GWCF Sharing Montgomery Fund

The Sharing Montgomery Fund is a philanthropic initiative administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The Foundation has supported the region for over five decades and continues to focus on promoting equity, justice, and community stability throughout the Greater Washington area. The Sharing Montgomery Fund specifically addresses the needs of low-income residents in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is guided by the Community Foundation’s 10-year strategic plan, which focuses on advancing economic justice and reducing the region’s persistent wealth gap. This grant opportunity provides flexible general operating support to nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities within Montgomery County. The Fund’s primary objectives are to help individuals and families meet basic needs, support pathways to economic mobility, and foster individual and community wealth-building. Specific funding priorities include access to healthcare, mental health services, food security, affordable housing, childcare, education, and crisis-to-recovery interventions. Additional focus areas include workforce training, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs designed to support long-term financial independence. The Sharing Montgomery Fund features a two-stage application process designed to reduce administrative burdens for applicants. The first stage requires submission of a Letter of Interest (LOI) through a simplified form. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by October 2025. Notably, the Foundation may reach out to LOI applicants at any time throughout the year regarding additional relevant grant opportunities. The final application deadline for the current cycle is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Award levels for the FY26 cycle range from $5,000 to $10,000 in one-time grants, with the possibility for 2 to 3 organizations to receive multi-year grants. These flexible grants allow recipients to allocate funds according to their most urgent organizational needs within the scope of serving Montgomery County’s low-income residents. Regional organizations may apply, but any awarded funds must be designated solely for work conducted within Montgomery County. The Community Foundation will host an informational webinar on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Following the webinar, applicants will have the opportunity to engage in a virtual Q&A session during open office hours. Interested applicants are encouraged to register in advance. The application is currently open and accessible online. Questions about the grant may be directed to Eliza Tolbert-Howard, Development Officer, via email at etolbert-howard@thecommunityfoundation.org or by calling 202-955-5890. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations operating in Montgomery County, Maryland. Grants to regional nonprofits are acceptable, but all funded activities must specifically support the Montgomery County area. The Sharing Montgomery Fund does not list any additional eligibility restrictions beyond this geographic and programmatic focus. All applications must be submitted by the specified deadline to be considered.

Participate in the July 14 webinar for Q&A and best practices.