In this edition of the CFAAC Community Connector, discover the latest news, inspiring impact stories, upcoming events, scholarship and grant opportunities, and expert insights for professional advisors.

With all of this Arctic weather in Annapolis, I’m looking forward to spring! And even though spring seems a long way off, we’ve already planted the seeds for a great 2025. The Community Foundation staff is busy working on our annual report and strategizing with our board members to continue our amazing growth. We are also planning educational events, including our Blueprint for Successful Grant Applications and The Loneliness Epidemic.

We are thrilled to share that we had an incredible 2024! We opened 40 new funds, awarded more than 660 grants to nonprofits, totaling nearly $6 million. Please see Inspiring Impact in this newsletter for more details about the grants awarded in 2024. These grants go beyond financial support for our amazing nonprofits and their programs—they are investments intended to transform lives and strengthen our community for future generations.

We will feature more about last year’s achievements in our upcoming annual report. Along with celebrating last year’s milestones, the report will feature uplifting stories about our nonprofits, grant recipients, and the fundholders and donors who make it all possible. Stay tuned!

When the winter thaws begin, we will already be in high gear conducting programs, opening funds, and attending community events. We hope to see you at one of our events.

Mary Spencer
CFAAC President & CEO

How Community Foundations Bring People Together During a Time of Transition
By Mary Spencer, CFAAC President & CEO

In times of challenge, uncertainty or transition, community foundations can bring people together for a common cause: the community. Community foundations serve as a trusted resource and nonprofit funder so when communities need to unite to support those in need, they can help by stewarding funds, delivering information, bridging diverse groups, addressing crisis and critical immediate needs, providing educational programming and recognizing local philanthropy. There are currently over 900 community foundations nationwide* with more than 13 in Maryland.

CFAAC distributed 57 Field of Interest/Discretionary grants last year with a total of 666 grants awarded overall. Let's continue the momentum. Donate today!

The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County is thrilled to welcome the following fund to our family of funds:

The Complete Player Charity Fund
A CFAAC Designed Fund was established to support The Complete Player Charity’s (TCP) core mission: to be inspired by everything a great community should already have, but that children in underserved areas often don’t get to experience.

Patricia E. Giese AAWGT Lifetime Membership Fund
This CFAAC Endowed Fund supports Anne Arundel Women Giving Together’s mission of funding programs that are devoted to improving the lives, health, education, and well-being of women, their children, and families.

Lance Corporal
Eric William Herzberg

Lance Corporal
William Taylor Wild, IV

The Lance Corporal Eric William Herzberg and Lance Corporal William Taylor Wild IV Scholarship is now accepting applications. Established in 2014 at CFAAC by anonymous donors, this scholarship honors two fallen Marines—Eric W. Herzberg and Taylor Wild, IV—both residents of Anne Arundel County.

This $10,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior who demonstrates character, quiet leadership, resiliency, and financial need.

Key Details:
- Application deadline: March 19, 2025
- Finalists may be invited to interview with the Selection Committee in early to mid-April.

Officer Grant Turner

The Officer Grant Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund, established to honor Officer Grant Turner’s life and passion for baseball, is now accepting applications. This $1,700 scholarship is awarded annually to graduating student-athletes from South River or Crofton High School, as well as members or dependents of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department or the Maryland Diamond/Anne Arundel County Umpires Association. Additional eligibility criteria can be found in the application form. Application deadline: March 19, 2025

The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s Environment Anne Arundel Fund, established in 2014, supports local nonprofit organizations working to protect and improve the environment in Anne Arundel County and the Chesapeake Bay. This fund helps projects that enhance communities, address environmental challenges like stormwater, and promote the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay, local streams, rivers, and other natural areas.

To help organizations needing funding for summer projects, the grant application opens earlier this year.

Grant Details:

Grants will be awarded to one or two applicants based on available funding. Local nonprofits, including schools in Anne Arundel County, are eligible to apply.

In 2023, the Surgeon General published an Advisory on the Health Effects of Social Connection and Community, titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The report notes that millions of Americans lack meaningful social connection, and that there are a myriad emotional and physical health consequences associated with this loss of connection. 

Loneliness is associated with a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and dementia. It also makes us more vulnerable to physical health problems including increased susceptibility to viral and respiratory infections, an elevated risk of heart disease and stroke, and potentially even premature death.

But what does it mean to feel lonely? Why do we experience loneliness?  Why is it such a prominent topic today? And most importantly, how can we address it?

At this presentation, Marcie Gibbons, LCSW-C, from the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, will explore the growing “loneliness epidemic,” emphasizing its profound impact on mental and physical health. The presentation will feature key recommendations from the Surgeon General and strategies to “gentle our journey,” fostering connection and resilience in an increasingly isolated world.

Event Details:

Join our panel of experts as we construct the foundation for successful grant applications. We’ll frame key components, including how to craft compelling narratives, reinforce your case with evidence of need, and structure budgets that meet grant reviewer expectations—building a well-crafted blueprint for funding success. Participants will learn how to: 

Event Details:

Join the Nonprofit Center and the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County for a full-day conference designed to inspire and equip nonprofit leaders. Open to all Anne Arundel County 501(c)(3) nonprofits, this event will feature expert-led workshops, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities to help enhance your organization’s impact.

Event Details:

Space is limited; register early to secure your preferred sessions.

Session 1 Options (10am to 10:50am):

Government Investment into Nonprofits

Diverse Boards, Better Outcomes

Session 2 Options (1pm to 1:50pm):

Digital Dialogue: Leveraging Social Media & Charity Rating Sites

Bringing Strategy to Life: Practical Steps for Advancing the Mission

Session 3 Options (2pm to 2:50pm):

Turning Data into Designs and Decisions

Connections as Capital: The Benefits of Shared Space

Whether you have a new or well-established endowment, save the date for attending Tuning Up Your Endowment, an event tailored for nonprofit leadership and fundraising staff.

Barb Kappel, Nonprofit Advisor and Fundraising Coach, and John Rodenhausen, CFAAC Director of Gift Planning, will lead this intimate and interactive session focused on effective strategies for fundraising and strengthening your endowment. They’ll cover key topics such as donor engagement, long-term sustainability, and best practices for growing your endowment fund.

This session will provide invaluable insights from seasoned experts, offering practical advice to help you build on your current efforts and maximize your fundraising potential.

Event Details:

Seating is limited - register early to reserve your spot.

AAWGT PRESENTS - Trailblazers: Inspiring Leadership, Innovation, and Impact 

Join Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) on March 10th from 6:30–8:30 PM at St. John’s College for an inspiring Women’s History Month event. Hear from two trailblazing women as they share their journeys and discuss how leadership, innovation, and courage inspire the next generation of changemakers.

A light reception will follow. Reserve your spot today, and stay tuned for potential livestream details.

Register here. For assistance, contact events@givingtogether.org.

The Nonprofit Center
Open House 

The Nonprofit Center is hosting an open house at its facility in Crownsville on February 13, 2025. 

Renovation of the building at 41 Community Place has been underway for more than a year. The major work is complete and it's time to offer everyone a sneak peek before they finalize plans and begin to move in. 

Some spaces are still a blank canvas, and we are looking for input. So, whether you're interested in using the space for periodic meetings, securing office space, or just wondering what the building now looks like, please plan to attend.

Learn more and register here.

 

Nonprofit Learning Lab

The Nonprofit Center is seeking 18 local 501(c)(3) organizations in Anne Arundel County to pilot the Nonprofit Learning Lab's (NLL) online training service.

Participants will receive free All-Access membership for up to two staff members or volunteers through December 30, 2025, in exchange for completing two surveys to help evaluate the program.

Priority will be given to nonprofits with budgets under $1 million that address the social determinants of health. Eligible organizations will be notified within 10 business days of application.

Learn more and register here.

Current members can renew anytime between now and March 1.

Give yourself the gift of networking by renewing or activating your membership and continue being part of this vibrant community. Don’t miss out!

Join AAEPC members and guests for a relaxed evening of networking, appetizers, and a cash bar—same Wine Down vibe, just on Thursday.

Tax season is a great time to talk to your clients about tax planning strategies for the current year and beyond. To help incorporate charitable giving topics into your tax season client conversations, the Community Foundation has put together some tips to address three scenarios where CFAAC can assist your efforts. Read more.

Most of your philanthropic clients likely support a wide variety of charities. And many of the charitable organizations your clients support are local. That’s important to note because it means that your clients can benefit from the Community Foundation’s unique position as the hub for charitable giving and local knowledge. Here are three reasons why that matters: Read more.

In the wake of the devastating California wildfires, many of your clients are understandably eager to help. This may be particularly true for your corporate clients who want their companies to participate in a meaningful way. Before your clients rush to donate, encourage them to consult the Community Foundation. Here’s why: 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.