Community Partnership Grant Program

The Community Partnership Grant (CPG) Program is an initiative by the Frederick County Government, launched in 2015 to strengthen collaboration with local human service non-profit organizations. The grant program serves as a conduit for county resources, aiming to enhance service delivery without duplicating existing efforts. By focusing on community needs and partnering with nonprofits, the program seeks to provide effective and efficient human services to residents throughout Frederick County. The FY27 grant cycle covers the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. It offers funding in four priority areas: Public Health, Addressing Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Quality of Life, and Supporting the Arts. Funding may support new projects, expand existing ones, or continue current initiatives. Approximately 35% of funding is expected to go toward public health projects, with the remaining equally distributed across the other three priority areas. Grant amounts for FY26 ranged from $10,000 to $175,000, with a total of $1.2 million awarded across 32 grants. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) charitable organizations located in Frederick County and in operation for at least three years, unless they have a qualified fiscal sponsor. They must also be in good standing or pending status with the IRS, the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), and the MD Secretary of State’s Charitable Division at the time of application. Organizations such as churches, fraternal groups, political foundations, and municipalities are ineligible. Programs must directly serve Frederick County residents and may receive preference if they demonstrate collaborative models, health literacy components, or address disparities in underserved populations. Applications must be submitted through the Foundant Grant Management System. The application period opens on December 2, 2025, and closes at 4:00 p.m. on January 20, 2026. Weekly technical assistance sessions are available throughout the application window. Required application components include a program budget, project performance worksheet, IRS Form 990 or e-Postcard, financial statements, audit (if applicable), a board of directors list, and a letter of support specific to the proposed program. A newly structured, multi-phase merit review process has been implemented to ensure fairness, transparency, and quality assessment. Phase one involves peer reviewers evaluating the merits of the application content. Phase two includes subject matter experts and a core county team conducting risk and compliance reviews using a scoring rubric. Successful applicants will be notified in May 2026, following budget adoption by the County Council. Awardees are expected to participate in kickoff calls, submit required reports, undergo monitoring, and acknowledge support publicly. The grant is issued annually. Based on the application cycle and notification timelines, the next round of applications is expected to open in December 2026 for the FY28 period.

Demonstrate collaboration and address disparities; leverage funding; incorporate health literacy best practices