Why CFAAC
Understanding Community Foundations
Who We Are
At the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC), we envision a vibrant and generous community where everyone comes together to enhance the quality of life for all. We believe every ONE of us makes a difference. That’s why we’re focused on growing philanthropy one person, one family, and one business at a time. The more of us who give, the more good we can do for our community, together.
The Community Foundation’s role is to promote philanthropy, help to identify critical needs in Anne Arundel County, partner with donors to help them meet their philanthropic and financial goals, and promote collaboration to help strengthen local nonprofits.
What is a Community Foundation?
A community foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization that serves a specific geographic area, such as a city, county, or region. Its primary purpose is to manage and distribute charitable funds to support local needs and improve the quality of life within the community. Community foundations pool contributions from various donors into a coordinated investment and grant-making strategy to address a wide range of issues, including education, health, the environment, arts, and social services.
Why is a Community Foundation Important to a Community?
Community foundations play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life within their regions by effectively managing and distributing charitable funds. They offer donors a reliable, efficient, and impactful way to support their communities, ensuring that contributions make a meaningful difference now and in the future. Working with a community foundation allows donors to achieve their philanthropic goals with confidence and ease, knowing that their generosity is making a lasting positive impact.
Resource Pooling and Efficiency: Community foundations aggregate donations from multiple sources, creating a larger pool of resources that can be managed more efficiently and effectively than smaller, individual efforts. This enables larger and more impactful projects that address community needs.
Local Knowledge and Expertise: They possess in-depth knowledge of local needs and issues, ensuring that funds are directed to where they are most needed and can do the most good. This local insight allows them to respond quickly and appropriately to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Stability and Sustainability: By managing endowment funds, community foundations provide a steady and sustainable source of funding for local initiatives. This long-term approach helps ensure that support is available for future generations.
Catalyst for Change: Community foundations often act as conveners, bringing together various stakeholders—nonprofits, businesses, government, and donors—to collaborate on solving community issues. They play a crucial role in fostering partnerships and encouraging collective action.
Promoting Philanthropy: They cultivate a culture of giving within the community, encouraging residents and local businesses to invest in their own community’s future. This culture of philanthropy strengthens community bonds and empowers residents to take an active role in shaping their environment.
About CFAAC
Our mission is to inspire and promote giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care with causes that matter.
CFAAC is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), publicly supported philanthropic organization with the long-term goal of building permanent funds to support local nonprofit organizations through grants and special projects. Established in 1998, CFAAC has become one of the largest funders of nonprofit organizations in Anne Arundel County, distributing $5 to $7 million in grants each year.
With financial contributions from local donors, CFAAC has created a permanent endowment fund to support our mission of serving the residents of Anne Arundel County. Its earnings are reinvested in the community year after year. As the endowment grows, so too does our ability to provide support for community projects that need our attention.
At CFAAC, we are dedicated to increasing access to high-quality capacity-building training for nonprofit professionals to ensure more effective and efficient nonprofits in the county. Through our Community Needs Assessment: Poverty Amidst Plenty, we aim to raise awareness about the issues in Anne Arundel County that impact the economy and quality of life. We monitor all areas of community need—including human services, education, the environment, healthcare, the arts, and economic development.
CFAAC’S 2021-2025 Strategic Plan
In 2020, CFAAC achieved a significant milestone by increasing our foundation’s assets from $10 million to $20 million. This accomplishment was made possible through the generous support of donors, fund advisors, community partners, board members, and staff. During this time, the Board of Trustees and staff collaborated to update the existing strategic plan for 2021-2025.
This updated plan reaffirms CFAAC’s commitment to three strategic priorities: Community Impact & Leadership, Donor-Centered Philanthropy, and Organizational Excellence. These priorities will guide us through the next five years. For more detailed information, you can review the full 2021-2025 Strategic Plan here.
Why Partner with CFAAC
Investing through CFAAC allows you to direct your charitable contributions to the causes that matter most to you. Whether your passion is education, healthcare, the environment, or arts, your donations will make a significant impact. CFAAC ensures that your funds are allocated to high-priority areas where they can achieve the greatest positive outcomes for the community.
CFAAC provides a highly personalized approach to philanthropy. We work closely with you to understand your individual philanthropic and financial goals, tailoring our services to meet your unique needs. This means you can create a giving plan that aligns perfectly with your values and interests, making your charitable giving more meaningful and effective.
Our professional staff possess extensive knowledge of the community’s issues and needs. This expertise enables us to identify the most pressing challenges and the organizations best equipped to address them. By giving through CFAAC, you benefit from our deep understanding of local dynamics and can be confident that your donations are used wisely and effectively.
We believe in the power of collaboration. CFAAC partners with professional advisors—such as financial planners, attorneys, and accountants—to develop effective philanthropic strategies for our donors. This collaborative approach ensures that your charitable giving is not only impactful but also integrates seamlessly with your overall financial and estate planning.
CFAAC accepts a wide variety of assets, making it easy for you to contribute in a way that is most convenient for you. From cash and stocks to real estate and complex assets, we facilitate various forms of giving. This flexibility allows you to donate in a manner that aligns with your financial situation and philanthropic goals.
One of the benefits of giving through CFAAC is the potential for maximizing tax advantages. As a 501(c)(3) organization, contributions to CFAAC are tax-deductible, providing financial benefits to donors. We offer expert advice on how to structure your giving to make the most of available tax benefits under federal law.
CFAAC has deep connections within Anne Arundel County. Our local roots mean we have a strong understanding of the community’s unique needs and opportunities. By giving through CFAAC, you are supporting an organization that is deeply committed to the well-being of the local area and its residents.
Your contributions can have a greater impact when pooled with others. CFAAC combines donations from multiple sources to fund larger, more comprehensive initiatives. This multiplier effect amplifies the reach and effectiveness of your giving, enabling substantial projects that can drive significant community improvements.
Creating an endowment fund through CFAAC means your contributions will continue to support the community indefinitely. Endowment funds are invested to generate ongoing income, ensuring a perpetual source of funding for the causes you care about. This long-term approach helps build a lasting legacy that benefits future generations.
CFAAC acts as a catalyst for positive change by bringing together diverse stakeholders, including nonprofits, businesses, government entities, and donors. We facilitate collaboration and coordination of resources to tackle complex community issues. By supporting CFAAC, you are contributing to a collective effort to create sustainable and transformative change in Anne Arundel County.
CFAAC performs rigorous due diligence on grant recipients, ensuring that donations are used effectively and responsibly. Donors can be confident that their contributions are making a real difference in the community.
With professional staff and investment expertise, CFAAC ensures that donor funds are managed prudently and grow over time. This professional management helps maximize the impact of each donation.
Donors can establish permanent endowments that provide ongoing support for causes they care about, creating a lasting legacy. CFAAC helps donors craft long-term philanthropic plans that reflect their wishes and continue to benefit the community indefinitely.
By handling all administrative tasks associated with grant-making and fund management, CFAAC simplifies the giving process for donors. This allows donors to focus on their philanthropic goals without getting bogged down in the details.
Benefits of Working with the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County
- Local Expertise: CFAAC has in-depth knowledge of local needs and issues, ensuring your funds are directed where they are most needed.
- Professional Management: CFAAC provides professional management of your charitable funds, including investment expertise and administrative support.
- Tax Advantages: Contributions to CFAAC are tax-deductible, and they can help maximize the tax benefits of your charitable giving.
- Flexibility: CFAACs offers a range of giving options and can accommodate complex gifts and various types of assets.
- Legacy Building: Establishing a fund with at CFAAC allows you to create a lasting legacy that supports your chosen causes in perpetuity.
- Working with CFAAC for gift planning is a strategic and impactful way to achieve your philanthropic goals. By partnering with us, you can leverage our expertise, resources, and local knowledge to make a meaningful difference in your community, now and for future generations.