What Chesapeake Charities Supports in Maryland
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As we wrote in our full IP profile of Chesapeake Charities, this community foundation is a tougher grantmaking nut to crack because it does not offer a clear way for nonprofits to directly apply for grants. Yet this Stevensville, Maryland-based funder awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants each year to nonprofits throughout the region. This overview explores how Chesapeake Charities approaches grantmaking and what nonprofits can do to get connected.
What Chesapeake Charities does
Chesapeake Charities is a tax-exempt public charity that allows people and organizations to establish charitable funds and make donations to local groups. A team of experts works at Chesapeake Charities and helps nonprofits manage financial, legal and administrative matters. The funder is also overseen by a volunteer board of citizens and is run by philanthropy professionals knowledgeable about community needs in Maryland.
The mission of Chesapeake Charities is to “provide innovative leadership and quality services that encourage charitable giving, build community resources and enable donors to achieve their charitable purposes, making lasting investments in the Chesapeake Bay region.”
Giving areas of interest
Chesapeake Charities keeps its giving interests broad and has partnered with many types of nonprofits since its founding in 2005. The foundation has invested over $28 million in the following focus areas: education, health and human services, community development, the arts, animal welfare and the environment.
Most Chesapeake Charities funding stays within the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland, but some grants go beyond that area. Local grants have funded a children’s playground, murals, a dog park and comfort kits for people battling cancer. Other funding examples include scholarships for high school students, after-school education programs, food and shelter for families in crisis, and spay and neuter services for animals.
Based on past tax records, we know that most Chesapeake Charities grants range from $100 to $50,000 and go to groups in the eight counties of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay region. Recent grants have gone to St. Luke’s Restoration of Nature Project in Annapolis, Rebuilding Together Charles County in Waldorf and the Lifestyles of Maryland Foundation in La Plata.
Services to nonprofits
In addition to awarding grants to Maryland nonprofits, Chesapeake Charities also offers other services, such as grant writing assistance and program evaluation. The foundation recognizes that these services can be vital for nonprofits, but that staff members may not have the relevant expertise. Therefore, Chesapeake Charities helps local nonprofits with identifying grant opportunities, writing proposals, creating budgets, monitoring program progress and making programs sustainable for the future.
Connecting with this funder
Unfortunately for nonprofits seeking a quick fix for operating or program needs, Chesapeake Charities does not have the most accessible funding process. The foundation doesn’t outline its grantmaking guidelines on its website, nor does it provide a way to apply for a grant online.
It is best to contact the foundation directly to inquire about any current funding opportunities that may exist. You can search for staff contact information and bios in IP’s PeopleFinder. Learn more about other foundations that give locally throughout the state in our Maryland grants guide.
