Grant Programs and Grant Writing Tips
Several grant opportunities are listed below. For weekly grant announcements sent straight to your mailbox, sign up for the Community Engagement & Constituent Services (CECS) newsletter. Grants are listed in the Nonprofit Center's section at the bottom.
COUNTY GRANT PROGRAMS
If applications are not currently available, you can review guidelines from the previous year to prepare for the following cycle. Lists of past grantees are also available.
Community Support Grants - Applications are closed for FY25. The FY26 process will begin in January 2025.
Laurel Race Course Impact Fund Grants - Applications are closed for FY25. The FY26 process will begin in December 2024.
Local Development Council Grants - Applications are closed for FY25. The FY26 process will begin in November 2024.
OTHER LOCAL GRANT PROGRAMS
Anne Arundel Women Giving Together - Applications are closed for FY25. The FY26 process will begin in January 2025.
Arts Council of Anne Arundel County - Multiple grants available throughout the year
Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County - Multiple grants available throughout the year
Ardath M. Cade Scholarship Fund
Offered by Arundel Community Development Services
Since January 2018, the Ardath M. Cade Scholarship Fund (“Cade Scholarship”) has awarded over $10,000 in funding to nonprofit organizations and emerging leaders working in the housing and community development field in Anne Arundel County.
TD Bank
Capacity Building Fund has two opportunities listed below:
Capacity Building Grants provide funding to help strengthen and increase the impact of organizations on the communities they serve. These grants support work around three key issues: tactics, talent and tools.
The Nonprofit Training Resource Fund is also available for organizations to request funding toward specific trainings that increase their employees’ capacities and skill sets.
The Families and Workers Fund
The Training and Career Pathways' focus is on scaling catalytic models to train, place, support, and retain a diverse workforce that meets the growing labor demand in the clean energy, infrastructure, and related industries and spurs uplifting careers. This track is also designed for nonprofit organizations in any U.S. state. Applicants must be using, applying for, or otherwise leveraging climate, infrastructure, or other government funding, and committed to advancing career opportunities and improving economic mobility, especially for underinvested communities.
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
This foundation serves primarily the Baltimore area in Maryland. They assist in funding with life-skills and job-readiness training, including case management and referrals to technical-training programs or direct job placement; capital costs for job-training centers, including construction or renovation projects or large equipment purchases, and veterans programs that provide job-placement services for military members and their spouses.
The Helen J. Serini Foundation (Not accepting applications at this time)
The Small Grant Program
Personal/professional development & support: considers support for projects designed to show staff support and development, including leadership development opportunities (coaching, mentoring programs, conference attendance, etc.) and wellness.
Support for fiscal sponsorship transitions: considers support for organizations seeking to transition to independence or a new fiscal sponsor. They also consider support for a sustained and sustainable fiscal sponsorship landscape across the geographic regions in which they fund.
Support specific work around inclusive organization practices: While they will not mandate what consultants an organization uses to engage in organizational development work, they will provide a list of consultants they have worked with, know, and/or have come highly recommended to us by other partners. They ask any organization embarking on this journey to dedicate unrestricted funds from the organization to this purpose as well as any specific grant funds to support the work.
Anne Arundel County Public Library | Grants and Resources
Maryland Governor's Grant Page | Foundation Grants
Maryland Governor's Grant Page | State Grants
Maryland Philanthropy | Proposal Requests
Maryland State Library | How to find grants for your nonprofit
Secumd Foundation | Grant Program
United Way of Central Maryland | Funding Opportunities for Nonprofits
Grant Writing Basics
Grants.gov | Grant Writing Basics
Provides summaries of several blog posts on the topic of grant writing, as well as links to each. Also includes links to other blog posts organized by topic, such as eligibility, funding, and applicants.
Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals
HHS | Tips for preparing grant proposals
Valuable tips for beginning grant proposal writing. Includes links to grant writing YouTube videos.
Tips and Tricks for Writing a Winning Grant Submission
HUD | Tips and Tricks for Grant Writing
A concise resource guide on writing grant proposals. Outlines documents meant to be submitted before grant writing can begin, such as: a mission statement, by-laws and articles of incorporation, and PR materials.
Grant Writing for Nonprofits: Our Top 10 Tips
Learn Grant Writing | Grant Writing Tips for Nonprofits - Our Top Ten Tips
Offers ten tips for grant writing, such as building donor relationships, partnering with other nonprofits, and becoming professionally trained in grant writing. Includes a summary of tips at the bottom of the webpage.
Grant Writing
A series of blogs, tips, and resources focused on grant writing for nonprofits.
9 Successful Tips for Writing Grant Proposals for Nonprofits
University Lab Partner | Grant Proposal Writing Tips for Nonprofits
Provides an overview of grant writing tips, as well as a detailed description of each.
Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics
UOF - Writing Center | Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal
A valuable guide to the grant writing process. Includes an outline of the different sections of grant proposals, as well as general tips and successful sample grant proposals.
Candid Databases
Are you looking to connect with grantmakers who are interested in your unique mission? Candid’s Foundation Center Grants Database has over 240,000 grantmakers who are looking to fund nonprofits just like yours! The database is now available at all library branches across the county! The Nonprofit Center was proud to provide the financial support to make this expansion possible.
Press Release: January 17, 2024
Anne Arundel County Library Grant Research Page
In addition to the grants database, users will also have access to the GuideStar database, which includes over 2 million searchable nonprofits. Funders often look at charity watchdog sites like GuideStar or Charity Navigator to review nonprofit financials, governance and transparency when making award decisions. All nonprofit organization have a profile on GuideStar (added based on IRS records). If your organization has not claimed its profile, you might consider doing so.
Download the Nonprofit Center's Guide to Charity Rating Websites