Grant Program Overview:
The Office of Grants Management is soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2024 Quarters 3 and 4 Community Projects Fund (CPF) Grants Program from qualified nonprofit organizations providing direct services to or advocacy for Montgomery County community members. Both, the County Executive’s FY24 Recommended Budget and the County Council’s FY24 Approved Budget (Resolution 20-184) provide $1 million in one-time funding for small, emerging, and volunteer led nonprofit organizations to implement small, community focused projects, initiatives, and events. FY24 CPF Grants Programs will be offered as a quarterly application with at least $250,000 available in each cycle.[1] Additional funding may be added to this pool from other County sources and may have further priorities, restrictions, and/or requirements. Funding may be awarded to new initiatives or to projects supported by Community Grants in previous fiscal years. FY24 CPF Grants Program applicants may request funding between $5,000 and $25,000. The performance period of these grant awards will be six (6) months from the award date as the goal of this program is to support specific, short-term initiatives instead of ongoing, full, or multi-year programs.
Note that the launch of the third and fourth quarter competitions for the FY24 CPF Grant Program have been delayed by the volume of applications received in earlier quarters and other grants programs. Applications for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 are under active review with results expected before the deadline for this quarter’s competition.
This Grant Program is intentionally very flexible and allows nonprofit partners to define their own specific target populations within Montgomery County. Priority to awarding funding will be given to projects that target Underserved Communities within Montgomery County. This program uses the same definition of Underserved Communities as the January 20, 2021 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
Key dates for this program are:
Program Opens for Applications: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 1:00 PMMS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM (Link to event below)Submission Deadline: Tuesday May 7, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Program Resources:
Wednesday, April 24, 1:30 PM Quarter 3 and 4 FY24 CPF Information Session [note: you will be able to open Microsoft Teams to view the recording, but you may also select the "Watch on the web instead" option to view directly in your web browser.]
Frequently Asked Questions (will be posted after the Information Session and updated weekly)
5 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants
The Office of Grants Management expects a large number of applications and total funding requests that will greatly exceed the amount of resources available for FY24 Community Project Fund. Priority in awarding FY24 CPF funding will be given to proposals that:
Are from small (annual budget of less than $250,000 and less than 3 Full Time employees) , emerging, or volunteer-led nonprofit organizations;Are from organizations based in or serving an Underserved Community;Demonstrate a strong understanding of their target population’s/community’s needs and an effective project strategy to effectively meet these needs;Provide services, advocacy, or other support to the target population/community that is not already funded by other County resources;Provide technically, culturally, and/or linguistically proficient services to the target population/community; Demonstrate a broad base of impact through their proposal to their target population/community; andWill be fully implemented in the next six (6) months.
Under this program, MCG will prioritize the following kinds of proposed activities:
Single events or ongoing programs. Prevention education activities held in person or via virtual platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.). Those that include stipends for peer support.
The Office of Grants Management will seek proposals from both organizations that demonstrate some of the following:
Exhibit cultural proficiency; Are inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community members; andUse a racial equity lens in providing services.
Applicants should directly address the priority areas and criteria above in their proposal. Organizations can apply independently or in collaboration with other groups. County funding cannot be used to supplant other funding for already planned services. The full details, eligibility requirements, and other criteria can be found in the NOFO document that is downloadable above.
A virtual information session on the grant program will be held via an MS Teams Live event on October 11, 2023 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. The event will be recorded and posted for applicants who miss the event or who wish to review it again. A link to the live and recorded event can be found above.
The application will consist of the following Tasks:
Applicant Information – Organization mission, contact information, background documents and optional demographics (Reusable Task)Applicant Background - Optional demographic and organization size questions (Reusable Task)Project Strategy – Series of narrative questions detailing the proposed projectProject Budget – Explanation of proposed project costsProject Work Plan/Timeline – Proposed project implementation schedulePerformance Plan – Outline of metrics to be collected, targets for each metric, and the data collection method for each metric as well as any qualitative evaluation methodsApplication Certification, Acknowledgments, and Assurances – Confirmation of ethics considerations, legal terms, and the authenticity of the application
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.OGM now REQUIRES that all applicants already be registered with CVRS by each application deadline. Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, Outgoing Grants Program Manager of the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.
FY24 Community Projects Fund Grant Program (Quarters 3 and 4)
Grant Program Overview:
The Office of Grants Management is soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2024 Quarters 3 and 4 Community Projects Fund (CPF) Grants Program from qualified nonprofit organizations providing direct services to or advocacy for Montgomery County community members. Both, the County Executive’s FY24 Recommended Budget and the County Council’s FY24 Approved Budget (Resolution 20-184) provide $1 million in one-time funding for small, emerging, and volunteer led nonprofit organizations to implement small, community focused projects, initiatives, and events. FY24 CPF Grants Programs will be offered as a quarterly application with at least $250,000 available in each cycle.[1] Additional funding may be added to this pool from other County sources and may have further priorities, restrictions, and/or requirements. Funding may be awarded to new initiatives or to projects supported by Community Grants in previous fiscal years. FY24 CPF Grants Program applicants may request funding between $5,000 and $25,000. The performance period of these grant awards will be six (6) months from the award date as the goal of this program is to support specific, short-term initiatives instead of ongoing, full, or multi-year programs.
Note that the launch of the third and fourth quarter competitions for the FY24 CPF Grant Program have been delayed by the volume of applications received in earlier quarters and other grants programs. Applications for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 are under active review with results expected before the deadline for this quarter’s competition.
This Grant Program is intentionally very flexible and allows nonprofit partners to define their own specific target populations within Montgomery County. Priority to awarding funding will be given to projects that target Underserved Communities within Montgomery County. This program uses the same definition of Underserved Communities as the January 20, 2021 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
Key dates for this program are:
Program Opens for Applications: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 1:00 PMMS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM (Link to event below)Submission Deadline: Tuesday May 7, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Program Resources:
Wednesday, April 24, 1:30 PM Quarter 3 and 4 FY24 CPF Information Session [note: you will be able to open Microsoft Teams to view the recording, but you may also select the "Watch on the web instead" option to view directly in your web browser.]
Frequently Asked Questions (will be posted after the Information Session and updated weekly)
5 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants
The Office of Grants Management expects a large number of applications and total funding requests that will greatly exceed the amount of resources available for FY24 Community Project Fund. Priority in awarding FY24 CPF funding will be given to proposals that:
Are from small (annual budget of less than $250,000 and less than 3 Full Time employees) , emerging, or volunteer-led nonprofit organizations;Are from organizations based in or serving an Underserved Community;Demonstrate a strong understanding of their target population’s/community’s needs and an effective project strategy to effectively meet these needs;Provide services, advocacy, or other support to the target population/community that is not already funded by other County resources;Provide technically, culturally, and/or linguistically proficient services to the target population/community; Demonstrate a broad base of impact through their proposal to their target population/community; andWill be fully implemented in the next six (6) months.
Under this program, MCG will prioritize the following kinds of proposed activities:
Single events or ongoing programs. Prevention education activities held in person or via virtual platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.). Those that include stipends for peer support.
The Office of Grants Management will seek proposals from both organizations that demonstrate some of the following:
Exhibit cultural proficiency; Are inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community members; andUse a racial equity lens in providing services.
Applicants should directly address the priority areas and criteria above in their proposal. Organizations can apply independently or in collaboration with other groups. County funding cannot be used to supplant other funding for already planned services. The full details, eligibility requirements, and other criteria can be found in the NOFO document that is downloadable above.
A virtual information session on the grant program will be held via an MS Teams Live event on October 11, 2023 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. The event will be recorded and posted for applicants who miss the event or who wish to review it again. A link to the live and recorded event can be found above.
The application will consist of the following Tasks:
Applicant Information – Organization mission, contact information, background documents and optional demographics (Reusable Task)Applicant Background - Optional demographic and organization size questions (Reusable Task)Project Strategy – Series of narrative questions detailing the proposed projectProject Budget – Explanation of proposed project costsProject Work Plan/Timeline – Proposed project implementation schedulePerformance Plan – Outline of metrics to be collected, targets for each metric, and the data collection method for each metric as well as any qualitative evaluation methodsApplication Certification, Acknowledgments, and Assurances – Confirmation of ethics considerations, legal terms, and the authenticity of the application
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.OGM now REQUIRES that all applicants already be registered with CVRS by each application deadline. Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, Outgoing Grants Program Manager of the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.