September 2026

Message from the Executive Director

Welcome to the latest issue of Nonprofit News! We are thrilled to welcome our new fall intern, Ellie Heffes, alongside our newest Resident Organization, the Watershed Stewards Academy. Once the Sustainability Studio begins next month, the Nonprofit Center will be nearly at capacity.

Read on for brief updates on an exciting collaboration with Leadership Anne Arundel, a recap of Part 1 of our Grant Application Training Series, and key dates for nonprofits interested in grants administered by Arundel Community Development Services. We also encourage you to take a quick digital detox, step outside, and enjoy the beautiful weather.

As always, thank you for all you do to support Anne Arundel County communities, and remember that we are here to support your meeting space needs throughout the year. We hope to see you soon!

-- Jennifer

Partnership with Leadership Anne Arundel

The Anne Arundel County Nonprofit Center successfully participated in Leadership Anne Arundel’s Flagship Class of 2027 (FLG27) Project Marketplace.

During the interactive session, we engaged directly with class members, answered their questions, and pitched our proposal focused on addressing nonprofit employee burnout and high turnover.

We are thrilled to share that seven members of the FLG27 class selected our project to work on this year. Together, the team will investigate the root causes of local workforce burnout and adapt cross-sector retention strategies to help strengthen and support our community’s nonprofits.

2-CM Dreams Celebrates One Year of Service

In its inaugural year, 2-CM Dreams expanded access to the Chesapeake Bay and hands-on learning for local youth, successfully launching its Summer Sailing Camp and introducing the upcoming DreamForge STEAM Academy™ at Annapolis Middle School.

During their anniversary celebration, 2-CM Dreams recognized the immense community support behind their mission, presenting citations to more than 20 partner organizations, local sponsors, and community allies who helped make their first year a success.

The Nonprofit Center is thrilled to have them as a Resident Organization.

Welcome Watershed Stewards Academy

The Nonprofit Center is proud to welcome the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) as our latest Resident Organization. As one of our largest staffed organizations, they occupy the entire second floor and are already building relationships and connecting with other resident groups.

We look forward to supporting WSA in their mission to build capacity in Anne Arundel County by training Watershed Stewards who help neighbors reduce pollution in local creeks and rivers.

To learn more about their work, explore the Watershed Stewards Academy website and upcoming programs.

Upcoming Nonprofit Center Programs

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Part-One of our Grant Application Training Series, co-hosted with CFAAC and ACDS. We had a fantastic turnout of more than 50 local Anne Arundel County nonprofit leaders, development managers, fundraising professionals, and emerging nonprofit grant writers.

Attendees gained invaluable insight into local funding priorities, the application processes, and timelines, directly from our guest presenters: Elisha Harig-Blaine (ACDS), Heidi Busch (Anne Arundel Women Giving Together), Jennifer Bowser (CFAAC), and Emily Chappell (Impact100 Greater Chesapeake).

Mark your calendars for Part 2: Grant Writing Tips & Speed Networking on Tuesday, October 27, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This interactive session will dive deeper into competitive grant narratives and feature dedicated networking time. Registration opens October 1, 2026, so stay tuned to the NPC website for details.

Save the Dates for Parts 2 & 3:

Grant Training Series Part 2

Grant Writing Tips & Speed Networking

Tuesday Oct. 27, 9 am to 1 pm

Grant Training Series Part 3

1-on-1 Application Feedback

Tuesday, Nov. 17, by appointment

Check Out This Month's...

This edition features wonderful training and professional development opportunities hosted by external providers. These listings are marked with an asterisk (*).

☆ Nonprofit Learning Lab

The following trainings are offered for free by the Nonprofit Learning Lab. If you are interested in a workshop with a fee, reach out to the NPC Staff.

• Prospecting Tools & AI-Assisted Outreach: A Practical, Repeatable Workflow for Modern Fundraising Teams

This workshop introduces a simple, three-step, technology-enabled workflow that uses AI as a time-saving assistant, never as a replacement for human judgment. Participants actively work through this workflow during the session, using real tools and prompts while applying clear guardrails for responsible AI use and “human-in-the-loop” decision-making.. 

September 21 | 11 am ET

Register to attend

• Before You Adopt AI: Five Questions Every Nonprofit Should Answer First

Nonprofits are being encouraged to adopt AI, but readiness is about more than choosing tools. Before implementation, organizations need to consider leadership, capacity, governance, and organizational priorities. This session explores a practical approach to thinking about AI readiness and offers a roadmap for beginning mission-aligned conversations that support responsible adoption. 

October 5 | 11 am ET

Register to attend

• Building Organizational Capacity Through Shared Understanding

Every nonprofit depends on people working toward the same goals. When knowledge is scattered across programs or only in the minds of a few people, it's challenging to make good decisions, communicate consistently, and adapt to change. This interactive workshop explores shared organizational understanding as a practical capacity-building strategy that helps organizations preserve knowledge, improve impact, and build long-term resilience.

October 13 | 11 am ET

Register to attend

☆ How to Start a Nonprofit Organization - hosted by Anne Arundel County Library

Learn the fundamental federal and Maryland requirements to start a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization from an experienced grants professional.

Date: September 23, 2026

Time: 2 pm - 3:30 pm ET

Location: Busch Annapolis Library

☆ Joint SDAT/Comptroller/SOS town hall for charitable organizations

Navigating State Registration & Compliance with SDAT, Comptroller of Maryland, and the Secretary of State team. No advance registration is required for this town hall. This is an SDAT initiative and occurs annually in the fall. The meeting will be held via Google Meet. Do not join until the date and time of the meeting.

Date: October 20, 2026

Time: 2 pm - 3 pm ET

Location: Virtual

*No advance registration is required. LINK to meeting.

This link will take you directly to the meeting.

☆ #MANOAC26 

Maryland Nonprofits is hosting their annual conference on October 22–23, 2026.

The Maryland Nonprofits 2026 Annual Conference, is a two-day event dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector through connection, learning, and inspiration. Register to attend

Grants, Funding Opportunities, and Other Resources

To learn more about these grants and other community resources, visit www.acdsinc.org/funding-opportunities/. If you require special accommodations or language interpretation, please email Elisha Harig-Blaine

☆ Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area (CCHA) awards

CCHA has mini-grants of up to $5,000 to heritage area partner organizations and local governments. Funds may be used to create, launch, and implement programs, activities, products, partnerships, interpretive signs, lectures, and public events that support and advance the Chesapeake Crossroads mission: to enhance support for and promote heritage tourism, preservation, and the stewardship of historical, cultural, and natural resources throughout the Heritage Area. FY27 Application Timeline:

Applications open: August 10, 2026

1st-round applications Due: September 18, 2026

1st-round Awards announced: By October 1, 2026

2nd-round applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as funding allows.

Click this link to apply

☆ CFAAC

Grants 4 Teachers was launched in 2009 through the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to empower local teachers and counselors with the resources they need to bring their creative ideas to life. All teachers and guidance counselors working for Anne Arundel County Public Schools may apply. Grants are funded up to $500.

Application Period: May 18, 2026 – September 22, 2026, with awards in October 2026.

Click this link to apply

☆ TEEEM Foundation

The TEEM Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations creating sustainable, community-driven solutions through education, empowerment, innovation, and service. Through our Community Impact Grant Program, we partner with organizations that understand the needs of their communities and have the vision and leadership to create lasting change.

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026 

Click this link to apply

☆ 2027 Opioid Restitution Fund Grant Program

Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) announced its next round of competitive grant opportunities. Eligible organizations can apply for up to $1,000,000 in funding to support critical efforts addressing the harms of the opioid and overdose crisis across the state.

Click this link to apply

☆  2027 Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant Program

Maryland Humanities is excited to announce the 2027 Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant Program. 80 general operating support grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to Maryland nonprofits conducting work in the humanities.

View Grant Guidelines

Click this link to apply

☆ Leadership Anne Arundel BoardMatch

Hosted by Leadership Anne Arundel, this premier networking event connects local nonprofit organizations with talented professionals seeking board service opportunities. It’s the perfect chance for your organization to showcase its mission, share current board needs, and engage directly with community-minded leaders eager to serve.

Date: October 14, 2026

Time: 8:30 am to 11:00 am

Location: The Severn Center: Multi-purpose Room (MPR)

1160A Reece Road

Severn, Maryland 21114

Register to participate

☆ Do Good's Impact Intern Program

The Do Good Institute is thrilled to announce they have officially started recruitment for their Summer 2027 Impact Interns program. Impact Interns provide social impact organizations with talented University of Maryland students to build your capacity over the summer. 

To learn more, attend an upcoming Host Session.

Date: October 9 at 12 pm ET

Click to register

Nonprofit Highlights

Welcome to the Nonprofit Center's Fall Student Intern.

Eliana (Ellie) Heffes is a current senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is double-majoring in Psychology and Public Policy and is currently a part of an accelerated Graduate degree Program, where she is working towards a Master’s of Public Policy degree with a specialization in Environmental Policy.

As a lifelong Anne Arundel County resident, Ellie is excited to help serve her own community with the Nonprofit Center.

Congratulations to Charlene's Circle of Support for their recent feature on WUSA-9 for their work in Kinship Care.

September is National Kinship Care Month, and their mission is to empower kinship caregivers and youth impacted by a parent's struggle with mental illness, substance use, or incarceration by building their resilience and well-being.

Around the Building

The Resident Organizations at the NPC held their first Resident Organization Council meeting for FY27 with new organizations, WSA, 2-CM Dreams, and Inspiring Generations present.

They used this meeting to get to know the new organizations and discussed plans for future meetings, and the projects their organizations are spearheading.

Members of the Watershed Stewards Academy team enjoyed lunch in the Nonprofit Center's courtyard.

The Growth Action Network of Anne Arundel County (GAN), hosts a members meeting at the NPC.

GAN is a coalition of community and civic associations, environmental groups, green businesses, and individuals. dedicated to preserving the environment, secure natural resources, protecting our watershed, and ensure managed growth to provide a quality of life for all. 

“I always just thought if you see someone without a smile, give them yours.”

- Dolly Parton

Your Well-Being Matters: Quick Tips for Busy Changemakers

As we move from summer flowers to vibrant fall foliage, it’s a wonderful time to step away from our screens and get outdoors! Between our phones, laptops, and TVs, it is easy to stay constantly connected, but taking a light "digital detox" is a great way to recharge.

Giving yourself even a short break from technology can reduce stress, sharpen focus, improve sleep, and deepen your relationships with family and friends. A digital detox doesn't mean cutting off tech entirely, but by taking small, intentional steps is all it takes to feel the benefits!

Here are four simple ways to start your own digital refresh this season:

• Set simple, clear goals: Pick one manageable boundary to start, like holding device-free family dinners, taking a weekend off from your favorite app, or using built-in screen-time tools to limit usage.
• Inform your circle: Let friends and family know you are taking a temporary screen break so they know how to reach you for anything urgent.
• Trade screen time for fall air: Step outside for an unplugged walk to soak in the autumn colors and take a true mental break.
• Evaluate how you feel: After your tech break, take a moment to reflect on your stress levels, focus, and overall mood—you might be surprised by how much energy you regain!

Want to learn more about how stepping away from screens can boost your well-being? Check out the full article on What a Digital Detox Is and Why You Might Need One.

Follow us on Facebook for new events, grant opportunities, and other resources specifically for local nonprofits.

Does your organization have an upcoming event, activity or volunteer opportunity that you would like to promote? Submit it for posting on the Nonprofit Event Hub.

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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