In this edition of the CFAAC Community Connector, we'll cover CFAAC news and impact, updates on grants, events, and information about the 2024 Celebration of Philanthropy Awards and insights for professional advisors.
FOUNDATION NEWS
A Message From our President & CEO
"Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know it at the time." —Mitch Albom, author
This month marks a month of beginnings as well as endings. First, our Celebration of Philanthropy Awards nomination deadline is tomorrow! There is still time to nominate an organization or someone who has made or is making an impact in our community through their finances, dedication, or volunteering so please start the application today. Think of it as the beginning of a recognition that is well deserved.
Also, this month marks the end of our wonderful Moorehead-Cain Scholars stay with us, and the beginning of a new chapter for them as they head back to school. I cannot say enough great things about these remarkable students and the incredible work they’ve accomplished in their short, eight-week stay. Through the course of their time here, the students not only met with county leaders and constituents, nonprofits, and high school students, but they also did a deep dive into our community needs and our grantmaking process. They asked pertinent questions and proposed solutions and suggestions that truly can help us make a bigger impact throughout all of the county. Their poise, professionalism, and thorough research gives me hope for the future. We feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to work alongside these impressive scholars and wish them luck as they pursue their studies at the University of North Carolina.
As for other beginnings, we are thrilled to be awarding Fund For Anne Arundel Grants to nine extraordinary nonprofits this month who will each be able to use this important funding to create new beginnings for children and families who need equitable access to healthcare, mental health support, educational opportunities, and nutritious food.
We are also opening a call for grant applications for CFAAC’s Women and Girls Fund. See more information about it and our other grants in this newsletter.
Mary Spencer
CFAAC President & CEO
In Case You Missed It: June's CFAAC Commentary in The Capital Gazette:
The Impact of Being a Monthly Donor
By Mary Spencer, CFAAC President & CEO
For some, supporting their favorite nonprofit happens once a year, usually during annual appeal drives or at the holidays. Nonprofits definitely appreciate these gifts and depend on them. However, giving consistently on a monthly basis can be just as meaningful as a large, one-time donation because it provides a continuous revenue that the nonprofit can count on, and often allows a donor to provide a larger annual contribution each year. Nonprofits often depend on monthly donations to bolster their operational budget, offer them peace of mind and allow them to respond quickly to the ever-evolving needs of the organization.
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Tour Illuminates Maritime History for CFAAC
On a beautiful sunny June day, CFAAC staff and Morehead-Cain Scholars enjoyed a special treat—a tour of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. Being one of the only lighthouses you can visit by water to tour, staff and students boarded the “Bodacious,” one of the official lighthouse tour boats, and headed out on the Bay. The 46-foot Markley was piloted by long-time volunteer, Howard Lewis. Once at the lighthouse, volunteer John Potvin guided everyone through the structure, pointing out interesting artifacts and sharing stories about the famous lighthouse’s history, the life of a lighthouse keeper in the early days, and the role of the Coast Guard. The National Historic Landmark, built in 1875, is the last "intact" lighthouse of its kind left in its original location and is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States. Learn more about the lighthouse here.
Celebration of Philanthropy Award Nominations Close Tomorrow!
Hurry! The deadline for nominations for our 24th Annual Celebration of Philanthropy Awards are due tomorrow, July 11. Nominate an organization, group, or individual who is making a difference in Anne Arundel County. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Lagrotteria at jen@cfaac.org or 410.280.1102, ext.102.
Why Wait? Take Advantage of Celebration of Philanthropy Awards Sponsorship Now!
By becoming an early Celebration of Philanthropy Awards sponsor, you’ll gain access to visibility that extends far beyond the event itself. Your sponsorship will not only be prominently featured during the Celebration of Philanthropy Awards Luncheon via signs, big screen, and program inclusion, but also in pre-event and post-event coverage on our website, social media, and newsletter. This continuous exposure ensures that you will remain top of mind before and after the event, so why wait? This year the Celebration of Philanthropy Awards Luncheon will take place on October 30 so mark your calendars and contact us today! Learn more about sponsorship levels and how to sponsor here.
Thank you to our 2024 Celebration of Philanthropy Sponsors!
- PLATINUM SPONSOR -
- GOLD SPONSOR -
- SILVER SPONSORS -
- BRONZE SPONSORS -
Bill Thompson
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
- FRIENDS OF PHILANTHROPY -
Mary and Dale Spencer Charitable Fund
Trish and Greg Strott
Monthly donors are important and special to nonprofits because of the commitment that they demonstrate to the organization by offering their support month after month, year after year. Fill in the Recurring Donation Amount to set up a monthly donation to your favorite fund.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
CFAAC Fund for Anne Arundel Awards $439,832 to Nine County Nonprofits That are Transforming the Lives of Children
The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s (CFAAC) Fund for Anne Arundel (FFAA) recently awarded $439,832 to nine local nonprofits. To date, CFAAC has distributed 36 grants to 21 unique nonprofits totaling $1,209,954 through the Fund for Anne Arundel.
This year, as in years past, grants made through the FFAA were directed to nonprofits that prioritize the physical, mental, and behavioral health of children and families; a grantmaking focus decision made by a committee of members of the CFAAC Board of Trustees and community leaders guided by CFAAC’s most recent community needs assessment report, Poverty Amidst Plenty VII: Moving Forward Together.
STRENGTHENING NONPROFITS
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Women and Girls Fund Applications Open on July 15
Grants from the Women and Girls Fund will be used to support nonprofits that help women and girls pursue positive, productive lives by helping remove barriers for women and girls, increase their economic security, enhance their well-being and safety, and empower them to make positive life decisions for themselves and their families. The mission of the fund is to support projects that develop individual skills, decrease isolation, create new experiences and empower women and girls who face major obstacles due to poverty, disability, domestic violence, and/or lack of access to resources.
Application Opens: July 15, 2024 | Deadline: August 23, 2025 | Award Size: $3,000 to $5,000 | Awards in October 2024.
Grants 4 Teachers Applications Open
Grants 4 Teachers funds highly creative ideas that otherwise would be impossible to implement in the classroom due to school system funding constraints. We want to help fund teachers' creative ideas to stimulate and inspire our students’ learning.
Application Opened: May 20, 2024 | Deadline: September 27, 2024 | Award Size: Up to $500 | Awards in October 2024.
Environment Anne Arundel Fund Open
The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s Environment Anne Arundel Fund, established in 2014, supports Anne Arundel County nonprofit organizations working to protect and improve the environment in Anne Arundel County and the Chesapeake Bay.
Application Opened: June 10, 2024 | Deadline: July 26, 2024 | Award Size: $3,000 to $5,000 | Awards in September 2024.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training Course (Virtual)
Did you know that nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness? Mental Health First Aid training will teach you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
The Adult Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone age 18 and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Each course is $25/person and includes training and materials; in-person classes include refreshments. Each course is limited to 30 participants.
Important: To receive a certificate of completion, you must register by September 12th! You must complete both sessions to receive a certificate. The sessions will not be recorded.
This course is taught VIRTUALLY in TWO 3-hour courses (one hour of on-line prep work is required).
Dates: Tuesday, September 17, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Instructor: Naeemah Staggs, MHS
NEWS FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
Planning Gifts of Appreciated Stock: Picking favorites
You’re well aware that donating highly-appreciated stock to a fund at the Community Foundation offers significant advantages for your clients over making cash gifts. Communicating this benefit, however, can be challenging when clients have emotional attachments to their shares. How can you overcome this hurdle and help optimize your clients' charitable giving strategies? Read more.
Advising the Charitable Millionaire Next Door
“Doing well by doing good” is a popular notion in corporate giving programs. Many of your clients may be in positions to influence corporate giving strategies. The Community Foundation can support you as you advise clients about avoiding tax pitfalls and conflicts of interest as clients and their work colleagues create charitable giving strategies that align with business purposes. Read more.
Planning for a Sunset: Lock in a Higher Exemption, Unlock a Legacy
Without legislation to prevent it, the sunsetting of current estate tax laws at the end of 2025 will dramatically reduce the federal estate tax exemption from $13.61 million per person in 2024 to approximately $7 million in 2026 (this includes adjustments for inflation). This change would affect many high net-worth individuals and families, likely exposing many more estates to federal estate taxes. Read more.
The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), publicly supported philanthropic organization with the long-term goal of building permanent funds that provide support to local nonprofit organizations through grants and special projects. Our mission is to inspire and promote giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1998, CFAAC is one of the largest funders of nonprofit organizations in Anne Arundel County. CFAAC distributes nearly $5 to $7 million annually. Learn more at www.cfaac.org.