Building Strong Children, Families, and Communities through Grantmaking

The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County plays a critical role in our region by inspiring and promoting giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care with causes that matter.

We know that every one of us can make a difference. That is why we have spent every year since 1998 growing philanthropy, one person, one family, one business at a time. The more of us who give, the more good we can do for our community, together.

Through our Discretionary and Field of Interest Funds, donors can pool their contributions with others to support the causes and areas of need they care about most, such as after school programs, empowerment for women and children, crisis response, making the arts accessible, helping the underserved, or protecting the environment. Each Discretionary and Field of Interest Fund is unique, allowing donors to direct their charitable gift to benefit a specific cause, with the knowledge that funding will be distributed effectively and efficiently through CFAAC’s grantmaking process. The benefits of donating to Discretionary and Field of Interest Funds include:

• Grants are dedicated to meeting the needs of Anne Arundel County residents.
• Donations are focused, yet flexible enough to meet the changing needs in a specific field of interest.
• Donors do not need to be actively involved in the grantmaking yet play a critical role in supporting the community with their donation.
• Every dollar donated directly to a CFAAC Fund is earmarked to fund grants that support the community in that specific field of interest.
• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QDCs) can support Discretionary and Field of Interest Funds held at CFAAC.
• Individuals and families can name a CFAAC Fund in their estate plans to leave a legacy gift supporting areas of interest that they are passionate about.
• Donors can also establish a new Field of Interest Fund that aligns with their passions and invite other donors to join them in supporting it.

CFAAC maximizes impact by pooling donations into each Discretionary and Field of Interest Fund, increasing the amount and number of grants provided to local nonprofits each year. CFAAC’s experienced Grants Committee reviews grant applications on an annual or bi-annual basis and awards grants to qualified and impactful nonprofit organizations whose work addresses solutions to the needs identified by the fund’s purpose. Donations have a direct and immediate impact on the number of grants made or amount of each grant distributed.

By contributing to CFAAC’s Discretionary and Field of Interest Funds, donors ensure that their gifts are managed efficiently and effectively, making a lasting impact on the community.

CFAAC Anne Arundel County Zip Code Map

CFAAC Grant Opportunities

Donor Directed Grants

More than half of CFAAC’s grant dollars awarded each year are at the recommendation of donors, through Donor Advised Funds, Giving Circles, and Scholarships. Our knowledgeable staff assists donors in making informed decisions about the organizations and projects that best match their philanthropic goals.