Message from the Executive Director | | |
As the year comes to a close, we are taking time to evaluate what we’ve accomplished the past twelve months, plan programming for 2026, and create a vision for the next three to five years. But, we can’t do it - or do it well - without feedback from those who have connected with the Nonprofit Center as well as those who haven’t. Whether it’s via survey, focus group, phone call or email, please let us know how we are doing and what we can do better to support your work.
There are a lot of great opportunities headed your way this spring. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information. Several countywide grant programs open their applications in January. If you missed our grants workshop, the recording and resources are available on the NPC website. From our team to all of you, thank you for everything you do and happy holidays!
| | Welcome Leadership Anne Arundel | | | | |
The Nonprofit Center team is excited to welcome a new resident organization, Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA), to the building.
We look forward to working with Kris, Pam, and Kesha over the next six months while their office at Maryland Hall is closed for renovation.
| | LAA's vision is to develop and nurture community trustees who improve the quality of life in Anne Arundel County by convening diverse stakeholders, bridging their divides, and facilitating resolutions for the common good. Learn more about the program in a featured NPC Spotlight on our website. | | ATTENTION: Nonprofit Executives | | | | Just a few seats remain for our strategic planning focus group session on December 18th! Join us at the Nonprofit Center from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Register HERE. | | Upcoming Nonprofit Center Programs | | |
NEW DATE: January 14, 2026
Join us any time between 3:00pm and 5:00pm @ 41 Community Place
Let's get creative! This is a great opportunity to connect with other nonprofit leaders, share inspiration, and build your vision for 2026.
| | If you missed the 30-minute primer on Anne Arundel County's new Community Wellbeing Index (CWI), you can view the recording HERE. Passcode: Ll!36n%6 | | | | Then join us on FEBRUARY 5, 2026 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at the Odenton Library
for in-person training with 1:1 assistance using the CWI in real time. Registration, available soon, is limited to 18 participants. | | NEW: Community Co-Working Days Coming This Spring! | | |
Beginning in January 2026, the Nonprofit Center (NPC) will host monthly Community
Co-Working Days where we invite the nonprofit community to work alongside the NPC's resident organizations and staff!
But what is coworking? Coworking offers professionals a shared workspace in a communal setting that cultivates creativity, promotes social engagement, and provides opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving. Additional benefits of coworking include increased productivity, improved life-work balance, and an overall sense of community.
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No registration required. Bring your laptop, your lunch, your headphones and whatever else is needed to join us for part, or all, of the workday (between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
We even have quiet spaces to take a call.
| | "To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold."
- Unknown (not Aristotle) | Nonprofit Organizational Health Survey | | |
The Center for Nonprofit Advancement and Brighter Strategies, in partnership with Maryland Nonprofits, are conducting a baseline study of nonprofit organizational health across DC, Maryland, and Virginia to highlight critical issues facing nonprofits today. Specifically,
- Current funding and operational challenges
- Where support is most needed
- How economic and political conditions are affecting nonprofits
- What types of resources would be most beneficial
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate. CEO/Executive Directors, senior leadership, or board leadership are asked to respond by Friday, January 5, 2026. Access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NK6DJPZ
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Liyo Masvidal at Liyo@brighterstrategies.com. As a thank you, The Center for Nonprofit Advancement is offering a free professional development course in 2026 for all respondents who complete the survey.
| | Lili Leonard facilitates a strategic planning session with the NPC Advisory Committee and others | | The Fundraising & Sustainability 2.0 cohort poses for a photo after its final meeting | | NPC-based nonprofits participated in CRASE training, led by AACPD Cpl. Ott, earlier this month | | Host Your Next Meeting at the Nonprofit Center | | | | |
If you are looking for meeting space during the week, check us out. Rooms are available from 9:00am - 6:00pm Monday through Thursday and 9:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays (not including holidays). Resident organizations can reserve spaces in the evenings as well.
For details, review the information on our Meeting & Event Spaces page, then contact the NPC staff about availability and a link to the reservation form.
| | Check Out This Month's... | | |
December is a time for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation, especially for nonprofit leaders like yourselves who have poured their hearts and souls into helping our communities thrive. As we prepare to transition into 2026, we celebrate our accomplishments, transform losses into lessons, and look forward to new possibilities. Below are several professional development opportunities to help you secure funding, adapt your leadership to meet the moment and leverage AI to improve processes. We hope you take advantage of one (or several) training sessions and look forward to reconnecting in the new year!
☆ Introduction to Fiscal Sponsorships
Charm City Impact's Executive Director will explain the different models of fiscal sponsorship, common pitfalls, questions to ask before signing an agreement, and when fiscal sponsorship makes sense (and when it doesn't).
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Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - TOMORROW
- Time: 6:00 PM
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Register Here or at bit.ly/CharmCityImpact
☆ Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) Grant Applicant Workshops
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Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
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Time: 9:30-10:30 AM Register Here (for morning session)
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Time: 1:30 - 2:30 PM Register Here (for afternoon session)
☆ Adaptive Leadership: Creating Innovation from Chaos - Nonprofit Learning Lab
Leading your organization effectively is challenging even in the best of times. Leading through the chaos of shifting resources, governmental constraints, or changing donor interests? Even harder. This workshop will explore the practice of adaptive leadership, which studies show calms chaos, promotes innovation, and builds stakeholder engagement and committed teamwork. Learnings are applicable to organizations or all sizes and sectors.
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Date: Monday, January 12, 2026
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Time: 11:00 - 11:30 AM
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Register Here
☆ How to Use AI to Lighten Your Load - Chronicle of Philanthropy
Learn from an expert panel who will break down how they’ve adopted AI in ways that speed up daily operations without compromising security. You’ll hear the practical steps they’ve taken, the common pitfalls they avoid, and the safety measures every organization should consider.
☆ Get Your Board Fundraising - Candid
Join the Candid team online to learn practical strategies for better engaging your board in fundraising. The session will cover boards’ typical fundraising responsibilities, why some board members may be reluctant to fundraise, and how to overcome these concerns. You will also brainstorm new ways your board members can participate in fundraising activities and will hear tips for strengthening your board and aligning on fundraising priorities. Whether you’re an executive director, board member, or development professional, this course will help you plan for your organization to fundraise better as one team.
| | Grants, Funding Opportunities, and Other Resources | | |
Specific information about all ACDS grant programs, including application and training links, is available on their website.
https://acdsinc.org/funding-opportunities/
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Anne Arundel Women Giving Together will again in 2026 put philanthropic dollars to work — supporting programs that create lasting, meaningful support for women and families in Anne Arundel County. The full grant application, including a Spanish version, is available for review now. Applications will be accepted online from January 1 to January 31, 2026.
For more information, visit the grants page on the AAWGT website.
| Journey for Good Foundation, based out of Bethesda, Maryland, is focused on fighting poverty in communities with food, shelter, education, and workforce development. Grants are given three times per year to organizations nationwide. | | | | |
GrantStation released its 2025 State of Grantseeking™ Government Update Report, which shows how the government funding landscape has shifted since just March of this year.
You can download the report directly from the GrantStation website or view a copy at the Nonprofit Center.
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Don't forget that Anne Arundel County Libraries offers free access to Candid's Foundation Directory at all library branches. They also provided one-on-one training to learn the basis of searching the directory.
Upcoming Programs
at the Busch Annapolis Library:
January 15, 2026 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Tips and Best Practices for Securing Grant Funds
February 18, 2026 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Introduction to Finding Grants
| | | | | Follow us on Facebook for new events, grant opportunities, and other resources specifically for local nonprofits. | | |
You can support our mission by donating to the Nonprofit Center's fund at the
Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.
Donate here.
| | | | | | | The Nonprofit Center is a program of Anne Arundel County government. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Contact nonprofitcenter@aacounty.org seven days in advance of any NPC-sponsored event to request an accommodation. | | |
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