Maryland is home to 13 community foundations that are members of the Maryland Community Foundations Association (MCFA), each serving a region of Maryland in unique ways. Together, as MCFA, they speak with one voice across the state, empowering people, businesses, and community organizations by promoting and facilitating local philanthropy.
MCFA Members Include:
- Baltimore Community Foundation
- Chesapeake Charities
- Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County
- Community Foundation of Frederick County
- Community Foundation of Harford County
- Community Foundation of Howard County
- Community Foundation for Montgomery County
- Community Foundation for Prince George’s County
- Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
- Community Foundation of Washington County MD
- Community Trust Foundation, Inc.
- Greater Washington Community Foundation
- Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Community foundations build and strengthen philanthropy—and thus, communities—by making it simple and cost-efficient for individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits and civic organizations to establish philanthropic funds. Community foundations are a valuable local resource to learn about community needs and invest in local nonprofits.
Community foundations are builders and caretakers of permanent community resources, service providers to donors, grant makers, and conveners, catalysts for positive change, and collaborators within the community. Their focus is on securing permanent sources of philanthropic dollars, specializing in building endowments to serve their regions’ changing needs and creating donor legacies. In addition, community foundations can help donors create donor advised and corporate advised funds to fulfill donor's short and long-term charitable giving.
Community foundations are uniquely poised with knowledge of local needs, an understanding of giving options that will maximize tax benefits and impact, and a network of national peers, all while being independent local nonprofit organizations with independent boards comprised of local leaders.
Community foundations serving Maryland hold a total of more than $700 million in philanthropic assets and distribute about $128 million in grants each year to nonprofit organizations in their communities, addressing a wide range of issues, from education to aging, from arts to the environment. They represent the collective philanthropy of hundreds of donors, including influential corporate, philanthropic and civic leaders.
In addition to facilitating philanthropy by local donors, community foundations are exceptionally positioned to:
- Assess community needs.
- Work with local professional advisors to assist donors.
- Collaborate with a broad range of community partners to maximize impact in the community.
- Advocate for the nonprofit sector.
- Strengthen local nonprofits through training and capacity building.
Maryland Philanthropy Network is the host and convener of the Maryland Community Foundations Association. MCFA provides a regular forum for which community foundations across the state can benefit from sharing ideas and resources and makes it possible for members to collaborate on opportunities of mutual benefit.
Contact Shanetta Martin to learn more about MCFA or reach out directly to your community foundation noted above.