By Dee Athey, Director, Grants & Community Engagement Sometimes a thank-you arrives when you least expect it. I recently received a handmade card from students at Guilford Elementary School. Filled with signatures, drawings and a big “Thank You,” the card recognized an experience the students had last school year, made possible in part through a…
Make Your Year-End Giving Go Further for Howard County
As the year comes to a close, many of us are thinking about the causes and organizations that matter most to us and how we can make a meaningful difference through our giving. At the Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHC), we work with individuals, families, and businesses to turn generosity into local impact. Whether…
Leaving Your Legacy
Your Giving. Your Wishes. Make Them Known. As the year winds down, many of us start thinking about plans for the coming year, our families, our finances, and the things that matter most to us. Charitable giving can be part of that conversation, too. At the Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHC), we have the…
Bringing New Ideas Home to Howard County
Last week, Community Foundation of Howard County President & CEO Melissa Curtin and team members Dan Flynn, Dee Athey, and Jay Vidyarthi traveled to Wichita, Kansas, for the 2026 Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations. The conference brought together leaders from small and mid-sized community foundations across the country to share ideas, learn from…
CFHC’s October 2026 eNewsletter
Fall has its own special kind of seasonal magic. The air is crisp, the leaves are turning their bright colors, and pumpkin-spice fans are in their heyday. Our calendars fill up with community events and neighborhood get-togethers around an outdoor fire. We reconnect after the more carefree summer months, and before we know it, the…
Thank You to Our 2026 Annual Dinner Sponsors!
The Community Foundation of Howard County is grateful to our generous sponsors of the 2026 Annual Dinner & Celebration of Philanthropy on November 17 at Turf Valley Resort. Their support helps bring our community together to recognize the individuals and organizations whose generosity, leadership, and service strengthen Howard County. We appreciate their partnership and commitment…
Celebrating National DAF Day: Making a Difference Through Donor-Advised Funds
October 8, 2026 Happy National DAF Day! What’s a DAF, you ask? A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a simple, flexible way to organize your charitable giving, support the causes you care about, and make a lasting difference in your community and beyond. At the Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHC), we have upwards of 135…
The Fund for Howard County
Local Giving. Lasting Impact. The Fund for Howard County brings together gifts of all sizes to fund grants to local nonprofits through the Community Foundation of Howard County’s annual Community Grants Program. When you give to the Fund for Howard County, your gift joins with others to support nonprofits working across Howard County. Rather than…
2026 Community Grants
Investing in Howard County. Strengthening Our Community. The Community Foundation of Howard County’s Community Grants Program invests in nonprofits working to meet essential community needs, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life across Howard County. Funded through the Fund for Howard County, Community Grants provide flexible funding that helps nonprofits respond to changing needs, pursue…
Charitable Giving: Plan While You Can
Most of us can quickly name organizations, causes or community needs that matter to us. But does your family know what they are? Put your intentions into words Share the story behind your giving Why have you supported a particular organization for 20 or 30 years? Why does education, or the environment, or health care…