Grantmaker Resources

7 ways to Support Grantees Right Now

Maryland Philanthropy Network has created this list of 7 Ways to Support Grantees Right Now based on best practices and filled with examples from our network.

Best Practices in Disaster Grantmaking

A joint study of the European Foundation Centre and the Council on Foundations determined that grantmakers can be more effective and strategic in addressing disasters by following eight principles of good disaster management.

1. Do no harm.
2. Stop, look and listen before taking action.
3. Don't act in isolation.
4. Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term.
5. Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations.
6. Find out how prospective grantees operate.
7. Be accountable to those you are trying to help.
8. Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool.

A number of practical suggestions for good disaster grantmaking flow from these principles and are highlighted in "Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations". The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is another a compilation of philanthropic strategies, promising practices and lessons learned that help communities be better prepared when a disaster strikes their community.

Click here for more resources about disaster grantmaking.

Additional Grantmaking Resources

• Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) statement on COVID-19 and how funders can combat xenophobia and take action
• The Bridgespan Group: Nonprofits, Funders, and the Coronavirus Crisis
• See Candid's website for up to date information on how philanthropy is responding to COVID-19 across the world or visit Foundation Maps
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) COVID-19 website is a go-to source for impacts, critical needs, updates and ways to learn more about this crisis. CDP also created a list of suggestions for foundations to consider related to disaster giving.
  • Recording and slides from the CDP March 5 webinar on COVID-19: How Philanthropy Can Respond
  • CDP advises, "There are going to be multiple phases and needs in this crisis – the medical response situation, support for research and assisting vulnerable people who have been impacted. Match your giving to one of these areas or decide how you will transition funds as needs change. Reach out to your existing grantees to see how the crisis has impacted them. Consider issuing some additional funding to help them meet the new needs of their clients."
• Council on Foundation’s Coronavirus Resource Hub and Funders Call to Action
• Council on Foundation's Sample Agreement for Converting Project Grants to General Operating Support
• Chronicle of Philanthropy:

  • As Coronavirus Threat Continues, Experts Tell Nonprofits to Shore Up Reserves

  • 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread

  • Coronavirus Giving Tops $1 Billion Worldwide

• Economic Opportunity Funders Network: COVID-19 Emergency Response and Planning Survey Results
• Foundation Source: How Foundations Can Provide Emergency Grants to Individuals Webinar Recording 
• FSG: COVID-19⁠—Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees: COVID-19 Funding Recommendations
• Grantmakers in Health: COVID-19 Making Effective Rapid Response Grants
• Media Impact Funders: COVID-19 Funding Resources
• Mission Investors Exchange Impact Investing and Philanthropy Responses to COVID-19
• National Center for Family Philanthropy's COVID-19 Resources
• National Center for Family Philanthropy: Beyond 5%: Increasing Support in a Time of Crisis Webinar Recording
• National Innovation Services' An Equitable Systems Transformation Framework for COVID-19
• NAACP's Ten Equity Implications of the Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak in the United States
• PEAK Grantmaking: CONNECT Message Board and Resources
• Racial Equity Tools: COVID-19 - Racial Equity & Social Justice Resources
• Technology Association of Grantmakers: How to Support Digital Infrastructure During COVID-19 and Beyond

COVID-19 Response Funds

This is a list of COVID-19 related funding opportunities from predominately Maryland Philanthropy Network member organizations. Government grant and loan programs are listed on the Nonprofit and Small Business Resource Tab. This list is sorted alphabetically and updated daily. 

If you are aware of a relevant fund not currently listed here, please e-mail chaase@marylandphilanthropy.org.

Artist Relief was established to support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States.

Anne Arundel Community Foundation's Community Crisis Response Fund will provide flexible financial assistance for needs immediately following a violent incident, natural disaster or other crisis in our community. Funding will go to Anne Arundel County nonprofits, and/or county agencies and departments to support community capacity building and/or community healing. The goal of the fund is to improve community safety, well-being and resiliency.

The Associated COVID-19 Fund was created to help Jewish Baltimore unite as one and respond to the needs of the Jewish community in Baltimore.  The fund will help those whose mental health will take a toll during these times of social distancing. We need to support the vulnerable people who may already be socially isolated, in fragile health, or in financial crisis.

Baltimore Artist Emergency Relief Fund was established to give the most effective way to provide timely aid to Baltimore artists through a nimble, localized relief fund that provides artists with a stipend ensuring that basic human needs are met. This coalition effort is administered by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts with funding support from T. Rowe Price Foundation, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Maryland State Arts Council, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, Grit Fund, and Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network.  

Baltimore City COVID-19 Temporary Rent Support was launched by Baltimore City to help people who have lost income because of COVID-19 pay their rent. The program will support eligible renters by making rent payments to landlords.

Baltimore Immigrant Community Fund: Emergency Relief for Immigrant Families seeks to raise funds to help provide economic stability for Baltimore City immigrant families and individuals who cannot work and have been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19. Funds raised through the collaborative will be used to provide direct assistance to immigrant families residing in the City of Baltimore. This direct assistance will help families achieve economic stability by using funds towards rent, utilities and/or other basic needs.

Baltimore Community Foundation's COVID-19 Evolving Community Needs Fund was established to enable rapid response to mitigate the effects of the public health emergency our region is currently facing. One hundred percent of all donated funds will go directly to address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our region’s communities, workforce, and vulnerable populations. 

Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will support the County’s efforts to promote public health and support residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. By creating a fund that is managed by an external partner (BCF), the County will be able to accept donations from individuals as well as foundations and corporate donors in furtherance of its efforts to help County residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will be managed by the Baltimore Community Foundation, a local foundation that manages more than 800 philanthropic funds and $173 million in assets. 

Baltimore Nonprofit Relief Fund, administered by the Baltimore Civic Fund, is a one-time, $5-million fund that supports nonprofit organizations by reimbursing them for unplanned costs incurred since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Through the Nonprofit Relief Fund, Baltimore City is one of a few places in the country prioritizing financial support for nonprofit organizations with federal CARES Act funding. Technical Assistance is available throughout the application period and there will be several informational webinars about the application process. The deadline to apply is November 20, 2020. 

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Emergency Response Fund to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), crowdsourcing fund through the "All of Us Combat Coronavirus”: CDC is taking aggressive public health measures to help protect the health of Americans against coronavirus, COVID-2019.  Funds raised by the CDC Foundation through our Emergency Response Fund will be used to meet emerging needs identified by CDC to help respond to the public health threat posed by this virus. These include additional support for state and local health departments, support for global response, logistics, communications, data management, personal protective equipment, critical response supplies and more.

Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund provides an opportunity for donors to meet the ongoing and ever-expanding challenges presented by this virus. 

CERF+ COVID-19 Response Fund provides emergency financial relief to be a critical safety-net for those artists who are suffering severe health impacts from the coronavirus.

CLLCTIVLY: Black Futures Solidarity Fund was established to support micro-grants for Baltimore’s Black-led Changemakers. As noted in The Case for Funding Black-led Social Change, there has been a long pattern of philanthropic neglect and under-investment in the infrastructure of Black institutions. This fund was established to support those in need and to contribute to the vitality and health of our community.

Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was created as a joint effort by area community partners. Qualifying nonprofits and organizations which assist those impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the Lower Shore Community will be eligible to apply for initial grants of up to $2,000. As the global pandemic unfolds, the Lower Shore community, including particularly vulnerable populations, continues to be severely impacted.

Community Foundation of Frederick County COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants will be used to support nonprofits who directly help those adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Programmatic impacts may include, but are not limited to, emergency shelter, financial stability programs, transportation needs, prescriptions and medical supplies, food and food supplies for seniors, and suicide prevention and other mental health services.

Community Foundation of Harford County Cares Fund supports non-profits in their work to provide services for individuals affected by the virus.

DC Education Equity Fund has been established at the Greater Washington Community Foundation in partnership with Education Forward DC and the DC Public Education Fund. This fund will support Mayor Bowser in her efforts to ensure equity and excellence for all students, even – and especially – during this unprecedented time.

Federal Reserve Bank Investment Connection brings together nonprofit organizations, bankers, foundations, and public and private funders in the regions served by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to explore community development opportunities that fit their mission, especially in low- and moderate-income, distressed and underserved communities.

Fund for Educational Excellence's Emergency School Closure Support Fund will be used to provide vital resources to Baltimore City Public School families and schools during this time of school closure. Funds will be used to purchase essential supplies for families and schools, with a primary focus on purchasing 30lb boxes of food through the Maryland Food Bank that we can send home with families who visit our emergency meal sites.

Give2Asia is partnering with leading Chinese nonprofit organizations to support frontline health workers and hospitals responding to the coronavirus crisis.

Greater Baltimore COVID-19 Response Fund is a streamlined opportunity for nonprofit organizations in Baltimore (City and County), Anne Arundel, Carroll, and Harford Counties to apply for funding to sustain, deepen, or pivot their operations to address critical needs in local communities resulting from the pandemic. Together these philanthropic organizations and families have committed to deploying $1.2 million to meet a wide range of urgent challenges communities are facing.

Greater Washington Community Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was established to support emergency preparedness and response efforts, and to help mitigate the impact on disproportionately affected communities in our region.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Emergency Grants (Phase 1) in Response to COVID-19 Health Crisis will support current grantees that are providing vital services within their communities while facing severe operational challenges as a result of this pandemic. The Foundation is also accelerating payment of several previously approved grants to ensure that organizations have use of those funds as quickly as possible.

HoCoRespond Funds are a coordinated effort by Howard County funders to rapidly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits on the frontlines of responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities in Howard County. Including Community Foundation of Howard County, The Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County.

Mid-Shore Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund was established to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontlines of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Native American Community Response Fund was created to provide grants to Native American nonprofits on the ground to ensure that they are better equipped to care for our most vulnerable - relatives facing food insecurity, access to housing, and our low-income elderly.

Open Road Alliance Charitable Grants and Loans were established for organizations engaging in direct COVID-19 response. We will prioritize organizations and activities that have a clear and direct role in ‘flattening the curve’ and thus limiting, shortening, or minimizing the economic and social, as well as health effects of the pandemic.

The Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venues Operating Grant Program has officially reopened! Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

United Way of Washington County and the Community Foundation of Washington County's joint COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund to support Washington County community-based organizations. This fund will deliver economic assistance and access to vital food and basic need supplies to the many children, families, and households who already have and will be impacted by the temporary loss of income. 

Warnock COVID-19 Emergency Fund was established for all previous Warnock fellows who are working in emergency mode to ensure our communities have the basic necessities and services during this trying time. Former fellows can access up to $500 in emergency funds to continue their work. This funding must go towards a current initiative for Baltimore City communities during this COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to lighten the burdens placed on our fellows during this trying time.