COLUMBIA, Md.—The Community Foundation of Howard County, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support Howard County nonprofits, awarded a total of $200,000 in community grants to 49 nonprofit organizations in Howard County at the end of 2023.
“The Community Foundation of Howard County is pleased to support so many outstanding nonprofits directly benefiting the lives of people in our community,” said Beverly White-Seals, president and CEO of the foundation. “With a mission of inspiring lifelong giving and connecting people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County, our donors trust us to be the hub for philanthropic connections to ensure financial resources get in the hands of the nonprofits that can provide the greatest impact. We believe that local giving means better living for all of us.”
The foundation received 64 grant applications in 2023 as part of an open grant application process for eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Howard County. A grant committee of foundation board members and volunteers selected the grant recipients, which will use the funds for operating and programmatic needs.
“The Community Foundation of Howard County carried forward its tradition of awarding a large number of grants supporting the range of community impact activities,” said Jim Sanders, a member of the foundation’s board of trustees and chair of the grants committee. “The community model means that the focus is to acknowledge and support the diversity of interests and talents in the community. The community grant program is one of the many CFHoCo programs focused on building capacity, recognizing impact and highlighting progress.”
Community grant recipients:
- A Home of Our Own Howard received $3,000 to provide furniture and household items to individuals, veterans and families in Howard County who are transitioning from homelessness.
- AOK Mentoring & Tutoring Inc. received $2,500 to provide tutoring and support to Howard County elementary and middle school students to enhance their academic, social and emotional development.
- The Arc of Howard County received $5,000 to support full community life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Howard County.
- Asian American Healthcare Center Inc. received $1,000 to provide culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible screening, treatment and health care services to Howard County Asian residents.
- Association of Community Services of Howard County received $4,000 to support organizational operations.
- Autism Society of Maryland received $5,000 to support people with autism spectrum disorder and their families with information, support and advocacy.
- Bridges to Housing Stability Inc. received $5,000 to support the organization’s housing and homelessness prevention programs.
- Building Families for Children received $5,000 to provide mental health services and support to families and foster families in Howard County.
- Camp Attaway received $4,000 to support a Howard County therapeutic recreation program for children ages 7 to 13 with complex emotional and behavioral disorders.
- Candlelight Concert Society received $4,000 to support community outreach services and concert performances.
- Columbia Area Mothers of Multiples received $1,000 to support families with multiple birth children in Howard County with support, education and advocacy.
- Columbia Festival of the Arts received $5,000 to support the Howard County Celebration of the Arts and entertainment in efforts to continue as a diverse and accessible community festival.
- The Columbia Orchestra received $4,000 to support community outreach services and concert performances.
- Community Action Council of Howard County received $5,000 to support program areas of early childhood education, energy assistance, homelessness prevention and food assistance.
- Community Allies of Rainbow Youth received $1,000 to support LGBTQ+ students, staff and families in Howard County Public Schools through community partnerships and allies.
- The Community Ecology Institute received $5,000 to support Freetown Farm and programs focusing on and benefiting the environment, education, equity and health in Howard County.
- Down Syndrome Association of Maryland received $5,000 to support people with Down Syndrome and their families with information, support and advocacy.
- Merriweather Arts and Culture Commission received $5,000 to support enrichment opportunities for students to engage with and learn from professional touring musicians who focus on social justice and support community building.
- Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park received $5,000 to support accessible, adaptive programming at Patapsco Valley State Park and promote sustainability, preservation and restoration of the park’s natural resources.
- Friends & Foundation of the Howard County Library System received $5,000 to support Howard County Library youth educational programming.
- Fuel Fund of Maryland received $4,000 to provide financial assistance through utility crisis intervention programs to vulnerable Howard County families for heat and home utility needs.
- Get on the Bus received $1,000 to support access and transportation to after-school programming and recreational activities for Title 1 school students in Howard County.
- Girls on the Run Central Maryland received $4,000 to support physical activity-based afterschool youth development programs for Howard County girls in third to eighth grades.
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center received $4,000 to support 24-hour crisis intervention services including shelter, housing and mental health services.
- HC DrugFree received $5,000 to provide substance abuse and behavioral health education and prevention services to the Howard County community.
- HopeWorks of Howard County received $5,000 to support services for people in Howard County affected by sexual and intimate partner violence.
- Howard Community College Educational Foundation received $5,000 to support scholarships, grants and programs that benefit students at Howard Community College.
- Howard County Conservancy received $5,000 to support nature and environmental programs and services.
- Howard County Poetry and Literature Society received $3,000 to support the cultivation and appreciation of contemporary poetry and literature, including culturally diverse literature, and to broaden exposure to the literary arts in Howard County.
- Howard EcoWorks received $4,000 to support Howard County workforce development and environmental programs that strengthen the local environment and climate-focused community leadership.
- Humanim Inc. received $4,000 to support Howard County programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Junior Achievement of Central Maryland received $4,000 to support experiential learning in the areas of financial literacy, workforce development and entrepreneurial skill building for Howard County students.
- JustLiving Advocacy received $4,000 to support services for Howard County single mothers to increase economic self-sufficiency and improve family health and educational outcomes.
- Leadership Howard County received $4,000 to support educational and experiential leadership programs offered to Howard County youth and adults.
- Maryland Coalition of Families received $5,000 to provide peer support services for Howard County individuals and families with someone experiencing mental health, substance use or problem gambling challenges.
- Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland received $4,000 to support home-delivered meals for homebound Howard County seniors.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Howard County received $5,000 to provide support, education and advocacy for those living with mental illness and their families in Howard County.
- National Family Resiliency Center received $5,000 to support the counseling, education and support programs provided for Howard County families experiencing crisis.
- Neighbor Ride received $5,000 to support transportation services for Howard County seniors.
- Oakland Mills United received $3,000 to support Oakland Mills students, schools and community through education, enrichment and student well-being efforts.
- Rebuilding Together Howard County received $4,000 to support the volunteer-based home repair program for Howard County’s vulnerable populations.
- Respite Retreats received $4,000 to provide retreats of respite to cancer patients, their caregivers and families in Howard County.
- Sobar received $3,000 to provide nonalcoholic beverages to Howard County by hosting alcohol-free bars and events and working to reduce the stigma of choosing not to drink alcohol.
- Special Olympics Maryland received $5,000 to support Olympic-type sports programs with training and athletic competition for Howard County individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services Co. received $2,500 to support low- to moderate-income families and individuals through financial counseling and literacy education programs.
- The Village in Howard County received $4,000 to provide support, services and activities in coordination with public and private resources to enable Howard County residents 55 and older to actively age in place.
- Voices for Children received $5,000 to support volunteer court-appointed special advocate services for Howard County youth in foster care.
- Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas received $5,000 to support the Leola Dorsey Community Resource Center, a permanent housing program for individuals who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness.
- Winter Growth Inc. received $5,000 to support assisted living, adult day care and community transportation for seniors and disabled adults in Howard County.