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

1 | P a g e

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

info@charlesnonprofits.org

www.charlesnonprofits.org

2 | P a g e

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

3 | P a g e

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.

4 | P a g e

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.

5 | P a g e

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

6 | P a g e

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.

7 | P a g e

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

8 | P a g e

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.