Best Youth Sports Grants in Maryland

The Community Facilities Grant Program in Maryland provides essential funding to support the development of vital community facilities in rural areas. Eligible projects can include healthcare centers, public safety facilities, and community support services. Grants are available to public bodies and nonprofit organizations, with funding levels based on median household income and population size. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of life and economic viability in rural communities throughout the state.

The Competitive Graduate Research Fellowship, offered by Maryland Sea Grant, supports graduate students conducting research on critical issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. This fellowship emphasizes social relevance and community engagement, particularly focusing on underserved populations. Awarded fellows receive a stipend of $34,000, tuition remission, and travel allowance. A professional mentor is required to ensure research aligns with the needs of resource managers and policy makers. Applications are encouraged from a diverse pool of candidates.

The Maryland Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program aims to create a sustainable teacher pipeline by recruiting local school employees to become licensed teachers. This initiative supports collaboration between school systems, employee organizations, and higher education institutions. Grant funds cover essential costs such as tuition and mentoring. Participants commit to teaching in high-needs areas for three years, helping to address educational inequities and strengthen community ties within Maryland's diverse educational landscape.

The Norfolk Southern Corporate Giving: Thriving Communities Grant Program supports initiatives that promote sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience across a 22-state network. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, the program aims to foster economic development and ensure equal access to basic necessities. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt nonprofits, government entities, and public schools, emphasizing diversity and inclusion in their community-focused efforts.

The Norfolk Southern Corporate Giving: Safety First Grant Program aims to enhance community safety across its 22-state network. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, it supports organizations that provide safety services or promote safe behavior. This program reflects Norfolk Southern's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, empowering employees to engage locally. By investing in safety and workforce development, Norfolk Southern fosters thriving communities, demonstrating its dedication to social responsibility and community well-being.

The Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program provides grant support for a wide range of bicycle network development activities. The program supports projects that maximize bicycle access and enhance last-mile connections to work, school, shopping and transit. The Bikeways Program seeks to leverage past investments in bicycle facilities, complement existing state, local, and federal programs, and promote biking as a fun and healthy transportation mode. The program prioritizes funding projects which improve safety and access for disadvantaged communities. 

The Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment Grant, offered by the Center for Cultural Innovation, provides funding between $1,000 and $5,000 for individual craft artists in the U.S. to purchase essential tools and equipment. This program aims to enhance the creative support system, enabling artists to produce object-based work and meet safety standards. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a commitment to their craft and have presented public artistic work within the last three years.

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund's Manufacturing Assistance Program aims to enhance the production of cell therapy products by providing funding up to $1,000,000 for Maryland-based companies. This initiative supports the establishment of advanced manufacturing facilities to meet market needs while fostering an experienced workforce. Companies must be located in Maryland and demonstrate the capability to execute their proposed research efficiently, ensuring compliance with state regulations to advance stem cell research and therapies.

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a nationwide network of nearly 800 organizations and champions working for a Just Economy, where all Americans can build wealth and provide for their families with stability and dignity.

Our vision: To solve America’s historic racial and socio-economic wealth, income and opportunity divides. This vision is the foundation of the Just Economy Pledge.

NCRC Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) - Housing Counseling Services

The Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) empowers NCRC network members to level up established service lines.

The Housing Counseling Services series within FEF supports HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in driving homeownership, such as through pre-purchase counseling. In addition, the program builds agency knowledge on heirs’ property challenges to better equip first-time and low-income homebuying households with the know-how to retain intergenerational wealth.

In doing so, FEF-HCS aims to help underserved families begin their homeownership journey, with an additional goal of ensuring foresight into the long-term future of their home purchase.

The FEF-HCS series is funded in partnership with Key Bank and HSBC, and targets communities within the Key Bank and HSBC branch footprints.

Through these partnerships, $2.5 million in Key Bank geographies and $1.5 million in HSBC geographies has been allocated for the subgrants for direct-to-client housing counseling services that will be awarded in three rounds in the FEF-HCS track.

Funding Support

Awardee agencies will receive subgrants to support their housing counseling services to clients.

Knowledge Building

Awardee agencies will attend a training session on heirs’ property challenges and best practices, hosted by NCRC National Training Academy. Bolstering counselor knowledge on this topic will ensure that your agency is not only serving clients in their personal wealth-building journey now, but also helping them preserve that wealth in generations to come.

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund's Discovery Grant Program aims to support innovative research in stem cell and regenerative medicine. Its mission is to develop new strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating human diseases through the use of human stem cells. This program encourages collaboration among academic institutions and fosters groundbreaking research that can lead to significant advancements in medical therapies, ultimately enhancing our understanding and treatment of various health conditions.

The Diminished Tree Species Grant Program focuses on restoring native tree species crucial for biodiversity and forest health. By funding scientific research, seed orchard development, and land preservation, the program aims to combat climate change through effective tree restoration projects. The Oak Hill Fund, a private entity, encourages project-specific applications, prioritizing organizations that meet eligibility criteria under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS. This initiative is vital for sustaining healthy ecosystems and mitigating environmental impacts.

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) Launch Program aims to accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies that leverage human stem cells or their derivatives. This initiative encourages collaboration between public and private sectors, promoting partnerships between research institutions and businesses in Maryland. By providing supplementary funding, the program seeks to enhance technology development, ensuring a pathway from research to market, thereby fostering significant advancements in healthcare.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company empowers employees to make a significant impact through pooled donations. Established over 60 years ago, this employee-managed fund supports charitable organizations in communities where Boeing operates. The Potomac Region Chapter, formed in 2000, focuses on education, veterans, and low-income communities, with over 130 members contributing to the cause. Grants are available to nonprofits that align with these focus areas, fostering community engagement and support.

The Community Engagement and Restoration Mini Grant Program, managed by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, supports activities that enhance communities and improve natural resources. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and community associations. This program accepts applications annually from June to June, promoting projects like tree plantings and stream cleanups. While matching funds are encouraged, they are not mandatory. Applicants must have received three or fewer grants from the Trust in the past.

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) Validation Program aims to accelerate the transition of innovative stem cell technologies from research labs to the commercial sector. With funding of up to $250,000, the program supports projects that address unmet medical needs, fosters collaborations between academic and private sectors, and emphasizes the development of new medical strategies for human diseases. This initiative is vital for advancing stem cell research and enhancing healthcare outcomes in Maryland.

The Connecting Joy Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to enhance the hospital experience for children battling illness through engaging gaming programs. This initiative supports children's hospitals and nonprofits by funding equipment, staffing, and connectivity, ensuring children can enjoy gaming at their bedside. With grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the program focuses on offering joy and distraction, helping young patients cope with their hospital stays while facilitating connections with peers.

The Dunkin’ Prom Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to bring joy to teenage patients unable to attend their own prom due to illness. By funding hospitals to host prom-like events, the program ensures these patients experience this significant milestone. Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, supporting the creation of memorable events with themes, food, entertainment, and formal wear for the teens, making a positive impact in their lives.

The Dunkin' Joyful Spaces Grant supports children's hospitals and community health centers in creating joyful environments for pediatric patients. Launched in 2022, this initiative helps fund play areas, healing gardens, and other kid-friendly spaces, enhancing the hospital experience. Grants typically range from $25,000 to $65,000 annually, with a maximum of $150,000 over three years. This opportunity encourages creativity in designing spaces that provide comfort and joy to children and their families during hospital stays.

The Dogs for Joy Grant, funded by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, supports the integration of trained facility dogs in pediatric hospitals. These dogs provide emotional support, help children cope with medical procedures, and enhance overall well-being. The program aims to increase the presence of in-residence dogs, as research highlights their positive impact on reducing anxiety and improving patient outcomes. Grants typically cover multi-year funding, promoting innovative animal-assisted therapy approaches in healthcare settings.

The MSCRF Commercialization Program aims to advance human stem cell research for the prevention and treatment of diseases. It supports Maryland-based companies in developing technologies with commercial potential, offering up to $500,000 in funding for collaborative projects. The program encourages partnerships between public and private sectors to enhance research and technology development, emphasizing the importance of stem cell therapies in addressing critical health challenges.

The MSCRF Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program RFA aims to advance stem cell research by providing funding for post-doctoral fellows in Maryland. This initiative supports innovative research focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of human diseases through human stem cells. With awards of up to $65,000 per year for two years, the program seeks to foster the next generation of researchers and enhance the state's biotechnology landscape.

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) invites applications for its Clinical Program to advance medical therapies through human stem cell research. This initiative aims to develop innovative strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. Eligible applicants must propose projects with clear milestones and can receive up to $1,000,000 in funding for a maximum of two years. The MSCRF is dedicated to fostering state-funded stem cell research and cures.

FY27 Aging-in-Place (AIP) Program

Program Authority and Purpose:

The Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA or Department) is pleased to issue this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the award of grants through a competitive process under the Aging-In-Place (AIP) Program, under the authority of and in accordance with the §10-1201 of the Human Services Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, amended by the Village Multigenerational Third Places Act (Senate Bill 530/House Bill 811), which shall take effect July 1, 2026. This funding opportunity aligns with the Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) multisector plan on aging and the Department’s commitment to supporting Marylanders to age with health, financial security, social connection, and purpose.

Like the rest of the country, Maryland is home to a population of older adults which will grow considerably over the next several decades. By 2030, nearly one out of every four Marylanders will be 60 years of age or older (census.gov). The majority of older adults want to age in their homes or have limited alternatives due to the high cost of institutional or assisted living options. The AIP funding opportunity enables older Marylanders to live in their homes and participate in a community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.

To provide the highest quality of care, it is essential that aging services are both person- centered and trauma-informed (PCTI) . Consequently, this FY27 funding opportunity prioritizes community-based organizations that provide essential programming, service coordination, and support within high-need areas. We are specifically seeking to reach low-income older adults facing the compounding challenges of declining health, social isolation, financial hardship, and language barriers. Integrating PCTI principles into the AIP model aims to rebuild the sense of security and stability necessary for Maryland's older adults to thrive within the communities we call home.

Description:

This funding opportunity aligns with MDOA’s Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) multisector plan on aging. Successful applicants will propose projects that address the following strategies from the plan:

• Increase awareness and adoption of the neighbor-helping-neighbor Village model;
• Recruit older volunteers and multigenerational volunteer teams into coordinated service opportunities;
• Increase the number of intergenerational volunteer opportunities;
• Expand AIP options by providing wraparound services that include health care, transportation, and social services in coordination with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Centers for Independent Living, Villages, and other community-based aging service providers;
• Increase access to home repair and modification programs that ensure safe and accessible home environments; 
• Leverage technology and community-based services to enhance transportation options and operability for older adults, especially in rural communities;
• Promote innovative opportunities to connect Marylanders across all ages through technology, programming, and community spaces; and
• Promote the adoption of initiatives that increase intergenerational connection to reduce age-related bias.

The ELFSI SS Graduate Student Award promotes research in ethical, legal, forensics, and societal issues in toxicology. Open to SOT members or applicants, it highlights significant contributions to the field. Recipients will be recognized at the SOT Annual Meeting and receive a certificate, emphasizing the importance of their work within the ELFSI Specialty Section.

The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program, offered by The Nature Conservancy, provides up to $100,000 for projects that acquire land and easements throughout the Appalachian region. This program emphasizes equitable conservation, aiming to support historically marginalized communities and enhance access to nature while addressing climate change impacts. Projects must demonstrate community engagement and align with the program's goals to protect vital habitats and foster resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

Thome Aging Well Grant Program

As communities navigate rapid shifts in resources, rising housing and living costs, and other emerging challenges, this final round of Thome Aging Well funding aims to assist organizations that are supporting older adults through these uncertain times. These flexible, one-year grants are designed to bolster housing-based programs, services, and supports that safeguard the health, stability, and well-being of older adults during this moment of change.

Award

• Up to $200,000

This funding opportunity aims to provide flexible support to affordable housing organizations and past Enterprise Thome Aging Well grantees to respond to the urgent or emerging needs of their residents or clients with effective solutions. Eligible organizations must serve older adults (aged 55 and older) with lower incomes living in Michigan and Maryland.

Grants will have a one-year period of performance.

The Corporate Giving Program by the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations within specific states. They prioritize initiatives that enhance community welfare, especially in agriculture, education, health, and environmental sustainability. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status to apply, and preference is given to those involving Perdue associates. Ineligible requests include those from religious, political, or individual-focused groups. This program emphasizes broad community benefits over organizational affiliations.