The pandemic taught us many lessons. One great lesson was the collaboration that took place when nonprofits across the county banded together to bring food, clothing, and care to those in our community who were in need. 

More recently, the city of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, private donors, and nonprofits including Blacks of the Chesapeake (a CFAAC Designated Fundholder), Chesapeake Conservancy (a CFAAC Designated Fundholder), The Conservation Fund, and the Maryland Heritage Area Authority entered into an agreement to acquire a cottage that once belonged to Parlett L. Moore, an educator and former president of Coppin State University, from his grandchildren.

The property, which spans about two-thirds of an acre, is adjacent to Elktonia Beach, a five-acre shoreline acquired by the city in 2022. Elktonia Beach represents the remaining part of the historically significant Carr’s and Sparrow’s Beach, two popular resorts on the Chesapeake Bay that were safe havens for the Black community during the era of segregation. Working together, the nonprofits and partners helped to make this acquisition a pivotal achievement in a 20-year effort to preserve Black heritage sites along the Chesapeake Bay.

The fabric of our community is woven with stories of nonprofits working together. For example, CFAAC continues our work with Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS) to bring the community educational workshops. We are contributing to county efforts to bring a new nonprofit hub to life, and countless other relationships that illustrate how strategic partnerships can make an enormous impact in our community. CFAAC connects donors who care with causes that matter to make Anne Arundel County a great place to live, work, and play for all. 

If you have questions about how your philanthropy can support local nonprofits working together to tackle the needs of our community, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call at 410.280.1102 or contact us at info@cfaac.org for more information about how we can help you. We are your Community Foundation.