History

In 1914, Frederick Goff created a new type of philanthropy in Cleveland, Ohio. It was called a “community foundation,” and it was as simple as it was elegant. It made philanthropy available to average citizens to help build the communities where they lived and worked.

As a result of this philanthropic model and the dreams of Jim Rouse, the Community Foundation of Howard County was born.

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2020

1969

James Rouse and four others started the Columbia Foundation, the first community foundation in Maryland.
1969

1971

The Columbia Foundation awarded its first grant to the Association of Community Services of Howard County to “explore human services needs and possible approaches.” The Columbia Foundation awarded its first “seed-funding” grant to the Howard County Workshop, now Humanim.
1971

1986

The Columbia Foundation’s first major endowment was created with a $500,000 challenge grant from the Rouse Company. By the end of 1987, the Howard County community had pledged $1.2 million.
1986

1989

Barbara Lawson becomes the Columbia Foundation’s first full-time executive director, guiding the organization with creativity, commitment and compassion for nearly 20 years.
1989

1991

The Columbia Foundation expanded its mission beyond grant-making for the first time, partnering with the Columbia Housing Corp. to help eight low-income families purchase homes in Meadowfield.
1991

1996

The Columbia Foundation awarded $150,000 for a three-year parenting initiative, providing more than $137,000 in grants to private agencies and parent teacher associations (PTA) to provide parenting classes, support groups and other programs for parents in Howard County.
1996

2004

The Columbia Foundation embarks on a fresh communications strategy including a new logo.
2004

2005

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August of 2005, the Columbia Foundation, in collaboration with the Citizen Services and other nonprofits, helped resettle 15 families.
2005

2008

The Columbia Foundation reached $10 million in grants. Beverley Francis-Gibson joined the Columbia Foundation as its second full-time president and chief executive officer.
2008

2009

As the Columbia Foundation celebrated its 40th birthday, the board completed a new five-year strategic plan and drafted the Columbia Foundation’s new mission statement: “Inspiring lifelong giving and connecting people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County.”
2009

2012

Beverly White-Seals assumed the leadership role of president and chief executive officer. The Columbia Foundation has more than $15 million in assets.
2012

2013

The Columbia Foundation officially changes its name to the Community Foundation of Howard County while continuing its same mission.
2013

2014

CFHoCo began collaborating with Greater Horizons, the third largest community foundation in the country, to provide accounting and legal resources to support structuring complex transactions

2016

Key partner with Howard County’s Office of Emergency Management to receive and distribute over $2 million in donations to victims of both Ellicott City floods.

2018

Key partner with Howard County’s Office of Emergency Management to receive and distribute over $2 million in donations to victims of both Ellicott City floods.

2018

Brightview donates Athol Manor house to the foundation to be new future primary place of business.

2019

Columbia Housing Homes, Inc. establishes an agency fund with the proceeds from the sale of low-income housing units to Enterprise Homes for redevelopment.

2019

CFHoCo’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program established for high school students to learn about philanthropy firsthand.

2020

Real Estate Charitable Foundation of Maryland receives first gift of real estate, a property donated by the Lundy Family Foundation.

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