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Community Foundation of Frederick County Maryland Incorporated

Annual Giving
$6.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.9 million in grants (FY2024)
  • Total Assets: $193.3 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $30,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Frederick County, Maryland
  • Established: 1986
  • Total Impact: $111 million in grants and scholarships since inception

Contact Details

Website: https://www.frederickcountygives.org/

Phone: 301-695-7660

Email: Community.Impact@FrederickCountyGives.org

Address: Frederick, MD

Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=frederickcounty&

Overview

The Community Foundation of Frederick County Maryland, Inc. was established in 1986 with a mission to connect people who care with causes that matter to enrich quality of life in Frederick County. With total assets exceeding $193 million and annual grant distributions of $6.9 million in FY2024, the Foundation operates 844+ individual funds created by generous donors. President and CEO Elizabeth Y. Day, who joined the organization in 1995, leads the organization alongside a 24-member volunteer Board of Trustees. The Foundation's grantmaking strategy is data-driven, guided by the Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Reports (2018 and 2022), focusing on supporting families with children, preparing for an aging population, and responding to substance use disorder, with elevated emphasis on affordable housing, mental health, and alleviating disparities in service delivery. Charity Navigator awarded the Foundation a Four-Star rating with a 100% score.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rolling Grants ($500 minimum)

  • Application Period: January 5 - May 1, 2026
  • Supports wide range of field of interest and special purpose funds
  • Funding used February 1 - December 31, 2026
  • Application method: Online via Foundant portal

Impact Grants ($500 minimum)

  • Application Period: September 15 - October 15, 2025
  • Supports health/human services, historic preservation, arts, agriculture, civic causes, animal well-being, education, youth programs
  • Funding used January 1 - December 31, 2026
  • Fixed annual deadline

Strategic Grants ($1,000 minimum)

  • Application Period: August 15 - September 15, 2025
  • Focuses on greatest community needs: families with children, aging population, substance use disorder
  • Awards typically range $12,500 - $37,500
  • Funding used December 1, 2025 - March 31, 2027
  • Fixed annual deadline

Women's Giving Circle Grants

  • Application Period: February 1 - 28, 2026
  • Supports programs empowering women ages 18+ in challenging situations
  • Fixed annual deadline

Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund

  • Supports veterans and families facing financial hardship
  • One grant per veteran per 12-month period
  • Applied for through nonprofit organizations on behalf of individuals

Priority Areas

The Foundation's strategic priorities, informed by the Frederick County Human Needs Assessment, include:

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Supporting families with children experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and economic instability
  • Preparing for a growing aging population through elder care and support services
  • Responding to substance use disorder through prevention, treatment, and recovery support

Elevated Importance:

  • Access to affordable housing
  • Mental health services and support
  • Alleviating disparities in service delivery for underserved populations

General Funding Areas:

  • Arts and culture
  • Historic preservation
  • Education and youth development
  • Agriculture
  • Animal welfare
  • Civic causes
  • Health and human services

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (except through organizational intermediaries for relief funds)
  • Projects serving less than 51% Frederick County residents
  • Multi-year funding commitments (annual applications required)
  • Sectarian religious activities (faith-based organizations eligible for non-sectarian programs)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

  • Elizabeth "Betsy" Y. Day, President and CEO (joined 1995, compensation $229,358)
  • Gail Fitzgerald, CPA, CGMA, Vice President/CFO
  • Tonyia Miller, Executive Assistant

Board of Trustees Leadership:

  • Paul D. Rose, Jr., Esq., Chair (Attorney, McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC)
  • RaeAnn E. Butler, First Vice Chair (President, Edenton Retirement Community)
  • William Randall, Second Vice Chair (President, Randall CAP)
  • Ian Bartman, Former Chair (Principal, Offit Kurman)

The 24-member volunteer Board of Trustees represents a broad cross-section of the community and serves as the governing body. Founder Donald C. Linton noted the community's "forward-thinking, caring citizens" as instrumental to the Foundation's success.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All grant applications are submitted through the Foundation's online Foundant grants management system. Organizations must create an account at the grant portal.

Application Process:

  1. Review the Grant Seeker's Guidebook for specific program requirements
  2. Create an account in the Foundant online system
  3. Complete application forms during the designated application period
  4. Applications can be modified until the deadline
  5. Submit required documentation (IRS determination letter, financial statements, board list)

Application Flexibility:

  • Organizations may submit up to four proposals for funding across different programs
  • Each proposal may not exceed $20,000; organizations may seek up to $20,000 total

Decision Timeline

Review Process:

  • Grants Committee (comprised of board members and community volunteers with specific expertise) reviews applications
  • Committee makes funding recommendations to Board of Trustees
  • Board of Trustees makes final approval

Notification:

  • Applicants receive email notification of decisions
  • Grants are generally disbursed in full during the first month of the grant period

Typical Timelines by Program:

  • Strategic Grants: Applications August-September, awards announced December
  • Impact Grants: Applications September-October, awards announced July
  • Rolling Grants: Applications January-May, awards on rolling basis February-December
  • Women's Giving Circle: Applications February, awards announced later in year

Success Rates

The Foundation awards 98-130 grants annually (based on 2018-2023 data), distributing approximately $6.9 million in grants per year. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly published, but recent Strategic Grant rounds awarded 17-21 organizations out of total applicant pool.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply annually to each grant program. The Foundation does not publish specific waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants, suggesting reapplication in subsequent cycles is acceptable. Organizations are encouraged to contact Community Impact staff for feedback after unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The Foundation's grantmaking is explicitly data-driven through the Frederick County Human Needs Assessment. Applications demonstrating direct response to identified community needs—particularly supporting families with children, aging population, substance use disorder, affordable housing, mental health, and reducing service disparities—receive priority consideration.

Recent Successful Projects:

  • Beyond Shelter Frederick: $30,000 for shelter and housing support for families experiencing homelessness
  • Blessings in a Backpack, Frederick Chapter: $17,394 supporting children from low-income households experiencing food insecurity
  • Mission of Mercy: $25,000 providing free medical and dental care for ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) families
  • Centro Hispano de Frederick: $30,000 for staff position supporting immigrant populations navigating health and human services
  • On Our Own of Frederick County: $37,500 expanding peer support services for substance use disorder recovery
  • Phoenix Foundation of Maryland: $12,509 for recovery high school for adolescents in early recovery

Critical Success Factors:

  • Serving Frederick County residents (minimum 51% of program participants)
  • Clear demonstration of community impact
  • Organizational capacity to execute proposed project
  • Specific, measurable outcomes
  • Realistic, justified budgets
  • 501(c)(3) organizations must be in good standing with Maryland Secretary of State and Department of Assessment & Taxation
  • Strong financial stewardship and reporting (unused funds must be returned within 60 days of grant period end)

Contact for Support: The Foundation encourages applicants to contact Community Impact staff at 301-695-7660 or Community.Impact@FrederickCountyGives.org with questions during the application process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Data-driven priorities are paramount: Align proposals explicitly with the three strategic focus areas identified in the Frederick County Human Needs Assessment—families with children, aging population, and substance use disorder—and emphasize affordable housing, mental health, or reducing disparities wherever applicable.

  • Geographic focus is strict: Ensure at least 51% of program participants are Frederick County residents; this is a non-negotiable eligibility requirement.

  • Multiple opportunities exist: Organizations can submit up to four proposals across different grant programs, maximizing funding potential with the $20,000 maximum per proposal.

  • Application flexibility helps: Applications can be modified until deadlines, allowing refinement based on organizational needs or feedback.

  • Leverage staff expertise: The Foundation actively encourages contact with Community Impact staff for guidance—use this resource during application development.

  • Strong stewardship matters: Grants are disbursed in full upfront, but unused funds must be returned within 60 days, demonstrating the Foundation's emphasis on fiscal accountability.

  • Fixed and rolling options: Strategic applicants can time proposals to multiple grant cycles—fixed deadline programs (Strategic, Impact, Women's Giving Circle) and Rolling Grants offer year-round opportunities.

References

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