FAQs

Maryland Philanthropy Network (MPN) is a statewide membership association that brings together funders to learn, connect, and collaborate. We serve as a trusted resource, convener, and organizing backbone for philanthropy in Maryland, helping members strengthen their practice and increase the collective impact of giving across the state.

Our mission is to build and activate a diverse, informed, and effective network of philanthropists to inspire transformational impact throughout Maryland. We envision a philanthropic community leading courageous, innovative work that advances equity and justice for all Marylanders.

Maryland Philanthropy Network primarily serves funders, including foundations, donor advised funds, giving circles, and corporate giving programs. We also engage nonprofits, grantseekers, and community partners through learning opportunities, convenings, and shared initiatives that strengthen the broader social sector. 

You can get involved and stay connected by creating an account on our website, subscribing to our newsletters, attending public events, or becoming a member. Funders interested in joining MPN can explore membership, while nonprofits and partners can access resources such as our Job Board, subscription-based Member Directory for Grantseekers, and newsletter for the social sector as well as grantseeker-focused programming.

Maryland Philanthropy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by a combination of membership contributions, foundation and public grants, partnerships, and earned income from programs and services.

Interested in supporting philanthropic infrastructure in Maryland? Learn more about joining our Leadership Circle or becoming a Sponsor.

No, Maryland Philanthropy Network does not award grants and does not accept proposals for funding. 

We are also unable to make introductions to funders. If you are a nonprofit leader looking for funders, we encourage you to check out our curated list of Resources for Grantseekers, including our subscription-based Member Directory for Grantseekers.

Racial equity is a core organizational value and operating principle at Maryland Philanthropy Network. We support learning, dialogue, and action that help funders understand and address systemic racism and inequities. This work includes internal policies, equity-centered programming, collaborative initiatives, and support for funders committed to shifting practices, policies, and power.

Maryland Philanthropy Network supports effective philanthropy by helping funders learn, connect, and act with greater intention and impact. We provide learning opportunities, peer exchanges, and trusted information that strengthens philanthropic practice at every stage. By fostering relationships and shared understanding, we enable funders to make more informed decisions and respond more effectively to community needs.

Maryland Philanthropy Network serves as a neutral convener and organizing backbone for funders across Maryland. We create spaces where philanthropic organizations can build relationships, share insights, learn from experts, and explore opportunities for alignment and collaboration. By supporting funder collaboratives and collective initiatives, we help members move beyond isolated efforts toward coordinated, data-driven strategies that address complex challenges.

Affinity groups, roundtables, and collaboratives are member-led spaces where funders connect around shared interests, issues, or geographic focus areas. These groups provide opportunities for peer learning, relationship-building, and coordinated action on issues such as health, education, workforce development, housing, arts, aging, and more. 

Learn more about our Groups and Collaboratives.

Our work is guided by member interests, community context, trends in the sector, and emerging issues affecting Maryland’s communities. We listen closely to our members and partners, remain responsive to changing conditions, and adapt our focus as new challenges and opportunities arise. This flexible approach allows Maryland Philanthropy Network to support both long‑standing priorities and timely, issue‑based work. 

Yes! Our staff have expertise in philanthropic practice, advocacy and public policy, nonprofit and foundation management, and racial equity, diversity and inclusion framing. If you are a member, you can access a certain amount of customized expertise to your staff, board, or grantees for free or at a deeper level for a fee.

For non-members, speaking and educational engagements are fee-based services. Please contact us to learn more and book this service.

While our membership consists of funders and organizations that serve the philanthropic community, we regularly engage nonprofits and community partners through learning opportunities, convenings, and initiatives that strengthen relationships between philanthropy and the social sector. We provide a variety of grantseeker resources, share information, and create opportunities for dialogue that help nonprofits and funders better understand one another and work more effectively together. 

Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our grantseeker newsletter, Philanthropy News Online, to receive regular updates regarding our events for grantseekers, requests for proposals issued by MPN members, and the latest news relevant to those who work in the social sector.

Maryland Philanthropy Network membership is open to organizations engaged in philanthropy, including private and community foundations, donor advised funds, giving circles, corporate giving programs, and certain public charities with grantmaking programs.

We also welcome entities with expertise and knowledge to support the philanthropic community. Membership is organizational rather than individual. Learn more about MPN's membership criteria and apply to join.

Membership with Maryland Philanthropy Network connects you to the people, knowledge, and resources that strengthen your impact. Members gain access to trusted grantmaking tools, including peer‑recommended consultants and service providers, technical assistance, national funder resources, policy insights, and customized support through “Ask MPN.” Regular communications like the Members’ Memo newsletter and policy briefs keep you informed, inspired, and connected to what’s happening across the sector, the state of Maryland, and beyond.

At the heart of MPN is a vibrant, collaborative community. Members build meaningful relationships through affinity groups, peer roundtables, collaboratives, and networking opportunities, while also shaping the field through board and committee leadership. With more than 100 learning opportunities each year ranging from funder briefings and advocacy trainings to conversations with policymakers and national experts, plus exclusive discounts on events, digital services, and partner resources, MPN membership delivers both immediate value and long‑term return. We invite you to learn more about our Member Benefits.

We’re so glad you’ve joined the network! You should have received a welcome email from Megan McSwain, our Member Engagement Manager, with instructions on how to set up your account on our website and register for upcoming events. Set up an introductory call with Megan to learn more about how to get involved with MPN, join a committee or member group, and get the most out of your membership. 

Affinity groups, roundtables, and collaboratives are member-led spaces where funders connect around shared interests, issues, or geographic focus areas. These groups provide opportunities for peer learning, relationship-building, and coordinated action on issues such as health, education, workforce development, housing, arts, aging, and more. Click here to learn more about our groups and collaboratives.

All members are welcome to attend Maryland Philanthropy Network meetings, programs, and events unless the event is for a specific audience. The intended audience will always be clearly listed in the event’s description.

Membership dues contributions are based on your annual giving/grantmaking in Maryland for your previous fiscal year. Contact us to learn more about our membership tiers and all the benefits of joining our network!

We host over 100 events every year on a diverse range of topics relevant to funders across the state of Maryland. These include workshops, networking events, informational programs, professional development opportunities, topic-based roundtables, webinars, and more. Each event is tailored to address specific challenges and opportunities within the sector.

Our member groups and collaboratives host programming specific to their topic area, and most are open to all MPN members. Learn more about MPN's Groups and Collaboratives.

Our events are primarily for Maryland Philanthropy Network members. Events that are open to non-member funders or events for nonprofit leaders are explicitly noted as such in their event description. Consider becoming a Maryland Philanthropy Network member and get access to all of our events!

We offer a mix of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. This allows us to maximize accessibility and engage our statewide audience while also creating opportunities for deeper, in-person engagement when possible. 

Almost all of our events are free for Maryland Philanthropy Network members – your membership dues cover the cost of our general programming. Our signature events and select programs require a registration fee to cover costs. Select programs are also open to non-member funders at cost. Pricing information will always be clearly listed on each event page.

Maryland Philanthropy Network members can register for events directly on each event page using their email. Following successful registration, you’ll receive a registration confirmation email with the event details.

• Open up an event's webpage
• Underneath the event title, there is a blue box with registration details
• Enter the registrant's email address, or, if you are logged into the website, it will prefill with your email address. 
  • Logging in will also provide you with the option to register a colleague at your organization based on who we have in our system.
• Click "Register"
• The system will identify if the email address entered is eligible to register for this program. If yes, it will open up the registration form.
• Fill out the registration questions - if you are logged in, it will prefill with your information or that of your colleague if using that option.
• Click "Save and Checkout" or "Save and Add Another Registration" to either complete the registration or go back to add another colleague. For programs without a registration fee, you'll bypass any checkout process.
• Once complete, you'll receive an email confirmation with further details and add to cal links.

If you do not see an option to register, it may be because it is restricted to a particular group or the email address you tried to use might not be connected to your membership. If you have any trouble with registration, please contact us for support.

Yes! We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that is accessible to people with disabilities. If you’d like accommodations for an upcoming event (e.g., captioning, interpretation, or other support), please contact us at info@marylandphilanthropy.org or by calling (410) 727-1205 with your request at least 5 days in advance.

For in-person programming, our office is located in a single-story building with free accessible parking directly in front of our suite. For virtual programming, we use Zoom’s automated closed captions and may be able to provide American Sign Language interpretation for our programs and meetings upon request. We invite you to learn more about accessibility at MPN.

When possible, we share recordings, presentations, and additional resources after the event. Availability may vary depending on the format and permissions from speakers. Check out resources and recordings from our recent events.

We do not accept unsolicited pitches or requests to present to our membership. Thanks for your interest, though! 

In the event of inclement weather on the day of an Maryland Philanthropy Network meeting or member program, the following policies will take effect:

• Maryland Philanthropy Network morning committee meetings, programs, or activities that are in-person will be cancelled if Baltimore City Public Schools are closed for the day. Some committee meetings may be held virtually regardless of school closings. The meeting coordinator will provide call-in information in advance and communicate directly with committee members about contingency plans.
• For Maryland Philanthropy Network programs and meetings held at noon or later, cancellations will be announced on the Maryland Philanthropy Network website homepage by 9:00 am on the event day.

If you have questions, please contact us at (410) 727-1205.

If you've registered to attend an Maryland Philanthropy Network event and need to make changes to your registration, you can modify your registration by visiting My Account, navigating to My Registrations, and modifying your registration using the buttons. Contact if you need support.

For cancellations made at least a week before an event with a fee, you will receive a full refund. No refunds are available within one week of an event. This allows us to plan event capacity accurately and keep costs as low as possible for participants.