Maryland Education Grants

The Maryland Department of Aging is pleased to announce a competitive funding opportunity for grant awards under the Aging-In-Place Program. Donor Name: Maryland Department of Aging State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: This funding opportunity aligns with the Department’s commitment to supporting Marylanders to live in their own homes and communities safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. A Senior Village is a local, member-driven, nonprofit organization that:  Fosters social connections through activities and events;  Coordinates volunteer help at home using a neighbor-helping-neighbor model;  Is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code Successful applicants will propose projects that:  Preserve Familiarity and Independence, allowing older adults to maintain identity and independence in familiar environments, which can trigger positive memories and improve quality of life.  Provide Mental Stimulation and Engagement, encouraging mental stimulation through familiar routines, social interactions, and activities that challenge the mind, which are crucial for delaying cognitive decline and promoting well-being.  Reduce Emotional Stress, by minimizing the life disruptions, stress and anxiety that come with transitioning to new living environments, thus maintaining emotional wellbeing in a comforting and known environment.  Provide the opportunity to live in a supported community. Services to be funded through this opportunity may include:  In-home personal care services  Integration and education of services to maintain living in the community;  Psychological, economic, or functional assistance;  Increasing awareness of and equitable access to resources;  Supportive services and care coordination;  Social isolation reduction and engagement programs;  Affordable transportation;  Assistance with home modifications or repairs to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility; and The opportunity to live in a Senior Village Preference will be given to projects that:  Incorporate volunteers in the planning and delivery of programs or services;  Serve individuals who belong to historically underserved communities, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; Persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality;  Propose multi-sector or multigenerational collaboration; Establish new Villages or expand existing Villages into marginalized communities;  Focus on AAA and Villages partnerships to enhance collaboration to expand capacity, extend reach, enhance effectiveness, and improve outcomes for older adults. Funding Information The total funding available is $100,000. The grant will run from the time of award, anticipated to be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Applicants are non-profit organizations and Area Agencies on Aging in good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. For more information, visit Maryland Department of Aging.

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is offering another round of farmer mini grants. Donor Name: Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission State: Maryland County: Anne Arundel County (MD), Calvert County (MD), Charles County (MD), Prince Georges County (MD), Saint Marys County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/08/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Farmer Mini-Grant program was established by SMADC in 2016 based on feedback heard from the farming community about their needs. SMADC’s mission is to support farms and the future of agriculture in Southern Maryland, and they are committed to expanding and promoting a viable market-driven, sustainable, and profitable agricultural farming community. Funding Information For this 11th round of grants in Spring 2024 $60,000 of funding is available. The projects should be simple in scope and must be successfully completed within one year. SMADC awards will be up to $3,000 per applicant and are a one-to-one dollar match by the farmer. Eligible Projects  Examples of Projects that would be considered: Services or equipment that help transition a farm’s sales strategy such as online sales, home delivery, on-farm sales, etc.; or for other projects that allow farm business to maintain and/or expand sales. Purchase of foundation livestock. Purchase of plant stock. Marketing and promotion of current farm operation. New fencing for enhancement, expansion, or protection. Hoop house. Materials needed for value-added production. Materials needed for on-farm upgrades to enhance food safety. Irrigation installation or upgrades in regard to GAP certification standards, Food Safety Modernization Act Standards (FSMA), chlorination systems, water testing expenses, drip irrigation, greenhouse irrigation, dedicated agricultural water supply, and overhead irrigation, as pertains to current existing wells or water sources. Washing/packing stations. Freezer/Refrigeration. Eligibility Criteria  Does not include non-profits or community organizations. Both Urban and Rural farms are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be living in the State of Maryland and actively farming in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, or St. Mary’s counties. Youth (16 years and older) who are in or have been in FFA, 4-H, agricultural related programs, or classes, or have a farming background are encouraged to apply. The applicant must match funds awarded dollar to dollar. For example, if the applicant is awarded $500, they must put $500 toward the project budget. Matching must be in dollars, not in-kind or labor. No more than one application is awarded per individual or business entity during a 12-month period. Only completed applications with all applicable supporting documentation attached will be considered. For more information, visit SMADC.

The Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation offers grants between $1,000 to $10,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations in the Baltimore area, focusing on mental health, cancer prevention and treatment, arts exposure for youth, and educational opportunities for disadvantaged children, excluding start-ups, capital projects, individuals, multi-year projects, higher education institutions, and organizations outside Baltimore.

The SFY 2025 Police Recruitment and Retention (PRAR) Grant Program, funded by the State of Maryland's Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, is designed to support state and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to recruit and retain qualified sworn police officers. The program recognizes the essential role of law enforcement officers as first responders and aims to ensure agencies have adequate staffing to fulfill their mission, contributing to a safer Maryland. The grant offers various incentives for recruitment and retention, including bonuses for bilingual proficiency, veterans, recent college graduates, and more. The program also covers advertising support, external recruitment services, health club memberships, uniform allowances, and tuition reimbursement among other benefits. Applications must be submitted online through the Grants Management System by May 10th, 2024, with funding available from July 1st, 2024, to June 30th, 2025. The total funding anticipated under this program is $1,300,000, expecting to make up to 50 awards ranging between $10,000 and $300,000.

This funding opportunity supports rural Maryland communities in improving essential infrastructure like broadband, water, and transportation through collaborative projects that enhance living standards and promote regional development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for innovative health care projects in rural Maryland to improve access to medical, dental, and behavioral health services, while also focusing on recruiting health care professionals and managing chronic diseases.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to rural Maryland businesses and organizations focused on entrepreneurship, agriculture, workforce development, and community enhancement to improve living standards and preserve cultural heritage.

The FY25 Workforce Development Grant is dedicated to supporting educational and training opportunities aimed at enhancing workforce capabilities. With a special focus on populations such as people with disabilities, high school juniors and seniors, non-traditional students, nonprofit professionals, and skilled workers in critical sectors, the grant provides up to $7,500 for qualified applicants. Programs eligible for funding include summer work experiences, pre-apprenticeship programs, internships, occupational skills training with recognized credentials, concurrent educational programs, and leadership development initiatives. Additional consideration is given based on the scope of impact, collaborative efforts, organizational competence, and fiscal sustainability of applying organizations. Grant renewed every year.

The FY25 Education Grant Program supports a wide array of teacher-led classroom and school-wide initiatives. Education grants are distributed annually each fall with a special reception for awardees in November. Eligible applicants include Public, MSDE approved nonpublic, or Middle States Accredited schools serving pre-K through 12th grade on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. Successful applications typically show broad support from school leadership, creativity in addressing challenges, a robust evaluation plan, potential for replication, sustainability prospects, and a direct connection to student success and well-being. Note that capital expenditures, field trips, previously funded programs at the same school, and costs associated with fundraising, playground equipment, faculty compensation, or office equipment are generally not funded. Special consideration is given to necessary equipment purchases and field trips that are integral to a larger educational project. Grant renewed every year.

The SFY 2025 Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (VIPP) Grant, managed by the State of Maryland's Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, is dedicated to preventing and reducing gun violence through the support of competitive grants funding evidence-based or evidence-informed health programs. This initiative aligns with the Office’s objectives to develop coordinated criminal justice strategies and enhance data availability to support data-driven decisions. Grantees are required to report on collaborative efforts and data collected throughout the award period, with this information publicly shared on the Office’s website. The VIPP aims to implement effective violence reduction strategies by investing in programs that demonstrate measurable positive outcomes in preventing gun violence, utilizing public health principles and scientific research. The grant prioritizes funding for programs that have been operational for 1 or 2 years, with new applicants considered based on available funding. The anticipated funding pool is $2,768,000, intending to award up to 15 grants ranging from $50,000 to $400,000 each.

The Transportation Alternative and Recreational Use FY25 Grant, administered by the Maryland State Highway Administration, aims to fund transportation alternative and recreational use projects within the state. This federal grant offers 80% reimbursable funds, requiring a 20% match from project sponsors. Projects should enhance the intermodal transportation system or support recreational trails and amenities. Approximately 60% of the funds are allocated to projects within the jurisdictions of three Maryland Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs): The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, National Capitol Region Transportation Planning Board, and Wilmington Area Planning Council. Eligible sponsors include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource and public land agencies, school districts, tribal governments, and 501c(3) non-profit agencies. Project sponsors are responsible for all aspects of their project, including design, management, construction, and maintenance.

This grant is aimed at improving the handling of child abuse and neglect cases, including child sexual abuse and exploitation. It focuses on the development of innovative programming to enhance the front-end intake and investigative stages of child welfare, aligning with the Maryland Governor’s Office's objective to reduce victimization among children. All funding is contingent upon the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services receiving the specified grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

The Recovery Friendly Workplace Pilot Program, launched by the Maryland Department of Labor, aims to create a supportive environment for employees recovering from substance use disorders. The program encourages employers to adopt workplace policies that assist in employee recovery, provides stigma-reducing education, and facilitates research on recovery-friendly practices. It seeks to promote workplace well-being and recovery for employees and their families while fostering community awareness.

Launched in 2023, this program aims to enhance Maryland's strategic sectors through innovation infrastructure projects. With $10 million allocated for FY2024, it supports a wide range of technology sectors and is set to run until June 30, 2027. Projects include various infrastructure developments to foster innovation and growth. The Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program and Fund (Fund) is a financing resource operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide grants for innovation infrastructure projects intended to support innovation in an eligible technology sector. In FY24 $10 million is available for grants to transformative projects that accelerate the growth of the state’s strategic industry sectors. Grants may be awarded to private companies, nonprofit entities, local governments, or colleges and universities in the State.

This funding opportunity supports small, community-driven projects in Takoma Park, Maryland, aimed at strengthening neighborhood connections through grants for local non-profits and community organizations.

The Creative Howard grant program is offered by the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) to support small nonprofit arts organizations and arts businesses in Howard County, Maryland. The program aims to strengthen the vitality of the arts community and provide funding for eligible activities. Grants of up to $2,500 are available, and there is no matching fund requirement. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit arts organizations or arts businesses located and operating in Howard County for at least one year with an operating revenue of $100,000 or less. The program supports a wide range of arts activities, including dance, design, folk and traditional arts, history exhibits, literature, media arts, music, theater, visual arts, and workshops. Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis with a deadline of the first day of each month at 11:59 PM. The grant period for FY24 is from September 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Applicants may receive funding for only one application per fiscal year. The application process must be completed online using the Submittable platform. A final report is required within 15 business days after the funded project occurs.

Grant Opportunity: Community Foundation of Frederick County Rolling Grants Funding Organization: The Community Foundation of Frederick County Contact Information: For questions, email [email protected] or call 301.695.7660. Award Details: The 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 minimum grant request is $500, and the maximum request varies by fund. Grants must provide direct benefits to Frederick County, Maryland residents unless otherwise noted in the fund description. Eligibility: Eligible organizations include already existing nonprofit 501c3 organizations in good standing with the IRS, government/quasi-governmental agencies applying for extraordinary projects not funded by tax revenue, religious organizations requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, and civic groups that are not 501c3 organizations requesting funding for a community cause. All applicants must meet Maryland's nonprofit requirements. Application Process: Organizations can submit grant applications through Foundant, the online grants management system used by The Community Foundation. Multiple applications are permitted, with one application per fund to which the organization is applying. Additional Information: Applications can be modified until the application deadline. Grant funds are generally disbursed in full during the first month of the grant period, except for civic organizations that receive reimbursement based on proof of expense and addressing the approved community cause. Variance requests to modify budget or program services can be made before the end of the grant period but require approval from the Community Foundation's Board of Trustees. Multi-year funding is not provided at this time. For more information and to access the application portal, visit this link: [https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?ReturnUrl=%2fProcess%2fShortLinkApply%3fprocessGuid%3ddf0970bb-29dc-4f89-a69a-b5e2e780c6dd%26UrlKey%3dfrederickcounty&processGuid=df0970bb-29dc-4f89-a69a-b5e2e780c6dd&UrlKey=frederickcounty]

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations in the Baltimore area that promote legal education, improve access to justice, and enhance community trust in the legal profession through outreach and service initiatives.

Established in 1959, The Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation is committed to improving the human condition through promoting life-long educational opportunities and a spectrum of cultural programming. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking primarily in the Baltimore area, awarding grants to nonprofit organizations sponsoring high quality programs in three program areas: Arts and Culture, Youth Development, and Adult Self-Sufficiency. The Foundation provides support for programs and general operations and will occasionally consider requests for capital support. In Arts and Culture, the Foundation focuses on growing and diversifying audiences, increasing access to arts across age and income levels, and engaging young people as producers and consumers of arts and arts education. In Youth Development, the Foundation promotes recreation, learning and leadership development through out-of-school-time programs; supports pregnancy prevention and other policies and practices that improve outcomes for vulnerable youth. In the Adult Self-Sufficiency program area, the aim is to strengthen families by supporting adult literacy training, parenting programs and industry-specific job training and preparedness programs.

The Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education. Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Also eligible are rural community colleges that provide enhanced training and technical assistance to support agricultural and small businesses. The Fund’s goal is to increase the overall capacity of rural-serving nonprofit organizations and community colleges to meet a multitude of rural development challenges and to help them establish new public/private partnerships for leveraging non-state sources of funding. The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) serves as the administrative agency in receiving the applications and disbursing the grants to the successful applicants. Funding Information For Fiscal Year 2025, the State has budgeted $878,964 in General Funds for the MAERDAF program. However, grant awards are subject to funding availability. The maximum grant amount is $45,000. For Fiscal Year 2025, the RMC, as the administrative agent, is encouraging applications that address the following: Agriculture & Forestry Agricultural Education Regional Food System Development Forest Industry Development Energy Combined Heat Power Energy Efficiency Biomass Rural Broadband Rural Broadband Expansion Efforts, including municipal broadband Digital Inclusion Programs Youth Engagement & Leadership Development Career Technology Centers Youth Enrichment Programs, including summer programming Economic Development Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development Education & Workforce Development Regional Marketing Efforts & Tourism Projects Community Development Rural Transportation Housing repairs Housing counseling Poverty Alleviation Efforts. Grant Period August 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Rural Counties  State-determined rural counties are Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester. Regional projects may include non-rural counties but the majority of service must be provided in rural areas. Eligible Expenditures MAERDAF does not generally fund ongoing staff positions due to sustainability. Grant funds may be used to fund staff time associated with the completion of the proposed project only. Construction and renovation of buildings are eligible expenses. Acquisition of land is not. Please include quotes of expenditures and be shovel-ready. The purchase or rental of vehicles are eligible expenses. Meals are allowable if the costs are reasonable and a justification is provided that such activity maintains the continuity of the meeting and to do otherwise will impose arduous conditions on the meeting participants. Indirect administrative costs are capped at 10%. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) IRS tax designation or similar and serve a regional or statewide rural constituency. Trade associations are not eligible. Community Colleges, Career Technology Centers, Regional Councils, and Libraries are eligible applicants. The applicant does not have to be located in a rural area or in the area it serves. For more information, visit RMC.