Grants and Resources

This section offers information about grants and resources for nonprofit organizations, including new opportunities noted in our monthly newsletter. Grant opportunities appear below. Be sure to click on the Resources tab to see new and existing opportunities and the Nonprofit Startup Resources tab for pertinent information.

Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's County Government Grants: County governments award grants annually to nonprofits serving residents of their respective counties. The grant proposal processes, application procedures, and due dates vary among the counties.

St. Mary's County | Charles County | Calvert County

New! The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Community Health and Safety Works program is accepting applications through April 25. The grant funding will support projects that improve the physical environment that impacts health and safety to improve Maryland communities' livability and economic potential. Projects should be located within designated Sustainable Communities Areas. Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties are all home to Sustainable Communities Areas.

New! The Transitional Housing Program Grant Fund, administered by the Charles County Charitable Trust, is open through April 30.

The Philip L. Graham Fund awards several million dollars in grants annually to groups providing educational, health, community enrichment, and arts programs and services to communities in and around Washington, D.C., including Charles County. The application deadline is April 25.

Grants.gov: A portal where organizations and individuals can find and apply for grants from the federal government.

Consultants: Need advice or guidance on strategic planning, financial management, board development, or marketing? The Nonprofit Institute can help. The Institute is staffed by Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants, representing the highest standards of responsible governance, sound management, and accountability. We can also connect you with grant writers, attorneys, accountants, and insurance professionals. Some will offer services to nonprofits on a pro bono basis or for a reduced rate.

New! Nonprofits and Elections 2024

The National Council of Nonprofits' webinar recording, "Nonprofits and Elections 2024: Why and How You Should Engage (and Stay Nonpartisan)," and presentation slides are available.

The organization also has a new resource page, "Voting and Community Engagement," offering additional resources including IRS guidance, permitted nonpartisan activities, voter registration, ballot information, and state-by-state information.

CSM Work-Based Learning (WBL) provides students with real-life work experiences to develop their employability skills. Employers can help shape the future workforce, evaluate potential employees in work settings before hiring, and grow talent with quick and reliable skilled labor. Learn more

Southern Maryland Media Resources: This guide includes contact information and basic instructions for contacting media in Southern Maryland. Updates and new entries may be sent to nonprofit@csmd.edu.

Maryland Service Year Option and Maryland Corps Host Partnerships

The Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation was established by the Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration (SERVE) Act of 2023 with the purpose of promoting service and volunteerism in the state. The SERVE Act also launched two new service pathways for eligible youth and adults: the Service Year Option and the Maryland Corps. Nonprofits can apply to host Service Year Option or Maryland Corps members. As a host partner, you agree to provide high-quality and consistent supervision and skills that can enable the member to successfully transition to employment, an apprenticeship, or college after successful completion of the program. Learn more

St. Mary’s County Department of Health Digital Portal for Community Services

The St. Mary’s County Health Department has launched the St. Mary’s Health & Wellness Portal for community services. Community members can now be easily connected to local services supporting their health and overall well-being. Community service providers can enroll in the system and have their eligible services included. Learn more

New Meeting Room Opportunities - Free for Nonprofits!

The College of Southern Maryland offers meeting room space for use by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. These Community Rooms are classroom spaces that, when not being used for academic purposes, are available for use by nonprofit organizations free of charge. Learn more

Did You Know? Nonprofits can post employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities on the College Central Network, the go-to career resource for CSM students, alumni, and community members of the greater tri-county region.

Maryland Secretary of State Charitable Division Town Halls: Occasional town hall meetings from the Maryland Secretary of State Charitable Division offer insight on topics of interest to nonprofits.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of St. Mary’s County helps to place persons 55 years of age and older in rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling volunteer opportunities with local county agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations. Contact: RSVP Program Manager Monika Williams at 301-475-4200, ext. 1653 or RSVP@stmarysmd.com

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP): Nonprofit organizations are needed to host the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert counties. Community residents age 55 and older who need training to re-enter the workforce are placed with a nonprofit, receive a state stipend, and help fill an organization’s needs. Call 301-374-1142.

Free Foundation Directory Essential via Candid: If your nonprofit’s annual revenue or expenses total less than $1M and you earn a Gold Seal of Transparency or higher, Candid’s Go for the Gold program offers a free year of access to Foundation Directory Essential. Learn more

Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Southern Region provides training and counseling services to new and existing businesses. Designed for all stages of business development, themed workshops range from business planning, to how to comply with legal and tax issues.

Human Resources Association of Southern Maryland (HRASM) is a membership-based organization that provides networking, educational, advisory, and training opportunities to HR professionals in Southern Maryland. Members are offered activities and programs for professional growth and improvement while meeting and networking with other locally based professionals.

Maryland Nonprofits: Maryland Nonprofits is a membership-based organization that offers professional development opportunities and special events. Some resources are free, but most are available to paid members.

Coaching/Consulting Assistance from the Nonprofit Development Center: Access free technical assistance, consulting, training programs, and more. The NDC is appropriate for those in the early stages of running a nonprofit. The NDC is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Commerce and participants must meet certain eligibility requirements. To find out if your nonprofit qualifies - contact: learning@mdnonprofit.org

Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism (GOSV): This unit of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives funds AmeriCorps State programs and recognizes volunteer service. You can recognize volunteers throughout the year by requesting Governor’s Volunteer Service Certificates . You can also submit nominations for the Governor's Service Awards. The office offers other ways to recognize volunteers.

Business Volunteers Maryland: Brings the talents of local business professionals to nonprofit organizations seeking volunteers and board leadership.

MD Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: A nonprofit organization offering pro bono legal services for arts organizations and artists.

National Council of Nonprofits: This site contains useful tools & resources. The Council is a central coordinator, identifying emerging trends and sharing proven practices. Free reports are available on the site.

National Center for Charitable Statistics: Features high-quality data on nonprofits and their relationships to other sectors.

BoardSource: A go-to resource for funders, partners, and nonprofit leaders who want to magnify their impact within their community through exceptional governance practices.

Association of Fundraising Professionals: (AFP) is the professional association of individuals and organizations that generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions.

Starting a nonprofit? We can help. Contact us to begin the conversation. And check out these resources:

Nonprofit Startup Assessment Tool
Assess your readiness with this tool from GrantSpace by Candid. It offers free expert guidance and directs you to resources.

Is Starting a Nonprofit Right for You?
A free, self-paced online course where you will learn the legal and logistical elements necessary to start a successful nonprofit.

Maryland Secretary of State

Charitable Organizations Division >>

Starting a Nonprofit in Maryland >>

IRS

IRS for Charities and Nonprofits >>

How to Start a Nonprofit in Maryland

Step-by-step instructions >>

Legal Resources

Community Law Center >>