Annual Report 20July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018
2018
ANNUAL REPORT
PROMOTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LOCAL NONPROFIT SECTOR THROUGH GRANTS, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING.
Annual Report 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction…………………………………………….………………. 1
Nonprofit Grant Award Program………………………..……….…….. 2
Nonprofit Economic and Social Impact Report……………………...… 3
Presidents’ Council…………………………………..………………… 4
Pro Bono Collaborative………………………………...………………. 4
Nonprofit Leadership Colloquium………………………...………….... 5
Charles County Service & Advocacy Network…………………….….. 5
Senator Cardin Roundtable…………………………….……………..... 5
Community Outreach & Connections...…………………..….…….…... 6
Work of the Board……………………….………...……….……..…… 7
Development………………………………………….…….………….. 7
Finance…………………………………………………...…………….. 8
Administration……………………………………………….………… 8
Attachments
Fiscal Year 2019 Grant Recipients
Board of Directors Roster
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INTRODUCTION
The Charles County Charitable Trust is pleased to present this annual report.
The year covered runs from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.
The Board of Directors and staff members wish to express appreciation for the County’s ongoing
support for the Trust’s work. Such support makes it possible to promote and maintain programs
that directly benefit the local nonprofit sector and in turn provide myriad benefits to the residents
of Charles County. One of our most visible programs is the Nonprofit Grant Award Program,
which the Trust has been managing since 2016 through a partnership with the County.
The Trust also carried out a wide range of other initiatives designed to build the strength of the
nonprofit sector. They include the Nonprofit Economic and Social Impact study, the Presidents’
Council, the Nonprofit Leadership Colloquium, and the Pro Bono Collaborative. In addition, the
Trust undertook a series of meetings with community leaders to heighten awareness of the role of
the community’s diverse nonprofit sector. The Trust also took time to provide individual nonprofit
groups with practical help and advice on a variety of topics critical to their interests.
9375 Chesapeake Street
Suite 221
La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 934-3700
www.charlesnonprofits.org
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THE NONPROFIT GRANT AWARD PROGRAM
The Nonprofit Grant Award Program occupies a central role in our work. As in the previous two
years, the Trust held to our strong commitment to manage it with fairness, balance and
independence.
The program involved two side-by-side facets: monitoring the Fiscal Year 2018 grants awarded in
May 2017 and managing the grant decision-making process for the next year, Fiscal Year 2019.
With respect to the monitoring task, the Trust added an important feature – the use of site visits to
grantee organizations. They provided an opportunity to see the nonprofit organizations in action
and to meet organizational heads in person and hear their concerns. Site visits were made to the
following:
Charles County Children’s Aid Society
Charles County Freedom Landing
Christmas in April Charles County
Indian Head Center for the Arts
LifeStyles of Southern Maryland
Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy
Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee
The Promise Resource Center
Tri-County Youth Services Bureau
The Western Charles County Community Association
A second monitoring task involved reviewing written mid-year and final-year reports from the
grantee organizations and, where necessary, conferring with them when information appeared
unclear or incomplete.
The new cycle proved unusually challenging due to the large number of grant applications
submitted – 46 as compared to 29 in the previous year. At the same time, the amount of grant
funding provided by the County — $784,100 — remained at the same level as in the previous two
years.
For the new grant cycle, the Trust required would-be applicants to attend a mandatory workshop.
This afforded them the opportunity to become familiar with the application form and to gain on-
the-spot information about its various sections. Three workshops took place. Using a variety of
platforms, including newspaper articles, websites, social media, e-mail messages, and community
meetings, the Trust also implemented a public information effort to alert nonprofits to the
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availability of the grant application online, the mandatory workshops, and the application deadline
in April.
In May, the Board convened as a grant panel for the purpose of reviewing, discussing, and deciding
on the applications for FY19. The protocol required each Board member to read and rate every
application. Three separate meetings were held during the month to complete the decision-making
process.
In the end 26 grants were awarded to those nonprofits that evinced worthy operational and
programmatic capabilities and whose proposals addressed demonstrable community needs. The
largest grant amount was $60,000 and the smallest $5,000. The average grant size was a little over
$46,000. A complete list of grantees, amounts, and purposes is found at the end of this report and
is also available on the Trust’s website at www.charlesnonprofits.org.
At the time of this writing, staff is in the process of effecting Grant Agreements with the recipient
organizations. The agreements will serve as a tool for monitoring use of the grant funds during the
ensuing twelve months.
NONPROFIT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT REPORT Based on the results of an extensive survey of the nonprofit community and analysis of the results,
the Trust published the Charles County Economic and Social Impact report. It has had wide
distribution as a handout at conferences and one-in-one meetings and was posted on the Trust’s
website, where it can be read in its entirety at www.charlesnonprofits.org.
This project, the first such ever carried out in the county, provided a baseline profile of the
nonprofit sector. It has multiple purposes.
It serves as a guidepost for determining the kind of programs that would directly respond
to nonprofit organization needs. The survey identified fundraising, insufficient staff and
volunteers, and operational management as foremost needs.
It also serves as a reliable indicator of nonprofit organization aspirations. For example, 91
percent of the respondents said they planned to collaborate with other organizations to
improve and increase their services.
It is useful as reliable testimony about the state of community needs. The organizations
reported affordable housing, health care, homelessness, and transportation as the foremost
challenges.
In October 2017, the Trust was invited to describe the study at the annual fall summit sponsored
by the Charles County Economic Development office.
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PRESIDENTS’ COUNCIL The Trust enjoys asking people if they know what a “CVO” is. The common answer is no, and
that opens an opportunity to talk about the nonprofit organization’s Chief Volunteer Officer – a
generic term for the president or board chair and by definition the top leadership post. To give
these special leaders the chance to share ideas and mutual concerns, the Trust organized the
Presidents’ Council. The last three gatherings involved:
November 2017 – open discussion about the challenges & opportunities of nonprofit
leadership
February 2018 – interactive session led by a nonprofit consultant on the board’s role in
fundraising
May 2018 – an original one-act play staged as a mock board meeting and also a briefing
on regulatory changes affecting the nonprofit sector
PRO BONO COLLABORATIVE Aware that lack of enough resources for the job is a common experience in the nonprofit realm,
the Trust began exploring possibilities for a program of pro bono services.
Pro bono programs are increasingly in use throughout the country, but have yet to take hold in
Charles County. They involve pairing up a nonprofit organization facing a significant need, usually
in an operational area such as financial management or IT, with a private corporation that has
expertise in that area and is prepared to offer its help. This approach offers a three-way win: the
nonprofit gains critical services to improve its effectiveness, the company has the satisfaction of
giving back to the community in a meaningful way, and the employee tapped for the pro bono
work gets the rewarding experience of contributing knowledge and skills for a worthwhile cause.
The Trust’s first step was to conduct a feasibility study comprising two approaches. The initial one
tested the interest of the nonprofit community through a brief online survey. The responses showed
high interest. The majority of respondents indicated one or more significant needs for help in key
operational areas and added that lack of funds stood in the way of addressing them.
The second approach involved personal interviews with a diverse selection of local private sector
representatives. Here, too, the response was positive. As a result, the Trust has proceeded to
establish a pro bono advisory council, which will assist in deciding the structure and initial
activities of a Pro Bono Collaborative.
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NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP COLLOQUIUM Organized by the Trust soon after its formation, the Colloquium brings together the executives of
organizations whose work also involves providing services to the nonprofit sector itself. At
quarterly meetings they share information about events and trends affecting the sector and about
their current priorities and plans. The core participants include, besides the Trust, the Nonprofit
Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, United Way of Charles County, the Southern
Maryland Community Foundation, the Funding Information Network sponsored by the Charles
County Public Library, and the Charles County Tourism Office.
CHARLES COUNTY SERVICE & ADVOCACY NETWORK In late 2017, the Trust’s Board agreed to assume management of the voluntary Charles County
Service & Advocacy Network (CCSAN). Organized in 2014 by a group of local citizens
associated with nonprofit and faith-based programs, it has provided the area’s health and human
services organizations a forum in which to discuss common needs and challenges. The periodic
networking meetings have helped raise awareness about opportunities for collaborative work and
have included presentations on timely themes, such as mental health services, housing policies,
and economic strains affecting families as outlined in the ALICE report (Asset Limited, Income
Constrained, Employed).
In its sponsorship role, the Trust provides staff support for the CCSAN Advisory Council with
regard to scheduling meetings, determining salient topics, choosing presenters, and maintaining
an up-to-date contact list.
SENATOR CARDIN ROUNDTABLE At the request of U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin, the Trust assembled a group of eleven Charles
County nonprofit leaders on May 14, 2018, to provide him and the audience with a picture of their
organizations’ work to meet community needs and their greatest challenges. The presentations
were followed with a question-and-answer period and discussion. Also participating were Peter
Murphy, President of the Board of County Commissioners, and Commissioner Ken Robinson.
The following organizations were represented:
Charles County Arts Alliance
Charles County Service & Advocacy Network
Christmas in April, dba Rebuilding Together
Conservancy for Charles County
Good Samaritan Presbyterian Church
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Health Partners
LifeStyles of Maryland
Our Place Waldorf
Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee
Spring Dell Center
VConnections
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & CONNECTION During the year the Trust participated in numerous events important for networking, learning,
and community outreach. A partial list:
12th annual Grant Training Seminar, August 25, 2017 (co-sponsored by the Trust)
Nonprofit Community Networking Fair, September 22, 2017
Maryland Nonprofits annual conference in Baltimore, October 4, 2017
Community-wide meeting on the ALICE report co-sponsored by United Way of Charles
County and the Charles County Social and Advocacy Network, November 1, 2017
Charles County Economic Development summit, November 7, 2017
Annual conference of the Nonprofit Institute at the College of Southern Maryland,
February 22, 2018
Rural Maryland Council conference, May 2, 2018
Community Development Network of Maryland conference, May 4, 2018
Board of County Commissioners Town Hall Meeting, May 29, 2018
Economic Development quarterly roundtables
Charles County Chamber of Commerce gatherings (throughout year)
Meetings of the Naval Support Activity South Potomac Civilian-Military Community
Relations (COMREL)
In October, the Trust made a brief presentation on the Economic & Social Impact Study at the
annual fall summit sponsored by the Charles County Economic Development office. At the
invitation of the County Commissioners, the Trust presented a progress report in public session
on January 23, 2018.
The Trust maintained a membership in Maryland Nonprofits and the Maryland Community
Development Network and subscribed to the Nonprofit Quarterly, the Chronicle of Philanthropy,
the Maryland Independent, Leader to Leader, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the
Grassroots Fundraising Journal.
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In its role to serve the nonprofit community, the Trust has recognized the importance of
demonstrating model nonprofit practices and so has taken care to comply with all federal and
state regulations. This included submitting our 990 to the IRS before the end of the calendar year
and maintaining our registration as a charity with the Maryland Secretary of State.
WORK OF THE BOARD From the beginning the Trust has had a working board of directors made up of individuals who
represent a diverse mix of interests and disciplines. All reside in Charles County. The Board, which
meets on a monthly basis, focuses on planning and oversight. It monitors policies concerning
conflict of interest, fiscal management, personnel, whistleblower protection, record-keeping, and
board giving.
In June 2018 the Board held its first board/staff retreat at the Charles Soil Conservation District’s
rural facility not far from Waldorf. Through facilitated discussion, the participants took measure
of the accomplishments since the Trust’s founding in June 2016 and scoped out priorities for the
coming period.
During the year, the Board lost a number of valued Board members due to other pressing
professional and family commitments, including Ann Chab, Courtney Edmonds, Tanisha Sanders,
Jessica Talley, and Kurt Wolfgang. Added during the year were Deborah Carrington, Angela
Clark, Steven Davis, Timothy Fenner, and Swynice Hawkins. The Board roster as of June 30,
2018, can be found at the end of this report.
DEVELOPMENT During the year the Trust began to lay the groundwork for a development program that will focus
on strategies to attract significant philanthropic support. Two constraints were immediately
identified. One was the need to comply with the usual requirement by major funders to receive a
copy of an independent financial audit. With completion of the FY18 audit, this impediment will
no longer apply.
The second constraint will not lend itself to an easy solution. Because the county does not have
any large private foundations or serve as the headquarters of any large national corporations, the
Trust sees the need to look beyond the county for major financial support. Research has been
initiated to identify suitable prospects and the findings will be incorporated into a long-range
development plan.
The Trust recognizes reason for caution about launching a fundraising program targeting local
giving sources. Many local nonprofits depend on community generosity for their operational needs
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and could regard the Trust’s local fundraising activity as complicating an already strongly
competitive funding environment.
FINANCE Two separate grants given by the County government support the work of the Trust. One provided
the fund approved by the Board of County Commissioners for the annual grant award program.
The amount for FY18, $784,100, was disbursed in its entirety through a competitive application
process as grant awards to qualified nonprofit organizations serving the county. The second grant,
$225,200, comprised the Trust’s operating budget and covered office space, personnel, insurance,
equipment, and supplies.
The Trust maintained a contract with a local CPA firm for accounting and payroll services and the
preparation of the annual 990 form for the IRS.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE PICTURE The Trust continues to maintain its office in La Plata. A staff of two is headed by Executive
Director Vivian Mills, whose background includes many years of top-level executive experience
and leadership positions in the nonprofit sector.
Susan Petroff serves as the Program Director on a half-time basis, with responsibilities
encompassing all the Trust’s program activities. A seasoned fundraiser in national and local
settings, she is also blueprinting a fund development plan for the Board’s review and approval.
Devin Watts is the full-time Office Manager. She handles a wide range of administrative
responsibilities and provides executive office and program support. Her background includes
coordinating and managing programs in university, government, and health-care settings.
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
Attachment: Fiscal Year 2019 Grant Recipients Page 1 of 2
Fiscal Year 2019 Grant Recipients 1. Arc of Southern Maryland, Inc. (The) Grant Award: $21,563.00 Purpose: Respite Services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
2. Bay Community Support Services, Inc. Grant Award: $29,206.00 Purpose: Roofs for two group homes and a lift vehicle for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
3. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Inc. Grant Award: $50,000.00 Purpose: Angel Watch Shelter, temporary housing for homeless women and their children
4. Center for Abused Persons Grant Award: $60,000.00 Purpose: Charles County Crisis Hotline, a crisis intervention and referral service
5. Charles County Arts Alliance Grant Award: $10,000.00 Purpose: Art supplies for K-3rd grade students; music clinicians to work with school band, orchestra and choral middle school students; and a new arts program for senior centers
6. Charles County Children's Aid Society Grant Award: $36,250.00 Purpose: School bags and supplies for students in need
7. Charles County HARC, Inc. Grant Award: $15,000.00 Purpose: Respite and other services for individuals with disabilities
8. Charles County Literacy Council, Inc. Grant Award: $15,000.00 Purpose: Sustainability initiatives, including outreach partnerships and expansion of tutors and adult learners served
9. Charles County Meals on Wheels, Inc. Grant Award: $30,000.00 Purpose: Continuity of meals and Telephone Reassurance Service to homebound senior citizens
10. Chesapeake Choral Arts Society Grant Award: $5,000.00 Purpose: Music royalties and other fees for choral concerts for residents of Charles County
11. Christmas in April Charles County DBA Rebuilding Together Charles County Grant Award: $40,000.00 Purpose: Project staff and materials to repair homes of low-income seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans
12. College of Southern Maryland Foundation Grant Award: $33,112.00 Purpose: Expansion of reading, writing and math tutoring program to help “at risk” students matriculate to college level and college graduation, transfer, and/or employment
13. Conservancy for Charles County Grant Award: $5,000.00 Purpose: General operating funds for continuance of land protection and preservation services
14. Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc. Grant Award: $40,000.00 Purpose: Promotion of improved access and affordability of behavioral health services, and to offset the growing costs of uncompensated care for patients
15. Health Partners , Inc. Grant Award: $60,000.00 Purpose: Provide underserved people with immediate dental attention through the Transportable Dental Unit, particularly those with transportation and insurance limitations
16. LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation, Inc. Grant Award: $60,000.00 Purpose: Provision of emergency hypothermia shelter services for homeless persons, and homeless services year round
17. Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc. Grant Award: $28,370.00 Purpose: Expansion of crime victim services in Charles County
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
Attachment: Fiscal Year 2019 Grant Recipients Page 2 of 2
18. New Horizons Supported Services, Inc. Grant Award: $44,474.00 Purpose: Expansion of employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
19. Our Place Waldorf, Inc. Grant Award: $3,500.00 Purpose: Twice-weekly free dinner program for Charles County residents in need Note: For meal program only, not for investment in future facility
20. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. Grant Award: $5,000.00 Purpose: Expansion of therapeutic recreational therapy program for disabled veterans
21. Promise Resource Center (The) Grant Award: $30,000.00 Purpose: Provision of Novo Parenting Program for parents in critical need of intervention because of child abuse and neglect
22. Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy Grant Award: $35,000.00 Purpose: Advocacy and legal representation for victims of domestic, sexual, and dating violence and stalking
23. Southern Maryland Community Network, Inc. Grant Award: $7,625.00 Purpose: Assist individuals with serious mental problems find employment
24. Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc. Grant Award: $40,000.00 Purpose: Programs for underserved individuals including food security, senior respite care, Class B commercial driving license training, and rental assistance
25. Spring Dell Center, Inc. Grant Award: $50,000.00 Purpose: Specialized transportation for individuals with disabilities for access to community-integrated employment, volunteer opportunities and social and educational opportunities
26. United Way of Charles County, Inc. Grant Award: $30,000.00 Purpose: In partnership with the Town of Indian Head, laying the groundwork for a family success center for use by providers in service to the community
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
Attachment: Board of Directors Roster Page 1 of 1
Board of Directors Roster
Sandra McGraw, President
Waldorf, MD
Retired career federal program analyst with experience in advocacy programs promoting social
justice for low-income residents. An organizer of the Charles County Service and Advocacy
Council, with particular interest in affordable housing.
Melanie Boston-Holland, Vice President
Pomfret, MD
Retired from federal service as a Supervisory Management Specialist. Active with the Southern
Maryland Homeowners Association Federation, the Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and
volunteering with AARP
Stephen M. Bunker, Treasurer
La Plata, MD
Former member of the Charles County Planning Commission. Career on staff of the Maryland
Nature Conservancy. Taking leading role in effort to designate Mallows Bay in Nanjemoy as a
National Marine Sanctuary.
Angela R. Clark, Secretary
Port Tobacco, MD
Recent retiree from financial management positions with federal agencies. Involved in volunteer
tax assistance to seniors and serves as acting treasurer for the local NAACP chapter.
Deborah M. Carrington, Board Member
Pomfret, MD
Retired federal investigator for the Office of Personnel Management. Established the Tiffani C.
Carrington Scholarship Fund. Currently the Capital Campaign Coordinator for LifeStyles of
Maryland Foundation, Inc.
Steven L. Davis, Board Member
Bryans Road, MD
Pastor of a local interdenominational church with extensive experience in crisis intervention,
conflict resolution, and consensus-building. Longtime chaplain for the FBI.
Timothy R. Fenner, Board Member
Waldorf, MD
Program Coordinator for the Diversity Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, with
responsibility for the Men of Excellence program. Active in Kiwanis and African-American
Heritage Center program.
Swynice Hawkins, Board Member
Waldorf, MD
Retired executive director of the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee.
Current volunteer commitment to multi-state program assisting local communities with water and
wastewater system problems.
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