FAQ

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why do your grants focus on women and girls?

We believe that if the lives of women and girls are improved the entire community benefits.  By understanding the needs of underserved women and girls in our community we can raise awareness of those needs by making grants to local non-profit organizations whose programs target those identified needs.

How do you decide what to fund?

We identify and research community needs as they relate to women and girls. As a field-of-interest fund of the Mid Shore Community Foundationwe also benefit from hearing about many needs in our area through grant requests submitted to MSCF and forwarded to us for consideration. Our Grants Committee reviews every application, conducts site visits when needed, and ultimately decides if the request falls within our guidelines.  It then allocates grants from our available funds.  If the fundable grants exceed the money we have to distribute, the Committee chooses those with potential to impact the greatest number of women and girls or those with the most compelling goals.

The Grants Committee makes its recommendation to the Fund’s Board of Directors. All grants are then sent to the Mid-Shore Community Foundation for final ratification by its Board of Directors.

What are some of the problems that the Fund sees negatively impacting women, girls, families, and the communities on the Mid-Shore?

The problems are numerous and include teen pregnancy, homelessness, day care, abused and neglected children, poverty, food insecurity, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, transportation problems, lack of affordable housing . . . the list goes on and on.

How do you know that the money has been spent appropriately?

We require grant recipients to provide a complete reporting of their program at the conclusion of their one-year grant period. Site visits are conducted to see the programs first hand.  If granted funds are not utilized for the specified purpose, we will request the granted money be returned.

Who can apply for a grant?
Any 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in the five county Mid-Shore region of Maryland’s Eastern Shore (Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot) and whose programs benefit women and girls is eligible to submit a grant request.  We have an established grant application process, as described on the Grants page of this website.  An application is also available by calling the office at 410-770-8347 or by downloading an application from the Grants page.

Go to Grants page

What grants have you given?

You can view the complete list and description of grants given to date by going to the Grants page on this website. 

Go to Grants page

What is the total amount of grant dollars given out to date?

As of March 2022, the Fund has awarded $782,302 in grant dollars in support of 105 organizations across all of the five counties that we serve.

Is my contribution tax-deductible?

Any contribution to the Fund is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Do small contributions matter to you?

Any and all contributions matter because we feel that each donation helps us make a difference in the lives of so many.  Our $10 “Honor Someone Special” donors are often wonderfully loyal, many returning to honor a loved one again and again on a birthday or anniversary, or at some other special time.

Honor Someone Today

Why should I contribute to the fund rather than directly to the charity?

We hope and expect that you will continue to contribute to the charities of your choice, but by pooling our resources, together we can address some of the many needs in our community, that often go unnoticed or are overlooked.  As an individual donor it can be difficult to know about all of the organizations that exist and all of the needs of those organizations.  We have the opportunity of helping to identify programs that have the potential to affect change across the Mid-Shore.

What is the difference between giving to the W&G Fund and giving to the United Fund?

The United Fund needs everyone’s support and everyone needs to support it.  Think of the United Fund as a checking account where the monies received go out for their current needs.  Many organizations in the area depend on the United Fund for their annual operating budgets.

The W&G Fund is building an endowment that will be used to fund needs forever. Think of it as a savings account.  Your donation helps to build a growing legacy, a legacy that will be here long after all of us are gone.

What can I do to help?

Donate – add your name to our growing list of donors.

Volunteer – we need your help!

Spread the word – if you know of anyone you think would be interested in becoming involved, let us know.

Keep your eyes and ears open – if you hear of a program that you think we should learn more about, let us know.  If you know of a group we should talk to, let us know.

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Thanks for your interest in the Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore.