At the Maryland Philanthropy Network, we believe that authentic relationships between nonprofit organizations and funders are key to sustainable social change.
Charitable giving in the U.S. topped $400 billion in 2017. And more than half of American households give annually—more than vote in presidential elections.
The racial wealth gap has been a widely acknowledged phenomenon in the academic and policy realms for years, and has become an important issue in the run-up to the 2020 election.
From the top floor of Hotel Revival, I marveled at a sunny 360-degree view of Baltimore. Directly south along the water I could see Port Covington, a former industrial area being redeveloped into a new metro ecosystem.
Over the last four months, organizations around the globe have surveyed foundations, nonprofits, civil society organizations, and individuals to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting them.
The Prenatal to Five Impact Collaborative is a peer group focused on learning together about the needs of pregnant women and families with children up to age 5 and how to best support them. This meeting will discuss advocacy and the roles philanthropy can play in systems change work. We’ll be hearing from Sara Watson who authored the Bainum Family Foundation Brief: “Creating Change Through Policy Advocacy”. We’ll also be hearing from Beth Morrow and Laura Weeldreyer about Maryland Family Network’s Early Childhood legislative priorities.
As the District reopens schools, Maryland is also experiencing its first-ever virtual legislative session. Legislation around digital equity, childcare, and the overturn of the veto for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future are critical for the future of Maryland’s children. Maryland Philanthropy Network is pleased to host Melissa Broome, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, for a conversation about City Schools’ legislative priorities for the 2021 state legislative session and the state plan around funding.
As the urgent needs of the pandemic spread like wildfire last year, Caitlin Heising knew that she and her family had to do something big.
The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Advisory Board, as well as the full slate of Executive Committee and Advisory Board members for 2022.
Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveal a major public policy success. The nation’s child poverty rate dropped by half in 2021, from an estimated 10% in 2020 to a historic low of 5%.
At the corner of North and Cecil Avenues in Central Baltimore sits the newly constructed home of Roberta’s House. The building represents a transformational investment designed to bring new life to a vacant block that was previously occupied by rowhomes. This piece tells the story of lessons from the Greenmount Life, Opportunity, and Wellness (GLOW) Initiative, a new effort to concentrate financial and social investment in select neighborhoods that have long experienced underinvestment.
The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County had a wonderful night celebrating women, community, and Black Philanthropy Month on August 1 at the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County's Black Philanthropy Month Happy Hour at The 3rd. The WGC is proud to continue support for Black Philanthropy Month, which is observed every August. The primary aims of BPM are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms, for the benefit of our planet, our communities, our organizations and our lives.
In 1971, On Lok — a family of community-based nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area — piloted a program for Chinese Americans who needed nursing home care but wished to age at
2023 was an exciting year for the Annie E. Casey Foundation as they celebrated several remarkable milestones. First, they entered their75th year of service to children, youth and families.
In 2023, the Annie E.
The WGC is a fund that gives grants … it’s what we do!
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has selected 16 leaders for its 13th class of the Children and Family Fellowship®.
The Horizon Foundation and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County have released a groundbreaking report examining Black women's experiences, challenges, and contributions in nonprofit leadership roles in Howard County. The report “Elevating to Evolve: Stories of Wisdom, Excellence and a Call for Change from Black Women Nonprofit Leaders in Howard County” sheds light on the unique journeys of these leaders and calls for actionable steps toward greater equity and inclusion.
Maryland’s Montgomery and Prince George’s counties share deep ties, with residents regularly crossing county lines to shop, dine and work.
In early 2025, nonprofits across the Greater Washington, DC region faced a perfect storm: sudden funding losses, rising demand for services, and deep uncertainty. A July survey of more than 240 local nonprofits found 38% had lost federal funding. Yet, far more, 61%, reported being affected by policy changes overall, showing the impact goes well beyond federal grant dollars. In response, the Greater Washington Community Foundation launched the Community Resilience Initiative to help nonprofits continue their work without disruption. From the outset, the initiative was anchored in flexibility, collaboration, and data. Based on insights from the survey and ongoing conversations with nonprofits, three things became clear early on.
