Grants
Our grantmaking program supports a wide variety of community interests and causes with one end goal in mind: improving the quality of life in Frederick County.
Our Grant Funding
Thanks to Frederick County’s generous donors, The Community Foundation of Frederick County supports a wide variety of community interests through a robust community grants program. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier, more vibrant community not only for today but for the future as well.
Through various grant programs, we fund nonprofits that are addressing the areas of greatest need across Frederick County.
How to Apply for Grants
Types of Grants
Select a grant type below to learn more.
Food Insecurity Grant
Open April 1 through April 30
Nonprofits can apply for grants to support services related to food insecurity initiatives in Frederick County, Maryland. This project is being supported, in whole, by Federal award number SLFRP1623 awarded to Frederick County, Maryland by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Requests for general operating, staff salary, and capital purchases (such as refrigerators, freezers, or other food storage or transportation) costs are permitted. Applicants must provide details on how their program alleviates food insecurity, determine project or service outcomes, and identify evaluation tools and processes.
- Grantmaking cycle total is $350,000.
- One application per organization is permitted.
- Application will be open April 1, 2023 through April 30, 2023.
- Grant notifications will be announced by mid-June.
- These are single-year, one-time grants.
- Funds must be expended between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Strategic Grants
Addressing the greatest need in Frederick County
Through strategic grants, the Community Foundation funds nonprofits that meet the areas of greatest need in Frederick County. These needs are identified in The Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Report.
Currently, we are funding high impact projects that address:
- Supporting families with children
- Preparing for a growing aging population
- Responding to Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
In 2022 an updated human needs assessment, conducted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed additional areas of need, including:
- Supporting access to affordable housing
- Addressing mental health needs
- Alleviating disparities in service delivery
The focus of strategic grant funding may change as new data becomes available.
Eligible Organizations
The Community Foundation administers grants to organizations providing direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland. All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for a grant.
The applicant must be:
- An already existing nonprofit, 501c3 organization in good standing with the IRS,
- A government/quasi-governmental agency applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue,
- A religious organization requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, or
- A civic group that is not a 501c3 organization requesting funding for a community cause.
501c3 organizations must be in good standing at the time of application with:
- Maryland Secretary of State’s charitable division
- Department of Assessment & Taxation’s Maryland Personal Property tax division
- IRS, as assessed via GuideStar’s Charity Check
Find more information on Maryland’s nonprofit requirements.
Grant Amounts
Minimum request: $1,000 ; maximum request: n/a
Multiple applications are permitted.
Application Period
July 15, 2023 to August 15, 2023
Grant Period
Grants must be used during the period of November 1, 2023, through March 31, 2025.
Reporting Requirements
Interim Report deadline is July 30, 2024. Interim reports ask for information regarding the funded project’s progress and use of grant funds. Site visits may be conducted in lieu of written reports.
Final Report Deadline is April 30, 2025. Final reports ask for information regarding the funded project’s impact and use of grant funds.
Impact Grants
The Community Foundation’s Impact Grant program provides grants for any purpose, including a wide range of field of interest and special purpose funds, and support for individuals served by nonprofits or government agencies. Nonprofit organizations providing programs that impact health and human services, historic preservation, the arts, agriculture, civic causes, animal welfare, education, youth programs, and more should apply.
The list of available funds and their purposes will be provided via our website and in the application. Grants must provide direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland, residents unless otherwise noted in the fund description.
Eligible Organizations
The Community Foundation administers grants to organizations providing direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland. All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for a grant.
The applicant must be:
- An already existing nonprofit, 501c3 organization in good standing with the IRS,
- A government/quasi-governmental agency applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue,
- A religious organization requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, or
- A civic group that is not a 501c3 organization requesting funding for a community cause.
501c3 organizations must be in good standing at the time of application with:
- Maryland Secretary of State’s charitable division
- Department of Assessment & Taxation’s Maryland Personal Property tax division
- IRS, as assessed via GuideStar’s Charity Check
Find more information on Maryland’s nonprofit requirements.
Grant Amounts
Minimum request: $500 ; maximum request: varies by fund.
Multiple applications are permitted. Please submit one application per fund to which your organization is applying.
Application Period
August 15, 2023 to September 15, 2023
Grant Period
Grants must be used during the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
Reporting Requirements
Interim Report deadline is July 30, 2024. Interim reports ask for information regarding the funded project’s progress and use of grant funds.
Final Report Deadline is January 31, 2025. Final reports ask for information regarding the funded project’s impact and use of grant funds.
Rolling Grants
The Community Foundation’s Rolling Grant program provides grants for any purpose, including a wide range of field of interest and special purpose funds, and support for individuals served by nonprofits or government agencies.
The list of available funds and their purposes will be provided via our website and in the application. Grants must provide direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland, residents unless otherwise noted in the fund description.
Eligible Organizations
The Community Foundation administers grants to organizations providing direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland. All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for a grant.
The applicant must be:
- An already existing nonprofit, 501c3 organization in good standing with the IRS,
- A government/quasi-governmental agency applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue,
- A religious organization requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, or
- A civic group that is not a 501c3 organization requesting funding for a community cause.
501c3 organizations must be in good standing at the time of application with:
- Maryland Secretary of State’s charitable division
- Department of Assessment & Taxation’s Maryland Personal Property tax division
- IRS, as assessed via GuideStar’s Charity Check
Find more information on Maryland’s nonprofit requirements.
Grant Amounts
Minimum request: $500 ; maximum request: varies by fund.
Multiple applications are permitted. Please submit one application per fund to which your organization is applying.
Application Period
November 1, 2022 to May 1, 2023
Grant Period
Grants must be used during the period of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023
Reporting Requirements
Final Report Deadline is January 31, 2024. Final reports ask for information regarding the funded project’s impact and use of grant funds.
Other Grant Opportunities
The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund grants
The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation, provides grants that support programs that empower women ages 18 and over in challenging situations to improve the quality of their lives. The grants will support women’s efforts to become self-sufficient, understanding that encouragement and financial assistance are compelling factors in restoring stability and hope. Organizations that offer programs and/or services that promote self-sufficiency for women in Frederick County are eligible to apply.
For further information and to apply, go to the Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County website.
The Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund grant
The Community Foundation of Frederick County is now accepting applications for grants from The Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund. This grant application will allow nonprofit organizations to apply on behalf of a household for support for veterans and their families who are faced with unforeseen financial distress. Beneficiaries of this support must be residents of Frederick County, Maryland, with an honorable military discharge. Applications for support will be accepted and reviewed as they are received for as long as funding is available. A veteran may receive support under this grant once every 12 months.
Questions about the Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Grant Application may be directed to: Community.Impact@FrederickCountyGives.org.
Rotary Service Partnership Grant
The Rotary Club of Frederick desires to create service partnerships with Frederick County organizations whose missions enhance our local communities. Grants support Frederick County nonprofit organizations in various service areas, such as supporting the environment, service to Veterans, education and literacy, and more. The application is currently closed.
Frederick Mutual Insurance Company Donor Advised Fund grants
The Frederick Mutual Insurance Company Donor Advised Fund awards grants to local nonprofit organizations that provide direct benefits to Frederick County, particularly in the areas of human services, education, and historic research. The application is currently closed.
Schedule/Timeline of Grant Opportunities
| Applications Accepted | Applications Reviewed | Applicants Notified | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Grants | July 15 to August 15 | August to September | Late September |
| Impact Grants | August 15 to September 15 | September to October | Late October |
| Rolling Grants | November 1 to May 1 | On a rolling basis | Within one month of submission |
| Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund | All year | On a rolling basis | Within one month of submission |
| Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund | February 15 to March 15 | March to April | Late May |
Grant FAQs
To get started, select a question from the list below.
What do we fund?
Our grant funding is divided into five different opportunities, each with unique applications, funding priorities, and deadlines.
Strategic Grants
We fund nonprofits meeting the areas of greatest need in Frederick County through strategic grants. These needs have been identified in The 2011 Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Report and The 2018 Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Report. The focus of strategic grant funding may change as new data becomes available.
Impact Grants
We support a wide array of programs that improve the community and provide opportunities for people of all ages through impact grants. Funding can support health and human services, historic preservation, the arts, and more.
Rolling Grants
We support nonprofits meeting the needs of individual Frederick County residents through rolling grants. Funds remain available until they are used, or until June 1 each year. Funding can support extraordinary medical needs, a “hand-up” to someone experiencing hardship, or other purposes as funds become available.
Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund Grants
This relief application is to provide support for the veterans and their families who are faced with unforeseen financial distress. Grants will be provided to nonprofit organizations applying on behalf of the household. Beneficiaries of this support must be residents of Frederick County, Maryland, with an honorable military discharge. A veteran may receive support under this grant once every twelve months.
Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund Grants
The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County grants support programs that empower women ages 18 and over in challenging situations to improve the quality of their lives. Organizations that offer programs and/or services that promote self-sufficiency for women in Frederick County, Maryland, are eligible to apply.
How does the grant process work?
Applicants submit grant applications through Foundant, our online system, within the specified application period listed below. The Community Foundation Grants Committee, comprised of trustees and other community volunteers with specific expertise, review the applications and make funding recommendations that are approved by our Board of Trustees.
What grants are currently available?
Click HERE to preview currently available grant opportunities.
Our organization is not located in Frederick County, but we serve Frederick County residents. Can we apply?
Yes. Your organization is welcome to apply; however, any grants provided by the Community Foundation must be used specifically to support the costs associated with serving Frederick County.