Please note that these are annual community grants and should not be confused with COVID-19 emergency relief funds. Howard County nonprofits seeking rapid relief funds should submit a new grant application via HoCoRespond.org by midnight on Friday, April 10.
The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo) has announced its 2020 annual community grant awards supporting nonprofits throughout Howard County, Maryland. A total of $208,000 will be distributed across 35 nonprofit organizations to improve the lives of residents across the community.
“The Community Foundation of Howard County is pleased to work with so many amazing nonprofits directly benefiting the lives of people in our community,” said Beverly White-Seals, president and CEO of the foundation. “With a mission of inspiring lifelong giving and connecting people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County, this is the best part of the job. Our donors trust us to be the hub for philanthropic connections to ensure financial resources get in the hands of the nonprofits that can provide the greatest impact.”
The 2020 grants were part of an open grant application process in which any eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit in Howard County could submit a request for funding. This followed a 2019 grant season that rolled over grant requests from the 2018 cycle. The CFHoCo community grants allow for flexible use of the funds for operating or programmatic needs.
A 12-person grants committee, comprised of CFHoCo board members and community volunteers, painstakingly reviewed every grant request.
“We had great energy and leadership from our grants committee,” said Dee Athey, director of Grants and Community Engagement at CFHoCo. “Our objective was to understand the mission and goals of each nonprofit that applied and match that with the best allocation of resources. These grants will help our nonprofit partners continue the great work they do in service to Howard County.”
Below is a summary of each of the 35 organizations who will receive annual community grants from CFHoCo:
American Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake Region, $5,000, operational support of the Howard County response to local disasters offering financial assistance for food, clothing, shelter, emotional support and other services.
Association of Community Services of Howard County, $7,000, to support organizational operations.
Bridges to Housing Stability Inc., $7,000, supporting organization’s housing and homelessness prevention programs.
Bright Minds Foundation, $5,000, supporting programs, grants, and scholarships expand educational resources and opportunities for HCPSS students.
Building Families for Children, $5,000, providing mental health and support to families and foster families in Howard County.
Candlelight Concert Society, $7,000, supporting community outreach services and concert performances.
Columbia Festival, Inc., $7,000, supporting the free, three-day LakeFest community arts celebration.
Columbia Orchestra, $7,000, supporting community outreach services and concert performances.
Community Action Council of Howard County, $5,000, supporting program areas of early child education, energy assistance, homeless prevention, and food assistance.
Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, $5,000, supporting park programming, sustainable recreation, and the preservation and restoration of park natural resources.
Friends of the Howard County Library System, $7,000, supporting Howard County Library youth educational programming.
Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, $7,000, supporting 24-hour crisis intervention services including shelter, housing and mental health services.
HC DrugFree, $5,000, to provide substance abuse and behavioral health education/prevention services to the Howard County community.
HopeWorks of Howard County, $5,000, supporting services for people in Howard County affected by sexual and intimate partner violence.
Howard Community College Educational Foundation, Inc., $7,000, supporting scholarships, grants and programs that benefit students at Howard Community College.
Howard County Arts Council, $4,000, supporting the advancement of local community arts, the public’s appreciation of the arts, and ensuring that the arts are accessible to all Howard County residents.
Howard County Autism Society, $7,000, supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, with information, support and advocacy.
Howard County Conservancy, $7,000, supporting the nature and environmental programs and services.
Howard EcoWorks, $5,000, supporting Howard County workforce development and environmental programs.
Humanim, Inc., $7,000, supporting the Howard County Culinary and Horticulture Education program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, $7,000, supporting JA Finance Park Virtual, a 4- to 6-week economics program for Howard County middle school students.
Kinetics Dance Theatre, $5,000, supporting the programming to bring contemporary modern dance to wider audiences in Howard County.
Leadership Howard County, $7,000, supporting the educational and experiential leadership programs offered to Howard County youth and adults.
Maryland University of Integrative Health, $5,000, supporting integrative health and wellness services and community education opportunities.
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, $7,000, supporting home-delivered meals for home-bound Howard County seniors.
NAMI Howard County, $3,000, providing support, education and advocacy for those living with mental illness and their families in Howard County.
National Family Resiliency Center, $5,000, supporting the counseling, education and support program provided for Howard County families experiencing crisis.
Neighbor Ride, $7,000, supporting transportation services for Howard County seniors.
Rebuilding Together Howard County, $7,000, supporting the volunteer-based home repair program for Howard County’s vulnerable populations.
Ridge to Reefs, $5,000, supporting youth STEM education programs and storm water mitigation in Howard County.
The Arc of Howard County, Inc., $7,000, providing services and supports to assist Howard County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Inc., $7,000, supporting performing arts education to youths, young adults and vulnerable populations.
The First Tee of Howard County, $7,000, supporting youth development programing through the game of golf for at-risk Howard County youth.
Voices for Children, $3,000, supporting volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services for Howard County youth in foster care.
Winter Growth, Inc., $5,000, supporting assisted living, adult daycare and community transportation for seniors and disabled adults in Howard County.