At our May 14 Community Foundation of Howard County Spring Party, we were proud to officially highlight and celebrate the Fund for Howard County – a flexible community grantmaking fund designed to support the evolving needs and opportunities across Howard County.
We were grateful to celebrate the progress we’ve made together and to share our vision for the year ahead, including the continued growth of the Fund for Howard County. We received 35 contributions totaling more than $55,000 for the Fund for Howard County at the event. The generosity of our donors blew us away! Partnership fuels this work, ensuring we can respond to community needs in real time and support the nonprofits doing essential work every day.
The Fund for Howard County helps connect local generosity directly to local impact. Through the Community Foundation’s annual Community Grants Program, the fund supports nonprofit organizations working every day to strengthen quality of life across our community through essential services, education, arts and culture, health and wellness, community engagement, and more.
Last year, the Fund for Howard County awarded $225,000 in grants to local nonprofits, including $125,000 in support from the Columbia Association. This year, the Community Foundation has set an ambitious goal of growing the fund to $500,000 in order to expand support for nonprofit partners and respond to increasing community needs and opportunities.
“One of the most meaningful ways people can make an immediate impact in Howard County is by supporting the Fund for Howard County,” said Melissa Curtin, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. “The Fund enhances our Community Grants Program to support nonprofit organizations doing essential work across our community, as we partner together in philanthropy to strengthen Howard County for today and for the future.”
What makes the Fund for Howard County especially powerful is its flexibility. Gifts to the fund allow the Community Foundation to invest where support is needed most, guided by local knowledge, community partnerships, and a robust volunteer-led grant review process.
The Fund for Howard County also reflects the Foundation’s broader mission to connect people, places, and organizations to the causes that matter most in Howard County. It is philanthropy rooted in community – local giving creating lasting impact close to home.
As the Community Foundation looks ahead, we invite donors, businesses, families, and community members to join us in strengthening this important fund and helping ensure that Howard County nonprofits have the resources they need to continue serving and supporting our community.
Together, we can continue building a stronger, more connected Howard County.
Invest in Howard County. Donate to the Fund for Howard County Here!