FACES Grants

The FACES (Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support) program is an initiative founded by the Carl M. Freeman Foundation (CMFF) in 2000. Its primary objective is to support smaller, underfunded community projects that may otherwise be overlooked. The program focuses on nonprofit organizations operating in specific regions: Sussex County, Delaware, and Montgomery County, Maryland. This program targets organizations that may not have large operating budgets but are providing crucial services to their communities. The FACES program is designed to prioritize grassroots projects with local impact, as opposed to larger, well-established organizations. It is particularly aimed at nonprofit organizations that have operating budgets of $500,000 or less in Sussex County, DE, or $750,000 or less in Montgomery County, MD. The program is guided by a volunteer advisory board, consisting of community leaders who evaluate applications and recommend funding. The advisory board's role is to ensure that grants are awarded to projects that are genuinely needed by the community, providing a unique and personalized approach to funding decisions. The program encourages organizations to apply for grants if they meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible applicants must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations or public agencies that serve the residents of the designated funding areas. The FACES program will not fund individuals, political associations, candidates, or organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or national origin. It also excludes organizations that would disperse the funding to other entities. There are distinct regional eligibility requirements for the program. In Montgomery County, Maryland, organizations must be based in the county, while in Sussex County, Delaware, only organizations based in the county are eligible for funding. The application process for grants is currently open for Sussex County, Delaware, with a deadline of March 3, 2025. Applications for Montgomery County will open in August 2025. The FACES program has a history of supporting smaller-scale community-based projects, and it continues to offer grants aimed at fostering local development in Sussex County, DE, and Montgomery County, MD. This initiative not only provides financial support but also emphasizes community involvement through its advisory board, which helps to ensure that funding decisions align with local needs and priorities.