Message from the Executive Director | | Summer can be the busiest time of year for some nonprofits; for others, it’s a chance to slow down, celebrate, reassess, and prepare for the upcoming year. That’s exactly what we are doing at the Nonprofit Center. 41 Community Place has been open for one year, and in that time, we’ve learned what’s working, what needs improvement, and how to better utilize our space and resources to strengthen the nonprofits we serve. Stay tuned for a full lineup of programming. We are also very pleased to welcome our summer intern, Laura, and two new nonprofits to the Center. Scroll through to read about them and view this month’s list of grant and professional development opportunities. | | Welcome to the Nonprofit Center | | | | |
This July, the NPC is proud to welcome two new nonprofits as resident organizations: 2-CM Dreams and the Damon Crowdy Foundation. They will join Charlene's Circle of Support, Leadership Anne Arundel, NAMI of Anne Arundel County, One Annapolis, SapphireRise, and The VetReset Foundation.
2-CM Dreams empowers youth from low-income communities: especially girls; by connecting them to transformative opportunities in STEM, skilled trades, swimming, and sailing. We create safe spaces and meaningful experiences that awaken imagination, build skills, and inspire dreams that lead to lifelong achievement.
The Damon Crowdy Foundation seeks to empower youth and families through mentorship, mental wellness advocacy, life-skills development, and community-based support services that promote resilience, stability, and long-term success.
| | |
June was National Safety Month, and for our local nonprofits, creating a safe environment (year-round) is how we protect our most valuable asset: our staff, volunteers, and the clients we serve. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified six common categories that impact daily nonprofit operations. Reviewing these risks keeps our teams healthy and our doors open to those who need us most.
- General Safety: Slips, trips, spills, or faulty electrical cords.
- Biological: Mold, bacteria, or natural allergens during outdoor work and maintenance.
- Physical: Extreme temperatures, loud noises, or prolonged sunlight/UV exposure.
- Ergonomic: Poor office workstations, repetitive movements, and heavy lifting.
- Chemical: Everyday items like cleaning products, paint, fumes, or pesticides.
- Work Organization: Workplace stressors, heavy workloads, and intense pacing.
Free Resources for Nonprofit Leaders:
| | |
Congratulations to Jennifer Purcell for graduating from the Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship Program this past Monday. Completing this intensive 10-Month program is a testament to Jennifer's ongoing dedication to professional growth and community engagement. We are incredibly proud of her achievement!
| | Kudos to Mary Woods. She served as the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation’s Service Year member for the NPC. Throughout the ten months, she received hands-on experience learning county operations, managing meeting spaces, and engaging with nonprofits. We know she'll do well no matter what the next chapter brings. | | |
This summer the NPC welcomes Laura Salley as the Summer Intern. She's a rising junior at St. John’s College of Annapolis earning a degree in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts under the St. John’s Great Books Program. Laura has a strong background in student leadership and volunteer work and is passionate about making a difference in her local community.
| | Upcoming Nonprofit Center Programs | | 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
-
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.
☆ Maryland Humanities FY27 Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant Program General
Operating Support Grants Fund
- Maryland Humanities will begin accepting grant applications for its Marilyn Hatza Memorial Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity (SHINE) grant fund on June 18, 2026. This program will provide 80 General Operating Support grants worth $5,000. . Click for more information.
| | Check Out This Month's... | | |
☆ Nonprofit Learning Lab
The following trainings are being offered by the Nonprofit Center in partnership with the Nonprofit Learning Lab. Register in the membership portal to attend a session. Contact the Nonprofit Center if you are interested in a free membership.
| | | Major Donors in a Small Shop: Adapting Your Major Gifts Strategy in Uncertain Times | | | Effective Volunteer Management: Recruitment, Training, Retention, Committees, & Managing Difficult Volunteers | | |
☆ 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.
| | |
☆ Introduction to Measuring Your Impact
| | |
☆ Grants Management & Compliance Workshop
| | |
☆Present at #MANOAC26
Maryland Nonprofits is now accepting presenter proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference (#MANOAC26), taking place October 22–23, 2026, in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. Click to submit your proposal
-
Proposal Deadline: June 30, 2026
-
Presenter Notifications: August 30, 2026
-
Conference Dates: October 22–23, 2026
| | | | |
On June 22, 2026 LAA celebrated its latest graduates from the Flagship Program and Neighborhood Leadership Academy, alongside their 2026 award recipients. We extend our warmest congratulations to the Class of 2026 and the award winners.
For the past six months, the team has enjoyed having Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA) at the Nonprofit Center while their office was being renovated.
If you are a nonprofit interested in short-term working space, or need a satellite site, please email us.
| | Members of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County gather to review grant applications. | | Resident Organization, Sapphire Rise, is prepping activities for their summer camps. | | Several local chapters of the Toastmasters gather for fun and fellowship, while improving their public speaking skills. | | |
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.”
- Walt Whitman
| | Your Well-Being Matters: Quick Tips for Busy Changemakers | | |
The human body is not meant to sit in the same position for 8+ hours a day, and a lack of movement can cause back pain, muscle tension, stiffness, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Stretching at your desk and moving during the work day can boost your energy, promote blood circulation, improve your posture, reduce back pain, help you feel more focused and productive, and relieve stress.
Here are some strategies to incorporate movement into your workday:
- Go for a walk on your lunch break
- Set reminders to stand up every hour
- Create an ergonomic desk setup
- Incorporate stretching into workday: For some suggested stretches click this link
Source: Fox Valley Orthopedics: The Importance of Regular Stretching
| | | | 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. | | |
If someone forwarded this newsletter to you or you're viewing it online,
you can subscribe here.
| | | | |
