Past Grants

American Farmland Trust

For staffing costs and related expenses to facilitate the implementation of recommendations set out in Maryland’s Statewide Plan for Agricultural Policy and Resource Management, and to build support for proposed reforms of the 2007 Farm Bill. The Trust will continue to provide community outreach and bridge farming communities with the environmental community, promote a more viable and sustaining agriculture economy in Maryland, help open greater access to fresh and locally grown food to local markets, and work toward tripling the protected acreage of productive farmland by 2022.

1000 Friends of Maryland

Challenge grant for continued support of staffing and expenses related to the Partners for Open Space campaign, to ensure full funding for Program Open Space. The campaign will also ensure that Program Open Space funds are spent strategically through the development of targeted and ranked priorities: 1) discussion of the transfer tax revenues for new programs, such as operating needs of state parks and forests; and 2) the need to engage in a public debate about the important role of open space and ongoing protection of the state’s natural resources.

Vehicles for Change, Inc.

Ninth-year funding for the continuation of an initiative to provide 48 donated reconditioned and Maryland-inspected cars to low-income persons in Baltimore City. Partnering with community-based organizations, Vehicles for Change enables individuals to drive to work and transport their families to essential destinations.

Suited to Succeed

Toward operating costs of a program providing professional clothing to women in transition from unemployment or welfare-to-work. The program provides appropriate interview and workplace attire to 1,400 unemployed women seeking work. In exchange for selecting two outfits, the women are asked to donate one hour of time to help sort clothing. After their first interview, they may return to select two more professional outfits in exchange for a second donated hour. Once they obtain a job, they may return to select a fifth outfit in exchange for a third hour of volunteer time.

Seedco (Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation)

For continued support of EarnBenefits Baltimore, a Web-based tool that helps individuals and families apply for 26 different federal, state, and city benefits, including Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, the Maryland Health Insurance Plan, Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, and the federal Food Stamp Program. The program is designed to streamline eligibility screening application submission, and tracking of submitted applications. Seedco will work with five community-based partners to assist 1,540 individuals in receiving at least one benefit and 385 individuals in receiving multiple benefits.