$1.5 million Is Available Through Two Grant Programs for Nonprofits Working With ‘Underserved Communities’ in Montgomery County

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council today announced a total of $1.5 million will be available through two new grant programs for County nonprofit organizations that work with “underserved communities.” Both programs are intentionally very flexible to allow nonprofits to identify their own needs and new programs best suited to support their communities.

Eligible nonprofits can now apply for funds from the programs. Applications are due by 9 a.m. on Wednesday March 15. An online information session for the grant program will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. on Friday Feb. 17. To join the information session or see its recording, click here.

The online information session on Feb. 17 will be recorded and publicly available for those who miss the event or wish to see it again. The full program details, the online application and the information session details (as well as a recording of it) are available on the Montgomery County Office of Grants Management – Grants Application Platform (https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/).

The two grant programs are:

• The FY 2023 Nonprofit Technical Assistance and Management Support (NTAMS) Grant Program. It will provide $750,000 in unrestricted funds for enhancing an organization’s core capacity, infrastructure and support functions that result in improved overall performance of an organization and its programs. FY23 NTAMS award amounts will vary, with a minimum award of $5,000 and a maximum award of $50,000 over a 12-month performance period. Organizations are encouraged to submit multi-year funding proposals of up to two years.
• The FY 2023 Underserved Communities Projects (UCP) Grant Program. It will provide $750,000 funding for new projects, programs and initiatives within Montgomery County with a prioritization toward organizations who do not currently receive County funding. FY23 UCP award amounts will vary, with a minimum award of $50,000 and a maximum award of $75,000 over a 12-month performance period. Organizations are encouraged to submit multi-year funding proposals of up to three years.

For multi-year proposals and grant awards, continued funding beyond the first 12-month period for both programs will be contingent on satisfactory program performance and future Council appropriations.

“Nonprofit organizations based in underserved communities have an understanding of community issues and unmatched cultural competence to deliver the most effective services and programs,” said County Executive Elrich. “These grant programs target resources for nonprofits, so they and the communities they serve can grow stronger while also creating new opportunities for innovative programs.”

County Council President Evan Glass said the new grants could make a major impact on the organizations that receive the funding.

“The nonprofit sector is critical to maintaining a strong social safety net in Montgomery County,” said Council President Glass. “I am pleased that the County is pursuing reforms to improve the grants process for our nonprofit partners. As the County makes these important changes, we must ensure that we work alongside our nonprofit partners. Nonprofits are instrumental partners for our County and their engagement in this process is key.”

Grant applications will be reviewed by an independent committee organized by the County’s Office of Grants Management. The committee will include neutral, qualified individuals from Montgomery County Government who are selected for their experiences in the grant program’s subject area, grants administration or project management. The panel members will review and score applicant proposals on a 100-point scale based on the criteria and priorities established in the grant program, with cumulative ranking informing the final awards.

Questions about the application process can be directed to Rafael Pumarejo Murphy, director of the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-777-2775 or emailing [email protected].

Find more information and to apply to the FY 2023 Nonprofit Technical Assistance and Management Support (NTAMS) Grant Program, visit https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/prog/FY23NTAMS .

Find more information and apply to the FY 2023 Underserved Communities Projects (UCP) Grant Program, visit https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org/prog/FY23UCP .