Cambridge Nonprofit Assistance Grant

The City of Cambridge, Maryland, is providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations through a targeted grant program designed to support programming and services for children and seniors in the local community. This initiative is part of the city's Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget and reflects a broader commitment to addressing community needs through localized, nonprofit-driven solutions. The funding seeks to deliver the highest possible impact for these vulnerable populations by enabling community-based organizations to directly serve residents. The scope of services eligible for funding under this program is deliberately broad and flexible, guided only by the needs of the two identified populations—children and seniors. This open-ended approach allows applicants to tailor their proposals according to observed community gaps and their organizational capacity. While the total funding amount is limited, the city has placed a cap of $15,000 per grant, and applicants are encouraged to submit realistic and focused proposals in light of the available resources. Interested nonprofits must submit a completed application by the end of business on Friday, March 6, 2026. Applications may be submitted either by mail or email to the City Manager’s Office, and the required forms are accessible via the City of Cambridge website. Required documentation includes proof of good standing as a Maryland nonprofit, a copy of the latest audit or budget, and responses to specific application questions addressing service reach, target population, proposed goals, and metrics for evaluating success. Proposals will be reviewed and scored by the city based on the projected impact and feasibility of services to children and seniors. The evaluation process is competitive, with no guarantee of funding for all submissions. Only the highest-ranking proposals may receive awards, based on the grading process and the overall fund availability. Accepted grants will be disbursed after July 1, 2026, in alignment with the new fiscal year. The program is nonrecurring and there is no indication of an annual cycle. As such, nonprofits should treat this as a unique opportunity and plan accordingly for one-time funding. For questions or clarifications, applicants are encouraged to contact the City Manager’s Office directly via the contact details provided in the application instructions. By focusing on children and seniors—the city's most vulnerable demographics—Cambridge aims to strengthen its support infrastructure through partnerships with local nonprofit actors. The program aligns financial support with strategic community outcomes while maintaining accountability through documentation and evaluative expectations.