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Help Our Neighbors

Assisting Individuals and Families in Need

Help Our Neighbors Application

CFAAC's Help Our Neighbors Fund was created in 2008 by our Board of Trustees, to support local nonprofits working with Anne Arundel County's most vulnerable community members. The fund assists with living expenses like paying rent to prevent eviction, utilities to prevent shut-off, fees for transportation to work or car repair, or for essential medication and medical care to return to or maintain health. 

Grants have been made to a number of local agencies including Food Link, First Baptist Church, SCAN, SPAN, Annapolis Area Ministries, St. James Parish and Arundel House of Hope.  These agencies report helping hundreds of people by paying for important expenses like rent and utilities enabling their clients to stay in their homes and keep warm or cool; pay fees for licenses and certification or transportation to work; pay for essential medication and medical care to return to or maintain their health.

One recipient wrote, 

“Dear Community Foundation, I wanted to say thank you for your gift of a new beginning.  By helping me with my rent I am now able to stay in my home and proceed with my GED and finding a new job.  There has been a huge weight lifted off my heart and soul because I know now there are still good people in the world.” 

Based on available funding, the Help Our Neighbors Fund will award grants from $250 to $2,500. Successful grant applicants will support projects that provide emergency assistance in paying for rent, car repair, utilities, medicine, food, and other basic necessities. Local nonprofits, including schools operating in Anne Arundel County, will be eligible to apply for these funds. CFAAC will not award a grant for general operating support.

To be eligible to apply, organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Operate in Anne Arundel County (AAC), Maryland
  • Have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Service
  • Be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation
  • Be in compliance with the Maryland Secretary of State Charitable Organization Registration Requirements
  • An organization may file only one application
  • An organization may apply for a subsequent grant after sufficient documentation of disbursements made from a previous grant

Help Our Neighbors grant program will open soon. The grant review committee will review applications and conduct interviews if necessary. Grants will be awarded at the conclusion of the process. Note: A final evaluation assessing project outcomes is required for all grant projects within six weeks of completion. Report formats will be provided.

Application Questions: Contact grants@cfaac.org or 410-280-1102 x104

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