant.

​These programs offer funding to support operating and technical assistance costs associated with local housing and community and economic revitalization projects and/or initiatives.

Main Street Improvement Program

Eligible Activities: (include, but are not limited to) costs associated with staff and consultant services, a portion of general operating expenses, market and business recruitment strategies which will improve a business district, street furniture, advertising, façade improvements and other projects that have been identified in the applicant's work plans as key to its Main Street efforts.

Technical Assistance Grant

Eligible Activities: (include, but are not limited to) costs associated with consultants or services, a portion of general operating expenses and other costs directly associated with community development projects. Costs associated with consulting expertise/technical assistance or training for organizational development or community assessment and goal setting resulting in the expansion of an existing program or deployment of a new initiative, such as a revenue producing social enterprise.

NOTE: Select organizations that submit ideas by the deadline above will be invited to apply for funding, which will be awarded on a rolling basis. 

Citi Foundation has been a longtime supporter of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in the United States and recognizes the critical role they play in bringing financial services to low- and moderate-income and underserved communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDFI industry reported a dramatic 52.3% increase in lending and investment activity over previous levels, totaling more than $38.7 billion in financing. While this is a milestone moment for the CDFI sector, we have heard from our network of stakeholders that there is a need for further sector level investments in training and technical assistance to promote the adoption of best practices in financial management, portfolio management, underwriting practices, impact measurement and tracking. In addition, operational efficiencies could be boosted through the introduction of technology, outsourcing certain functions, leveraging shared services, industry consolidation and/or newly emerging risk-sharing models. And finally, there is a significant need for developing human talent in the industry through skill building as well as efforts to identify and nurture the next generation of future, and diverse, CDFI leaders.

In response, Citi Foundation is pleased to invite ideas to support this next level of growth for the CDFI industry through the creation of the new $50MM Community Finance Innovation Fund that will support intermediary-like nonprofit organizations with the ability to provide technical assistance and capacity building innovations to multiple CDFIs working on a national or regional basis. From the ideas submitted, the Citi Foundation will invite the most promising concepts to submit grant applications for funding.

SELECTION PRIORITIES:

Citi Foundation seeks to support a wide range of innovative approaches for advancing the field of community development finance for the benefit of CDFIs in the following categories:

• Human Capital and Talent Development
• Financial and Risk Sharing Models
• Technology and Operational Efficiencies
• Thought Leadership and Research

Background

The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund was established in 1964 by Mary S. Baker in memory of her husband. Awarding grants that range from $1,500 to $45,000 the Baker Fund continues its founders’ civic-minded philanthropic tradition benefiting the residents of the greater Baltimore area. The Baltimore Community Foundation has managed the Baker Fund’s grants program since 1985.

Guidelines

The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund believes that arts and culture play a central role in the development and growth of healthy individuals and thriving communities and commits its resources to promote and sustain a vibrant arts and culture sector in metropolitan Baltimore. Its grants support organizational effectiveness, promote local artists and their work, and provide cultural experiences that welcome people of all backgrounds, enhance residents’ lives, and strengthen the region’s sense of cohesion and identity.

Objectives

• Enrich metropolitan Baltimore life
• Support a lively cultural environment
• Deepen civic connections and engagement through arts and culture
• Ensure that programs are inclusive and outreach efforts broad
• Sustain a healthy cultural ecosystem
• Provide funding opportunities to strengthen the programs and practices of organizations that offer significant cultural experiences, foster sector cooperation and alliances and sponsor an artist awards initiative that supports and promotes local artists through a nonprofit intermediary

Funding Priorities

Strengthening Organizational and Artistic Practices

• Capacity programs to improve internal organizational and management practices—including board training, strategic planning, fundraising and marketing expertise, budgeting and financial planning, program planning, professional development, technology upgrades and training and operating support for key partners.
• With submission of a full proposal, qualified applicants may apply for a working capital reserve or fixed asset replacement reserve grant requiring a 1:1 match. See Reserve Fund Grant Program Application.
• Occasional capacity requests from arts magnet schools
• Professional development programs for the benefit of metropolitan Baltimore artists

Innovative Programs

• Inclusive, innovative programming initiatives and projects to engage new audiences
• Small program grants (up to $1,500) for innovative programming for nonprofit organizations with budgets under $75,000 or their fiscal agents requiring description of the organization and proposed project, project budget, most recent year-end organizational budget, list of key personnel and board members and their roles, current Maryland Cultural Data report in Baker format and the organization’s or its fiscal agent’s IRS Determination Letter. Application Form not required. Requests accepted year-round.

Cultural Sector Collaboration

• Strategic alliances that support collaboration and cooperation across the cultural community and strengthen organizational abilities to work at the highest levels.

Overview

Capacity Building Grants assist nonprofits in achieving new levels of effectiveness. Our purpose is to strengthen the leadership and management of Frederick County’s nonprofit organizations by helping them build systems and find resources such as consultants to facilitate the organization’s progress in achieving the goals.

Capacity Building Grants may be awarded with or without a challenge matching fund component.

Capacity Building Grants

The purpose of Capacity Building Grant funding is to strengthen the leadership and management of Frederick County’s nonprofit organizations by helping the organizations find resources (consultants) and build systems needed to achieve goals. An organization must have in place strong leadership, both staff and Board members, as well as the financial ability to move forward with the consultants' recommendations. Grants may be awarded to:

• Planning activities:
• e.g., organizational assessments, strategic planning, fund raising assessment & development, program evaluations, communications/ marketing, or business planning. 
• Board and leadership development:
• may include activities such as leadership training, defining the role of the board, strengthening governance, assistance with an executive transition, succession and search process.
• Strategic Relationships:
• providing technical assistance / consultant support to help two or more organizations work through collaboration and strategic restructuring;
• positioning for merger or affiliation; or business planning for social enterprise.
• Internal operations:
• improvements to financial management, internal controls and chart of accounts, human resource or volunteer management; or
• facility planning.
• Technology Improvements:
• IT capacity through upgrades to hardware and software, networking, websites, and staff training to optimize the use of technology.

The grant award will pay for the grant recipient to hire a qualified consultant to facilitate the organization’s progress in achieving the goals set forth in the grant proposal.

Ausherman Family Foundation staff members will provide a list of consultants upon request. Grant seekers must vet at least three potential consultants before choosing one. Consultants do not have to be from the Foundation’s list. Once the organization chooses a consultant, AFF requests that they explain why the consultant was the best choice.

Capacity Building Grant Program with a Challenge/Matching Fund Component

Capacity Building Grants that include a challenge to raise matching funds may be awarded to address any of the issues mentioned above. This grant award requires that matching funds be raised before Foundation funds are disbursed.

Challenge grants that require the raising of matching funds are one way the Foundation leads others to give. In particular, the goal of a challenge matching grant is to encourage board members and staff to support the organization and to tease out new donors and new contributions to the organization.

The Foundation’s Trustees may allow limited time in which the grant recipient organization can raise matching funds. The Foundation’s Trustees may also limit the funding pool; that is, in-kind, pledges, and government funding cannot count as matching funds. 

The Trustees set the matching funds parameters. Every grant award may have different parameters. Matching fund parameters are detailed in the Grants Covenant to which each grant recipient must agree.

What We Fund

Children, Youth, & Families

Organizations or programs that provide enrichment and increased opportunity to children and youth as well as organizations or programs that strengthen families. Programs and activities included are scouting, mentorships, youth leadership, youth community service clubs and job training, parent engagement, college access, academic enrichment, and arts activities.

Health & Human Services

Human Services programs and services that provide basic welfare to help individuals, families, and communities to prevent, alleviate, or better cope with crisis, change, and stress. This includes the following sub-categories: crime and delinquency prevention, legal services, employment/jobs, food, housing/shelter, and women’s issues.

Health services include treatment and rehabilitative programs relating to physical and mental health. Programs and services include but are not limited to the following sub-categories: mental health and crisis intervention, diseases, disorders and related medical disciplines, nutrition, and dental care.

Arts & Culture

Organizations or activities that promote enjoyment or understanding of the visual, performing, folk, or media arts; communication organizations (film, video, publishing, journalism, radio, television); and organizations or activities that promote the appreciation or understanding of historical events. Included are organizations which support artists, performers, entertainers, or writers, art and performing art schools, centers, studios, and historical societies and museums.

Public/Society Benefit

Organizations or programs that contribute to the public good and benefit society including, but not limited to, the following sub-categories: Beautifying public spaces, civic organizations and institutions, community/neighborhood development and improvement, and philanthropy, volunteerism, and grantmaking foundations.

The Richard E. & Nancy P. Marriott Foundation

Mission

We are dedicated to uplifting communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area through strong, innovative partnerships.

Our Approach

We are dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations primarily located in the Washington, D.C. metro area. This includes a focus on helping youth secure a promising future, especially through early childhood education, mentoring and youth leadership programs. Equally important are organizations that help offer relief from hunger and homelessness; provide prospects for people to lead healthy lives; and create gainful employment opportunities for vulnerable youth and adults.

Program Areas

Each year the Foundation awards approximately 150 grants totaling $1.8 million across two program areas:

Education

• Early Childhood Development
• Teachers and Leaders
• K-12 Academics & Youth Development

The Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation believes that every child deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education regardless of background. Our education strategy strives to uplift the children of Washington, D.C. by investing in partners that support and develop the full continuum of education in D.C. from Pre-K through college. We partner with programs that support early childhood development, improve the quality of teachers in K-12 schools, and ensure elementary literacy and foundational academic skills.

Early Childhood Development

The ages from birth to five play a crucial role in a child’s life, especially those children from homes of underserved areas. Studies show that a child’s brain development from birth to three years old is the foundation for all future learning. We look for partnerships that provide children from birth to three the emotional, behavioral, and educational support they need to be ready for Pre-K and beyond. In addition the quality of education children receive as three and four year olds plays a significant role in their later academic success. By supporting high quality Pre-K programs, we believe the achievement gap between low income children and more affluent children can be closed.

Teachers and Leaders

Innovative teachers and leaders are a must for the continued improvement of D.C.’s education system. We support cutting edge professional development and leadership training programs that grow talented individuals who can impact the entire spectrum of Pre-K – 12th grade education.

K-12 Academics & Youth Development (including after- and out-of-school time programs)

In the K – 12 field, we focus on third grade reading readiness and middle school transitions. We recognize that the ability of a third grader to read properly is the launching pad for future academic success. The achievement gap widens when children are unprepared to use solid literacy skills to explore and master other academic areas. We support programs that help all children enhance their reading skills and become literate, enthusiastic readers.

The transition through middle to high school is one of the most difficult times in a child’s life and navigating this period successfully is key to staying on track in school. We support out of school time programs that provide students with challenging and academically fulfilling activities that keep them engaged and connected to school.

While efforts to improve our education system will help students learn and grow, we believe that building character, integrity, positive attitude, and life skills are key components in a youth person’s ability to succeed.

Human Services

• Food Security
• Ending Homelessness
• Gainful Employment Opportunities

The Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation believes that the fulfillment of basic individual needs is an essential part of achieving a strong and sustainable community. To lead a healthy and productive life, individuals need continual access to adequate food, a safe and secure home and the dignity of productive employment. We focus on partnerships that uplift communities and strengthen the individual members by providing affordable and sustained housing, ensuring food security for vulnerable populations, and developing a workforce that can support the community.

Food Security

Food security is determined by many factors, the amount and quality of food available, the ability to access food and its affordability. To help individuals and families achieve food security, our partners supply basic and supplemental nutrition to populations experiencing hunger by growing, preparing and serving healthy food throughout D.C. communities primarily in areas with limited access. We also support programs that educate children and their families about what it means to maintain a healthy diet and connect them to positive food choices.

Housing & Homelessness

Without consistent and safe housing an individual or family is often unable to achieve their full potential. We believe that addressing homelessness, however, involves more than providing shelter. Our partners provide the full range of assistance including the initial, immediate access to shelter. Wrap around services, such as aid in accessing medical and mental health services and employment counseling can help individuals recover from the immediate crisis and prepare for sustainable, stable living situations.

Gainful Employment Opportunities

We believe that employment provides more than just financial benefits; it connects the individual to the community and builds self-esteem. While most everyone wants a job, it can be hard for those with limited or out-dated skills and those reintegrating to the community to find a stable job. Our partners provide the job training and employment counseling that help individuals prepare for the job market and find opportunities at livable wages. With the Marriott family’s long history in the hospitality industry, we have a special focus on programs with the hospitality and technology industries where diverse people can succeed along many paths.

Funding Request Range

Grants from the Foundation typically support general operations. First-time requests are advised to be in the $5,000-$10,000 range.

WHO WE ARE: AN OVERVIEW

The mission of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is to create strong and vibrant communities by connecting caring citizens with worthy community causes. For donors‚ this means we take the guesswork out of giving by identifying the best community-based charities in Washington D.C. and nearby Maryland and Virginia counties. For nonprofits‚ it means we raise visibility through the distribution of our annual print Catalogue‚ events‚ and campaigns‚ and we create resources and run educational workshops throughout the year to help elevate their capacity to do good.

PLEASE NOTE: The Catalogue is NOT a grant-making organization. To facilitate the giving process for donors‚ we accept donations as agents of our charities and pass these on to them‚ as directed by donors. (Donors also make direct contributions to our nonprofit partners. We ask donors to tell their recipients that they found them in the Catalogue.) We charge no fees for the work we do and are supported entirely by outside donations.

WHY APPLY

Being part of our network means you’ll be recognized as one of the best high-impact‚ community-based nonprofits in our region—something that means so much to supporters‚ both existing and new. While we do not guarantee a specific financial benefit‚ our track record shows that when nonprofits engage in a committed partnership with us‚ they receive both financial and other returns. (The Catalogue has helped raise over $40 million since 2003.)

Benefits of a Catalogue Partnership

What we'll do:

Collaborate with you on a powerful story about your work and your impact, to use in our Catalogue, and in your marketing, fundraising and other materials;

Promote your story through our direct mail efforts (70,000+ local households), media partnerships (e.g., City Paper), our Giving Tuesday campaign, a personalized webpage on our website, features in our blog, social media promotion, and more;

Give you access to our Nonprofit Portal, with access to an online resource library and marketing materials (e.g. Catalogue seal);

Invite you to professional development workshops, webinars, and collaboration events through our Learning Commons program. These trainings, which are free to our partners, include our Orientation workshop for new nonprofits, as well as workshops and collaborative sessions on development, communications, program evaluation, volunteer management, and board development;

Continue this partnership for four years.

There is no financial obligation of any kind associated with applying to or being featured in the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Leading institutions and generous individuals in the Washington region support the Catalogue as a service to the community.

What you'll do:

Work with Catalogue staff to approve written content and provide photos or other imagery for your Catalogue feature;

Meet the rest of the Catalogue network and learn how to make the most of your partnership by attending our Orientation workshop and our annual event, Community Changemakers;

Be available to participate in media opportunities and donor education events when appropriate;

Help us track our impact, by reporting Catalogue-inspired donations made to you throughout the years that you are featured in print and online;

Bring your Catalogue webpage to life by uploading information about your events, recent press hits, volunteer opportunities, and impact throughout the year;

Spread the word by using the Catalogue's co-branded materials, especially the "One of the Best" stamp, on your homepage, stationery, newsletters, and email signatures.