Message from the Executive Director | | For a season when we try to take it slow (see last month’s newsletter), things sure are buzzing around here. We officially welcomed Theresa to the Nonprofit Center team yesterday! Be sure to read all about her below. While fine-tuning this year’s programming, we decided to try something a little different with our cohort program. Stay tuned for details! A big congratulations to all of the nonprofits receiving grant awards for FY27. While there are never enough funds to support every amazing project, our upcoming Grant Application Series will share practical tips to help your proposals stand out. Details are coming soon. In the meantime, dive into the grants, resources, community highlights, and wellness tips for busy changemakers below. Finally, if your nonprofit is interested in multiple offices or longer-term home, our second floor might be just the right place for you! | | NPC Residents NAMI and Sapphire Rise Among Grantees for $2M County Award | | |
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS) CEO Erin Karpewicz announced that 69 local nonprofit organizations will receive a combined total of $2 million through the County’s Community Support Grant (CSG) Program.
These awards, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, provide critical funding to cover essential expenses like staff salaries, supplies, and administrative overhead. We are especially proud to share that two of the Nonprofit Center's own resident organizations are among this year's recipients: NAMI Anne Arundel County and Sapphire Rise.
Click this link for the full list of grantees and award details
| | Laurel Race Course Impact Fund Awards $317,190 to Local Nonprofits | | |
Last week, The Laurel Race Course Impact Fund (LRCIF) announced $317,190 in community grants for FY27. Every dollar is for local projects within a three-mile radius of the Laurel Race Course, ensuring the funding directly uplifts the neighboring communities.
Administered by ACDS, these Fiscal Year 2027 grants will fund human services, education, and community beautification. County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Maryland Jockey Club gathered recently with neighborhood leaders to celebrate the 12 organizations putting these dollars to work.Congratulations to the deserving grantees for all they do to improve our county.
For more information about the Laurel Race Course Impact Fund, the Advisory Committee, or the list of awardees read the press release in this link.
| | | Closures and Layoffs: Data Highlights Impact on Nonprofits | | |
In this unpredictable climate, many nonprofits are feeling intense financial pressure, leading to painful layoffs or, worse, closing their doors entirely. Because official IRS data lags by months or years, we rarely get a realistic, real-time picture of sector health.
To bridge this gap, Candid is experimenting with an AI-powered tool that scans daily news reports to catch these distress signals as they happen. Their early findings offer a sobering look at current sector strain: closures are currently outnumbering layoffs 7 to 1, with non-federal funding cuts cited as the primary driver.
For nonprofit leaders navigating today's funding landscape, this is an essential read.
Read the full post on Candid's Blog.
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The Nonprofit Center welcomes Lincoln Wood as our 2026 FutureSuccess intern, hosted through the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC).
Lincoln is an Anne Arundel County high school student who enjoys reading, movies, and writing fiction.
Through the program, county youth and young adults gain hands-on career exposure and workplace skills.
| | | | The Nonprofit Center team is growing! We are excited to introduce Theresa Sise, our new Administrative Assistant. Bringing decades of experience in community engagement and administrative support, Theresa is passionate about service and helping local organizations thrive. She looks forward to supporting our resident organizations and visitors as we continue to strengthen the nonprofit community across Anne Arundel County. | | Upcoming Nonprofit Center Programs | | | | |
The Anne Arundel Nonprofit Center is looking for college-level interns to join us for our paid internship program for the upcoming Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters!
We are looking for passionate, self-driven students to support us with communications, events, daily operations, and special projects. If you're ready to get paid to gain hands-on experience, build your network, and give back to your local community, this is the opportunity for you.
| | | Check Out This Month's... | | |
☆ Grants Management & Compliance Workshop
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☆ Principles of Ethical Online Funding Platforms
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Host: National Council of Nonprofits
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Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
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Time: 3:00 pm
The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) and 52 state and regional associations published principles for ethical online fundraising platforms. Join NCN to learn about the shared principles and how to protect your organization's mission, brand, and donor relationships. Read more and register here.
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☆ Nonprofit Learning Lab
The following trainings are offered fro free by the Nonprofit Learning Lab. If you are interested in a workshop with a fee, reach out to the NPC Staff.
Our Board is Useless! - The Staff Don't Use Me
Monday, August 3, 2026 at 11:00 am
Click to Register
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Nonprofit Funding Strategies for the Second Half of 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026 at 12 pm
Click to Register
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☆ Certified FREed: Certified Fundraising Executive Cohort
Certified FREed is a 12-week cohort experience designed to support Black women fundraisers pursuing the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. www.melanate.org/certifiedFREed.
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☆ Present at #MANOAC26
Maryland Nonprofits is no longer accepting presenter proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference (#MANOAC26). Those who submitted proposals will be notified in August of the status of their proposal. The conference takes place October 22–23, 2026
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Presenter Notifications: August 30, 2026
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Conference Dates: October 22–23, 2026
| Grants, Funding Opportunities, and Other Resources | |
☆ Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC): Women and Girls Fund
Application Period: July 13, 2026 – August 25, 2026, with awards in September 2026. This grant provides grants from $3,000 to $5,000 to support nonprofits that help women and girls. Click to learn more.
☆ Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC):Family Protection Fund
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Application Period: August 3, 2026 – September 8, 2026, with awards in October 2026. This fund awards grants to nonprofits that support immigrant families in Anne Arundel County through legal aid and crisis support. Click to learn more.
☆ 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.
Interested nonprofits can apply by visiting the state's grant website.
☆ FY27 Community Building Mini Grant (CBMG)
Anne Arundel County's Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) offers the Community Building Mini-Grant to support local festivals, cultural celebrations, parades, and community events. The grant aims to foster local identity, cultural learning, and belonging while driving economic and social benefits for county residents. The application window is open between July 20, 2026 - August 10, 2026. Click this link to apply or for additional information.
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Do you know an outstanding creative leader, educator, or advocate who enriches Anne Arundel County through the arts? The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC) is now accepting nominations for the 26th Annual Annie Awards.
Nominations are open to the public through August 3, 2026. Honorees will be celebrated at the annual ceremony at Maryland Hall on October 5, 2026.
Submit a nomination or learn more at acaac.org
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2-CM Dreams is settling nicely into their new space at the Nonprofit Center, and we could not be more excited about their growing impact in our community.
They welcomed their first full-time staff member, Dez (L), hosted a hands-on youth sailing camp, and were awarded a $75,000 grant from the Anne Arundel County Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission (CRRC).
Congratulations.
Visit 2CM Dreams to learn more about their programs.
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The NPC's Professional Development and Communications Manager, Nkeshi Free, recently caught up with Dr. Lili Leonard of Black Dog Philanthropic at the 3rd Annual "Bridging Communities" Conference.
The event was hosted by the Maryland Comptroller’s Office in partnership with Maryland Nonprofits and Coppin State University, bringing together business and nonprofits from across the state. For a quick look at the event's opening remarks and key highlights, watch the Bridging Communities Conference - 2026 video.
| | Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and AA county gather to plan for the upcoming year. | | It's not February, but our resident groundhog came out to play! Can you spot him hiding in the picture? | | The Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth & Families meets to plan for the upcoming year. | | |
"You can never leave where you go. You take it with you. Community is not a place; it is a way of being together."
- Leymah Gbowee
| | Your Well-Being Matters: Quick Tips for Busy Changemakers | | |
We often think of burnout as a sudden wall we hit, but it is actually a slow process that unfolds over time. For nonprofit leaders and professionals who care deeply about their work and mission, it is incredibly easy to ignore the early warning signs.
If you feel constantly exhausted, trapped, or like your efforts are hitting a wall, you are not alone. Recognizing the phase you are in is the first step to reclaiming your energy:
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The Honeymoon Phase: You start a new challenge with high optimism, naturally taking on more responsibilities than you can realistically handle.
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The Onslaught of Stress: Fatigue sets in, and you notice frequent dips in your focus and productivity.
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Chronic Stress: Apathy and procrastination take over. You might find yourself withdrawing from work conversations or feeling irritable with colleagues and family.
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Burnout: You reach a point where you can no longer function as normal. Minor problems feel insurmountable, and physical symptoms like headaches or stomach issues arise.
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Habitual Burnout: The exhaustion becomes a permanent part of your everyday life, often leading to ongoing anxiety, depression, and chronic physical fatigue.
If these signs feel familiar, taking a step back to assess your stress levels is vital for your health and the health of your organization.
Watch a breakdown of burnout on YouTube
Read the Burnout Prevention and Recovery Guide
| | | | 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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