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Top of Page Resources Create Apply SCHOLARSHIPS DREAMS BECOME REALITY THROUGH EDUCATION We believe education is the key to a brighter future. Our scholarship funds are a valuable resource for people who want to help local students attain their educational goals. As one of the area’s major sources of educational support, CFES distributes 350+ scholarships a year, made possible by our generous and caring donors. Create Inspired to create your own scholarship? Read more about creating brighter futures. LEARN MORE Resources Student Scholarship Acceptance Form Ren ewal Application Scholarship Recipient FAQ Scholarship Timeline Resources committee Scholarship Upd ate Form Scholarship Roster/Request For m Scholarship Committee FAQ ​ Resources Create Apply First year applications are now available! ​ To find scholarships: Scroll through the listing below. You may use the toggle arrows to sort columns alphabetically, by amounts, and by county. OR e nter a scholarship name or amount in the search box. Scholarships with county or school based requirements are marked in the corresponding column. To view more information about a scholarship, including eligibility and full description, click the name of the scholarship. This will open a PDF file in a new window (your pop-up blocker must be turned off!) *Denotes Renewable Scholarships ** Denotes that students may reapply each year ​ Questions regarding scholarship applications should be directed to: ScholarshipAccept@cfes.org or 410-742-9911 ​ For renewal applications, acceptance forms, and committee forms, see the resource section above. Apply

1:1 Customized Consulting Meet our Consultants Join a Cohort Client Testimonials More Resources Nonprofit COACHING & CONSULTING Solutions Built for You Our program staff works closely with our nonprofit clients to provide free and low-cost customized solutions in both one-on-one and cohort formats. These programs include professional consulting, integrated tools, and executive coaching to focus on strategic growth and building excellence in our nonprofit community. 1: Customized Consulting Join a Cohort! 1:1 Customized Consulting (Mission Possible) Our nonprofit consulting program connects nonprofits with custom-tailored solutions to help grow and strengthen their organizations. These services are free to selected nonprofits. Click the information button below to review eligibility guidelines and apply. Consulting topics include: Accounting & Finance Strategic Planning Board & Governance Development/Fundraising Human Resources Technology Assessments ​ Marketing Program Evaluation D.E.&I Executive Coaching​ And more! Other Benefits: Maryland Nonprofits membership Educational materials Grant research by expert technical writers Virtual training & webinars on requested topics Info & Application Meet some of our consultants: DR. SARAH GUY SG Insights, L LC TRACY RITTER Consult ant CHRISTIAN ME TZGER Consult ant Join a Cohort! Jumpstart is a 12-month cohort program designed to increase your organization's fundraising capacity, diversify revenue, and grow and sustain your programs. Benefits Include: Personal Fundraising Coach Twice monthly consulting sessions, plus on-demand access to your coach! Donor Management Donor database platform with all the bells and whistles to save time and improve fundraising! Customizable Fundraising Pages Customizable for giving, fundraising, and event ticketing. Users see an average 43% increase in donations! After 12 months, your nonprofit will be able to: Target, a ttract, and convert more donors Increase annual fundraising targets Leverage data to save t ime, create goals, and measure results Cultivate existing donor relationships to upgrade major gifts Contact us to apply meet consultants How We've Helped The best part of the software is how it allows us to have all our information in one place. Using the software for our "Lighting Up" Recovery Breakfast was great. It gave me the capability to build a campaign page that was linked to our social media and website. One click would take interested parties to the campaign page where they could purchase tickets or sponsorships. We sold 145 tickets. Total net funds raised came to $11,344.00! Curtis Paul, Recovery Resource Center (Jumpstart Cohort) Client Testimonials MORE RESOURCES: More Resources

Nonprofit SUPPORT & RESOURCES Nonprofit Scholarship Program On-Site Nonprofit Library Starting A Nonprofit Nonprofit Template Library Nonprofit Policy Library 501c3 Compliance Nonprofit Research Grant Seeker Resources Grantee Toolkit GrantWatch Here to Help You The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, as part of its core mission, has supported local nonprofit organizations since 1984. In addition to financial support, the Foundation ​provides local organizations with access to training and professional development, networking and capacity-building resources, designed to enhance the capacity of local organizations to effectively achieve their mission. On-site Nonprofit Library The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is a partner of the Foundation Center , a leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. We maintain a non-circulating selection of books, reference books, newspapers, and periodicals relating to philanthropy and charitable work. Our library catalog lists many of these print resources. The print publications are available for use in our location free of charge. View available titles here. Our library contains over 250 books covering topics such as: board management, finance, fundraising, grant writing, grant making, leadership, marketing, legal, technology, strategic planning, and writing. Events & Trainings To register for any of our seminars or training events please visit our Events Page. Questions should be directed to Heather Mahler. ​ Sign Language Interpreter Request: We are committed to making our service and facilities accessible to all of our patrons. We will provide sign language interpreter services by written request only. Please submit all requests for interpreting services five full working days (or more) in advance of the training that you will attend. Nonprofit Resource Center The nonprofit resource center is open during our regular business hours. It is located just inside of our front door and use is first come first served. We offer a work table and computer to access the Foundation Directory online. Nonprofit Scholarship Program The Nonprofit Scholarship Program is offered in partnership with the Continuing Education and Workforce Development Department at Wor-Wic Community College. Scholarships, covering tuition and fees, are available for select courses each semester to staff and volunteers of local nonprofit 501c3 organizations. Textbooks are the responsibility of the participant or organization. Wor-Wic Guidelines & Application Scholarship Program Evaluation Form Wor-Wic Catalog Nonprofi Scholarhips Nonprofi Library Starting a Nonprofit The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) offers basic technical assistance and information to those individuals who desire to start a nonprofit, but we do not offer financial or legal expertise for filing documents. ​ Once your nonprofit is formed, CFES has a robust nonprofit support program that can assist you in a variety of ways. CFES offers professional development to you and your board of directors through our nonprofit workshops which focus on nonprofit best practices. You do not need to secure a nonprofit 501(c)(3) status to attend our workshops. ​ To start your own nonprofit, you will need to file forms with state and federal governments and the costs depend on size of the organization. Please refer to the websites and documents below to get started with your own nonprofit! ​ CFES Nonprofit Checklist ​ IRS for Nonprofits: Resources for starting and maintaining a nonprofit. ​ Maryland Nonprofits Nonprofit Development Center: Free resources for starting a nonprofit in Maryland. ​ Community Law Center: Legal resources for nonprofits ​ MD Annotated Code for Corporations & Associations: Statutory laws concerning the creating and operation of corporations (including nonprofits) 501c3 Compliance IRS Website: How to stay exempt as a nonprofit Secretary of State (MD): This is the Charitable Solicitation Act website that controls annual filings and disclosures of nonprofit charitable solicitations. Department of Assessments and Taxation (MD): This is the department that collects annual filings of Form 1 personal property return from nonprofits. ​ Annual Filings for MD Nonprofits Grant Seeker Resources Lower Shore Nonprofit Funders List ​ Grants.Gov: A comprehensive website for grantseekers that offers information, grant listings and training tutorials. ​ GrantWatch: – Available at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. Governor's Grants Office (MD): Accessible resources, training, research and guidance to state and federal grants. Nonprofit Research Maryland Nonprofit State Research Reports Urban Institute: Unbiased insight about the wellbeing of people and places in the U.S. Annie E. Casey Foundation: Maryland Grantmaker that provides research resources including KIDS COUNT, a premier data source on children and families in the U.S. United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore: Lower Eastern Shore Grantmaker that conducted the A.L.I.C.E report that focuses on poverty in our state. MD Center on Economic Policy: Economic research and publications. ​ Independent Sector: A wealth of resources for the nonprofit sector. Strengthening Communities Report: The Impact of the Nonprofit Sector on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore. ​ Atlantic General Community Health Needs Assessments: For Worcester County, MD and Sussex County, DE. ​ Tidal Health Community Needs Assessment : For Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties (MD) and Sussex County, DE. ​ United States Census American Community Survey (ACS): Ongoing survey that provides vital information on a yearly basis about our nation and its people. ​ Worcester County Local Management Board: Community data reports. ​ Somerset County Local Management Board : Community assessments and studies. Template Library These documents are from a variety of free for use resources and provide you with a starting point. You should customize them to meet the needs of your organization and consult an attorney before adopting a policy that is legally binding. ​ Articles of Incorporation Board Roles & Responsibilities Board Officer Job Descriptions Board Meeting Agenda Board Meeting Minutes Board Composition Analysis Board Consent Agenda Bylaws Template Donor Acknowledgement Template Press Release Template Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) Committee Charters: Finance Committee Charters: Fundraising Committee Charters: Executive Annual Operating Budget Template Policy Library Policies guides from a variety of free for use resources. Policies should be customized for your organization and an attorney should be consulted before adopting legally binding policies. ​ Conflict of Interest Whistleblower Volunteer Employee Handbook Gift Acceptance Social Media Information Technology/ Device Use Document Retention Financial Advocacy and Lobbying ​ GrantWatch We offer free access to GrantWatch, a grant seeker database which allows you to perform online searches for grants that support both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. GrantWatch can be accessed in the Nonprofit Resource Center of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. GrantWatch can also be accessed on your personal device at our local office, through a web URL our staff provides you. No appointment is necessary, and three users can be online at one time. An orientation can be scheduled in advance with a member of the Programs Team by calling 410-742-9911. Please reserve a half hour for this comprehensive training session. Grant Resorces GrantWatch 501c3 Compliance Policy Library Template Library Starting a nonprofit Nonprofit Reseach

Regional Impact FOR THE COMMON GOOD e-Grants Portal CFES grant applications, eligibility, and reporting Events & Trainings Free and low-cost events to learn and grow Nonprofit Support & Resources Resources, support, templates, research, & more Meeting Room Use Meeting spaces available for nonprofit use at CFES Grant & Nonprofit News Grant news, support, announcements & more Annual Awards Honoring nonprofits, volunteers, & humanitarians Grantee Toolkit Before, during, and after your grant application Giving Tuesday 24 hours of giving for Lower Shore nonprofits Nonprofit Partner Funds Creating long-term growth and financial benefits Nonprofit Coaching & Consulting Free and low-cost services tailored to your needs. Created By The Community, For The Community e-Grants Introducing CFES Our cloud-based grant management solution. Powered by CommunityForce CFES e-Grants offers charities an enhanced grant application process, while allowing us to continue building our ever expanding community impact, simplifying the grant process for you, and improving collaboration. Easily search for CFES grants, view eligibility requirements, and prepare for deadlines. Apply for grants online and track application status. Upload reports and communicate with grant staff. LET'S GO! Grant Portal

Memorial Funds Honoring your loved one through a memorial fund only takes a few simple steps. If you have recently lost a loved one, we extend our condolences. Whether or not the death was expected, we understand that dealing with all the arrangements during a time of grief can be overwhelming. We want to make the process of establishing a memorial fund to honor your loved one as smooth as possible. ​ When a loved one passes away, many families and friends wish to create or contribute to a memorial fund in honor of their life. However, making the decision of what to support can be daunting during a time of loss. A Memorial Fund gives you time to consider how to best represent your loved one's passion and interest, while giving you an immediate place to direct gifts. What To Do Now Contact us: Fill out this quick form to notify us that you want to establish a memorial fund (or see form below) or give us a call at 410-742-9911. ​ Encourage donors: We recommend including a statement in the obituary or memorial program to let friends and family know how to direct their gifts. Examples: Memorial donations can be made online at CFES.org/donate or mailed to Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, 1324 Belmont Ave. Ste. 401, Salisbury, MD 21804 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the "John Smith Memorial Fund" at CFES.org/donate or mailed to Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, 1324 Belmont Ave. Ste. 401, Salisbury, MD 21804 What Can Wait For Later Completing documents: There will be formal fund agreement paperwork to complete. If we have not heard from you within a month, our staff will follow up to begin the paperwork process. ​ Deciding charitable goals: You may need time to decide the charitable goals of the fund. Our staff can help you work through options. Sending donor acknowledgments: CFES will send official tax acknowledgements to every fund donor. If you wish to send a personalized thank you, you will have access to donor information via our online platform. Additional Details How does a memorial fund work? ​ Anyone can give to a memorial fund. When the endowment fund reaches a balance of $10,000, the investment earnings can be used to make grants to community causes or tax-exempt nonprofits selected by you and/or your family. Grants can be directed to places of worship, public libraries, schools, human services organizations and arts organizations. You many also designate a special community interest area for the grants, such as services for disadvantaged youth, the arts, or seniors. ​ Memorial Fund Benefits: ​ A memorial endowment fund gives you time to make specific charitable decisions later , allowing you to focus on more time-sensitive matters. The fund is permanent and will carry on your loved one's name. Because the fund is invested it will continually grow to make future grants that will support charitable causes. Our Donor Central platform provides you access to real-time fund information. CFES handles the administrative work. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. While we encourage donors to continue to build their funds, the fund will live on even without additional fundraising, after reaching the $10,000 minimum for endowment. If the fund does not reach the $10,000 endowment minimum, all gifts can be transferred to another charitable fund at CFES as a memorial gift. Get Started Simply fill out the form below to notify us of your intention to direct memorial gifts to CFES. Still have questions? Give us a call at 410-742-9911.

Planned Giving Whatever you want your charitable legacy to be, we can help you make it is possible through a planned gift. Through thoughtful planning, you have the ability to create a permanent legacy that honors your interests and lets them live on forever. A planned gift is one that is arranged during your life, but comes to fruition after you pass. Those who leave a gift to the Foundation in their will or through some other deferred giving plan are eligible to join our Legacy Society. Learn about our Legacy Society here > ​ As a trusted partner in giving, we work closely with individuals, families, and professional advisors to ensure your charitable wishes are honored in perpetuity while also maximizing tax benefits. There are many creative and flexible giving options to achieve your unique charitable vision. Popular Planned Giving Options Bequest Plan now, give later, by including a legacy provision through your will or trust. Bequests can take the form of a specific item, a specific amount of money, or a percent of your estate. The Foundation would be happy to provide you and your attorney with suggested language to include in your will or trust. Your bequest can be used to establish a charitable fund (or add to an existing fund) at CFES that speaks to your charitable intentions and can be changed later simply contacting the Foundation. View our bequest template here > Retirement Plan Designating CFES as a beneficiary of your retirement plan is an opportunity to maximize your charitable impact while avoiding income and estate tax penalties. Retirement Plan assets are some of the most heavily taxed estate assets; therefore, it may be more effective for you to transfer these assets to a tax-exempt organization, such as CFES, and leave less heavily taxed assets to your loved ones. Life Insurance Giving through a life insurance policy is a simple way to establish your legacy of giving, with tax benefits you can enjoy during your lifetime. Options include naming CFES the owner and irrevocable beneficiary of an existing, paid-up policy or a policy that you continue to pay the premiums. Upon your passing, the proceeds from the policy will establish a charitable fund (or add to an existing fund) according to your charitable intentions. Retained Life Estate (Residence or Farm) Turn property values into a charitable gift of real estate. A retained life estate allows you to use and enjoy your home (or vacation property) without disruption as long as you like, while giving future ownership to CFES. When the retained life estate ends, the proceeds from the property’s sale can establish a charitable fund at CFES to support your charitable interests. Gifts That Pay You Income There also are a number of planned giving options that provide income to you while creating a charitable fund that will award grants in perpetuity to the causes you care about. ​ Charitable Gift Annuity Establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity is a way for you and/or a loved one to receive a fixed and secure stream of income for life. When you make this type of charitable gift (using cash or securities) to Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, the Foundation makes a commitment to pay a fixed amount to you (and/or a loved one) for the remainder of your lifetime. After all payments have been made, the remaining assets are then contributed to your fund at the Foundation to accomplish your specific charitable goals. Income levels paid to you (and/or a loved one) depend on your age. You also receive a partial income tax deduction in the year you set up the gift. Charitable Lead Trust A charitable lead trust is the mirror image of a charitable remainder trust. Income of the trust is paid regularly to a charitable fund at CFES for a specific period of time (or the lifetime of the donor). When the trust term expires, the remaining assets are distributed to you, or more typically, your children or other loved ones, usually with significant transfer tax savings. ​ Charitable Remainder Trust Making a gift to establish a charitable remainder trust allows you to support the community, retain an income stream and receive a substantial charitable income tax deduction. The trust pays either you or a designated beneficiary a series of fixed or variable payments for life or for a fixed term (not to exceed 20 years), or a combination of the two. You also receive an immediate charitable tax deduction for the present value of the gift the year the gift is made. When the trust term expires, the remainder is then distributed into your charitable fund at CFES. Get Started! Ready to plan your gift? Contact our team by email or via phone at 410-742-9911

Endow Maryland Do More for the Lower Eastern Shore The Endow Maryland state tax credit will reward donors who help build permanent charitable funds for local communities across the state and right here on the Lower Eastern Shore. ​ Gifts of $500 or more to any Community Needs Endowment Fund or Field of Interest Fund at CFES are eligible for this State tax credit. Credits are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. ENDOW MARYLAND State Tax Credit The Endow Maryland state tax credit will reward donors who help build permanent charitable funds for local communities across the state and right here on the Lower Eastern Shore. Since 2015, Endow Maryland has offered a tax credit for gifts to qualified endowment funds at Maryland community foundations. Your Community Foundation will maximize the impact of the Endow Maryland tax credit by focusing on those funds which support the most urgent needs in the community and provide maximum flexibility over time. You may qualify for a 25% tax credit on your Maryland state tax return one of two ways. Community Needs Funds and Field of Interest Funds are eligible for the tax credit. Option 1: Make a gift of at least $500 to a qualifying fund. Option 2: Establish a new endowed qualifying fund with a $10,000 gift at CFES To find out how you can make a gift to the Community Foundation and qualify for an Endow Maryland tax credit, please contact Erica Joseph or Veronique Diriker or call 410-742-9911. Download the CFES Endow Maryland Fact Sheet ​ View a list of all Endow Maryland eligible funds held at CFES here.

Top of Page Our Staff Board of Directors Committees Help You? HOW CAN WE Our Staff Our Staff Lauren Ansted PROGRAM OFFICER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Programs, Grants, Nonprofit Support, Applications, Giving Tuesday WHAT I LOVE: Family, Football, Animals, Nature, Exploration, Comedy Sharon Dickson , CPA FINANCE DIRECTOR LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Fund Statements, Financial Statements, Professional Advisors WHAT I LOVE: Family, Faith, Softball, Bargain Hunting, and Bacon Cathy Diekmann PROGRAM OFFICER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Scholarships, Capacity Building, Nonprofit Training, Events WHAT I LOVE: Faith, family, Running & Hiking, Dogs, Travel, Peace & Justice Veronique Diriker , Ph.D CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Strategic Planning & Implementation, Charitable Giving, Connecting Donors WHAT I LOVE: Painting & Drawing, Nature, Travel, Animals, Giggles Heather Geraldes , MBA PROGRAM DIRECTOR LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Grants, Nonprofit Training, Focus Groups, Community Initiatives WHAT I LOVE: Gardening, Cats, Poetry, Hiking, Astronomy, Independent Films Erica Joseph PRESIDENT LET'S CHAT ABOUT: What you love, How to make a difference, and all things CFES WHAT I LOVE: Family, Our Pets, The Beach, Naps, A Good Book, Ravens Football Victoria Kent MARKETING OFFICER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Marketing, Graphic Design, Press, Websites, Social Media WHAT I LOVE: Horses, Dogs, Design, The Beach, Skiing, Football/ Youth Sports Katerra Marshall OFFICE COORDINATOR LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Office Support, RSVPs, Meeting Room Reservations, Foundation Information WHAT I LOVE: My Sons, Flowers & Plants, Cooking, Jazz Music, Coffee, NCIS Jessica Meehan GIFTS & GRANTS OFFICER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Gifts & Grants Processing, Gift Acknowledgements WHAT I LOVE: Soccer, Nature, Books, Road Trips, New Adventures David Plotts , MSM, SHRM-CP CONTROLLER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Finance, Investment Management, Information Systems, HR, Facilities WHAT I LOVE: Family, Home Improvement, Community Shelbie Thompson DEVEL. & DONOR RELATIONS OFFICER LET'S CHAT ABOUT: Donor Requests, Charitable Giving, Memberships, Events WHAT I LOVE: Theater, Yoga, Antique Shopping, Beach Days, Coffee Board of Directors Board of Directors Velda Henry BOARD CHAIRWOMAN Community Leader Daniel O'Connell II CPA/PFS/CVA VICE CHAIRMAN Managing Partner, PKS & Company, P.A. Dean Lewis, CPA SECRETARY Chief Financial Officer, Taylor Bank Robin Evans TREASURER Community Leader Ed Barber Retired Assistant Superintendent, WCPS ​ Allen Brown, Sr. Community Leader ​ Robin Evans Community Leader ​ Gail Foltz Vice President, Shore United Bank Sharone Grant Director, Student Health Services Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore Dr. Carolyn Johnston Community Leader ​ Jim Jones Vice President, First Shore Federal And y Kim, C PA Principal at Kim & Associates, P.A. ​ Ginnie Malone Realtor, Coldwell Banker ​ Michael Mathers , esq. Attorney, Webb, Wilber, Douse, Mathers & Illuminati William McCain President, W.R. McCain & Associates Inc. Tyrone Mills Retired, Worcester County Schools Phyllis Mitchell Certified Financial Planner Mitchell & Hastings Financial Services Melody Nelson Community Leader ​ Janice Perdue Community Leader ​ John Phoebus Lawyer, Anthenelli, Phoebus & Hickman, LLC Greg Tawes Senior Vice President, BB&T Bank ​ Michael Truitt CFP, CRPC Resident Director & Vice President at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Dr. Annette Wallace Chief Operating & Academic Officer at Worcester County Public Schools Sonya Whited Senior Director of Retail Product Development, Perdue Farms Dr. George Whitehead, III Community Leader ​ Gayle Widdowson Community Leader ​ Foundation Committees Committees Executive Committee Velda Henry, Chair Dan O’Connell, Vice Chair Dean Lewis, Secretary Robin Evans, Treasurer Ed Barber, Member at Large Allen Brown, Member at Large Dr. Carolyn Johnston, Member at Large Jim Jones, Past Chair Asset Development & Marketing Committee Stephanie Willey, Chair Mike Truitt, Vice Chair Ginnie Malone Martin Neat Daniel O’Connell Audit Committee John Stern, Chair Gregory Tawes, Vice Chair Andy Kim Melody Nelson Phyllis Mitchell Lauren Taylor Awards Committee Martin Neat, Chair Dr. Annette Wallace, Vice Chair James Almand Gail Foltz Kathleen McLain James Morris Susan Purnell Jim Thomas Jeffrey Turner Barbara Whitehead Gayle Widdowson Community Initiatives Kathleen McLain, Chair Melody Nelson, Vice Chair Jane Corcoran Mike Dunn Dr. Carolyn Johnston Michael Mathers Sharon Morris Dr. George Whitehead Dr. Julius Zant Community Needs Dr. George Whitehead, Chair Dr. Julius Zant, Vice Chair Kelly Brinkley Jane Corcoran Karen Cross Kathleen Crossan Robin Evans Pat Farina Michele Hughes Duke Marshall Jane Messenger Janice Perdue Anthony Sarbanes Ernest Satchell Kendall Timmons Carol Wellinghoff Sonya Whited Education Awards Dr. Carolyn Johnston, Chair Andy Kim, Vice Chair Allen Brown Gail Foltz Kim Gillis Shelby Gillis Teresa McCain Tyrone Mills Paula Morris Janice Perdue Carrie Samis Anthony Sarbanes Ernest Satchell Lauren Taylor Cathie Thomas Dr. George Whitehead Governance Committee Jim Jones, Chair Velda Henry Tom Hershey Jim Thomas Mike Truitt Julius Zant Investment Committee Daniel O’Connell, Chair Dr. Ani Mathers, Vice Chair James Bergey, Jr. Mark Engberg W. Thomas Hershey Dean Lewis Bill McCain Phyllis Mitchell Martin Neat John Phoebus John Stern Gregory Tawes Mike Truitt Diane Turner Scholarship Selection Dr. Julius Zant, Chair Sharone Grant, Vice Chair Kathleen McLain Jim Morris Ernie Satchell BJ Summers Stephanie Willey Women’s Fund Executive Susan Purnell, Chair Sydney Tilman, Vice Chair Ginnie Malone, Membership Vice Chair Gayle Widdowson, At-Large B.J. Summers, At-Large

Create A Giving Circle Collective Impact Giving circles are a team approach to philanthropy and charitable networking. They allow like-minded people to collaborate for a specific interest or cause. Every giving circle is unique in size, structure and focus, but they all enable donors to combine their resources and maximize their impact. ​ Giving circles offer members a chance to learn more about giving and specific community causes, while sharing expertise, networking, and making a difference. Giving circles often require a smaller monetary commitment to join than creating your own fund. Established Giving Circles The Women's Fund The Women’s Fund of the Eastern Shore was created through the power of collective philanthropy. Members work together to help change the lives of local women and girls. Becoming a member of the Women’s Fund of the Eastern Shore gives you the satisfaction of making a difference in your community, and provides social and networking opportunities through this dynamic group. Learn more here. ​ Black Excellence Community Fund The Black Excellence Community Fund works to preserve cultural awareness and pride by expanding the benefits of education, health, and welfare in African American communities, while teaching the values of philanthropy through education and financial literacy. Learn more here. How to Start a Giving Circle Step 1: Members Set Up a Giving Circle Fund Create: Once the group has decided on a mission, goals, membership level(s), and an internal operating structure (Board & Grants committees), it will meet with Foundation staff to operationalize its grantmaking. ​ Fund Agreement: Two or more authorized members of the Giving Circle meet with Foundation staff and sign a fund agreement with the name, purpose, and composition of the Giving Circle. Two members become the Fund Advisors. ​ Initial Gift & Fund Balance: An initial gift and fund balance of $10,000 or more is needed to establish an endowed giving circle fund at the Foundation. An additional amount may be set aside for immediate grant making. ​ Fees: All giving circle funds, regardless of fund balance, are charged an annual administrative fee payable to the Foundation of 1% of the fund balance. ​ Online Access: Once the fund is established, fund advisors access fund information anytime through our online portal. Information about gifts and grants from the Fund are posted in real time; investment earnings/losses are posted quarterly. ​ Step 2: Make Gifts into the Giving Circle Fund Members may make gifts in person or online of cash or publicly traded stocks. Written acknowledgements are sent by CFES for all donations. Real estate or closely held business interests may also be received. Contact Foundation staff to learn more. ​ Step 3: Recommend Grant Distributions from the Giving Circle Fund Once gifts are received, fund advisors recommend grants based on giving circle's decisions. Grants are processed by the Foundation to tri-county charitable organizations. CFES takes care of verifying the organization’s charitable status and sending the check. Giving circles will have access to foundation staff who can help research community needs and specific nonprofits. ​ Step 4: Monitor & Evaluate the Impact of the Fund The Foundation can help the Giving Circle assess the impact of its grantmaking and share grant reports with the Giving Circle Grants Committee. Get Started! Want to create a giving circle? Contact our team by email or via phone at 410-742-9911

Who We Are 1,963 GRANTS AWARDED IN F Y23 $107 MILLION IN GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 1984 $6.1 MILLION GRANTED IN FY 23 $549K SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED IN FY23 500+ LOWER SHORE NONPROFITS SERVED What We Do As leaders, grant makers, and stewards of philanthropy, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care to causes that matter for the common good of the Lower Eastern Shore. We are a 501c3 nonprofit with an inspiring history of fostering charitable endeavors, and have provided more than $107 million in grants and scholarships to the local community since 1984. We collaborate with individuals, families, and businesses to match their charitable interests with community needs and strengthen local nonprofits through grants and resources. We are devoted to improving our regional community and believe in the power of philanthropy. DONOR SERVICES EXPLORE GRANTS & NONPROFITS THRIVE SCHOLARSHIPS LEARN PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS PARTNER What We Do Meet Our People LEARN MORE What We Believe In MISSION Inspiring community philanthropy and connecting people who care with causes that matter. VISION Create thriving communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where we can live and prosper together. VALUES Accountability: We keep commitments, achieve results, exercise sound judgment, and accept responsibility for our performance in all our decisions and actions. Collaboration: We embrace our shared responsibility in working toward productive solutions to strengthen our community. We will work to facilitate the most favorable solutions for those we serve; to build consensus in the face of adversity; and to empower others to build lasting partnerships. Equity: We embrace and respect the differences that make our communities strong. Diversity in all its forms is key to our collective success. We practice inclusivity of perspective, experience, abilities, and ideas to identify needs and create opportunities to improve the quality of life in our region. Integrity: We believe it is not only important to know the right thing to do, but equally important to do the right thing and be above reproach in all we do. It is the cornerstone of our values. Leadership: We strive to be innovative, compassionate, and diligent in our efforts to serve as the respected resource for regional philanthropy. We will seize the initiative and challenge others to improve the communities we serve. Transparency: We provide information that will empower stakeholders to make informed decisions. We believe it is the best way to prove to others we are upholding our values and to make mutual trust possible and our actions understandable. ​ DIVERSITY, EQUITY, BELONG ING, INCLUSION & JUSTICE STATEMENT The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore intentionally fosters a culture of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Justice (DEBIJ). We recognize that diversity comes in many forms such as ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, economic circumstances, disability (visible or invisible), and more. We strategically and purposely work to integrate DEBIJ into the fabric of CFES so that we can excel at being an informed and effective philanthropic leader and community partner. We commit to investing time, resources, energy, and know-how to execute a robust DEBIJ strategy: We commit to including individuals and populations that are under-represented, under-resourced, or marginalized. We commit to promoting impartiality and fairness within CFES processes and distribution of resources. We commit to engaging full potential of individuals where views, beliefs, and values are integrated into organizational processes. We commit to encouraging diverse individuals to participate fully in decision-making processes and development opportunities. We commit to identifying and removing internal organizational barriers to equity. We commit to guiding external conversations and distribution of resources to remove barriers to social inequities in the greater community. We commit to measuring, tracking, and assessing our efforts. Financials & Accountability VIEW OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, IRS FILINGS, POLICIES, & MORE LEARN MORE News & Publications READ ABOUT US Our Funds Our Grantees Our History

Top of Page Gallery BUILDING TOGETHER CORPORATE GIVING FOR STRONGER COMMUNITIES Learn More Thank You 2024 Sponsors! News THE LATEST FROM CFES 2 hours ago 1 min 150 nonprofit professionals attend the Lower Shore Nonprofit Summit Over 150 professionals and students attended the 2024 Nonprofit Summit: Together, for Good, the region’s largest professional development... Apr 16 2 min Community Foundation celebrates 40 years with SACC event The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore celebrated 40 years of impact with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce at a Business... Apr 12 1 min Employment: Database Administrator The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is seeking a Database Administrator to join our team as a part of the Foundation’s growing phi Read More Events LEARN & CELEBRATE All Events THE INSIDE SCOOP GIVING TUESDAY THE SHORE GIVES MORE LEARN MORE Philanthropy is our business At the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore we connect people who care, with causes that matter. WHO WE ARE Give DONOR SERVICES Giving is as unique as you! When you make a charitable gift through your community foundation, you unlock a world of opportunity. Grow FUNDING & PROGRAMMING Learn, grow, and collaborate with us! We offer many resources which are designed to strengthen local nonprofit organizations. Donate GIVE INSTANTLY ONLINE Our donors create hope and spread joy. Together we are making our region a better place to live, work, play and learn. Thank you! Get involved. GET UPDATES ON SPECIAL EVENTS & NONPROFIT NEWS. Email Sign Up

Corporate Giving We offer custom services to help your company plan, govern and operate your community philanthropy. Thank You 2024 Sponsors! Giving Back is Good for Business We offer custom services to help your company plan, govern and operate your community philanthropy. We provide a simple yet powerful approach to giving with a variety of tools tailored to meet your company’s charitable giving needs. ​ Your business has a vested interest in the health and vitality of our region. Partnering with The Community Foundation is a convenient way to maximize impact for the people and communities you serve and generate a return on community investment. With deep grantmaking expertise and community knowledge, we can help you develop corporate giving programs, manage charitable funds, engage employees, or collaborate within our community. ​ Together, the Community Foundation and area businesses create full-circle partnerships that give back to our local communities and improve the region we call home. ​The Benefits ​ Access to Experts: Rely on a charitable giving team’s expertise for community knowledge and to meet urgent needs. Brand Building: Enhanced public image, brand integrity, business development and government relations. Cost-Effective & Efficient: No startup costs, additional legal or CPA fees, all while maximizing your corporate tax deductions. Employee Empowerment: Employees care about making an impact. Corporate giving allows them to engage and take pride in their employer and community. Administrative Support : Compliance with IRS requirements and fiduciary responsibility without required tax filings. Grantmaking Services: We handle the administrative work, reducing the burden for your Finance, Community Relations and HR teams. Protected Funds: Budget for philanthropy is held securely at a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Managed Charitable Assets: Access to sophisticated investment options and financial management to grow charitable giving. Our Corporate Members Corporate Membership Options Event Sponsor The Benefits: Targeted branding opportunities. Engage with local leaders in key areas of interest. Our nonprofit programs seek solutions to pressing community challenges. You may choose to support our Annual Nonprofit Conference or other community impact initiatives. Our core training and capacity building programs benefit from your underwriting support. Each level ensures special acknowledgment within your selected program. Contact our Development Team for a complete list of options. Annual Sponsor The Benefits: Year long branding opportunities Large public recognition & exposure Minimal time commitment with a big impact With your annual support, you will make a significant impact and benefit from wide community exposure. By partnering with the Community Foundation, your business benefits from positive publicity with the Lower Shore's most trusted philanthropic partner. Our high-profile, year-long program showcases your business as supporting the community and contributing to its economic success. See our Annual Sponsor page for complete details and benefits. Annual Membership The Benefits: Year long name recognition Improve goodwill with customers & clients Support stronger communities. Annual Corporate Membership shows your business values philanthropy and improving our community. Your membership lists you amongst the region's most charitable businesses. Use of CFES Corporate Member seal on your material. Annual name listing on CFES website. Early access to CFES events Membership Levels: $250 Coral | $750 Aqua | $1,500 Navy * Gold & Platinum reserved for Annual Sponsors. Corporate Giving Fund The Benefits: Contributions are generally tax deductible right away, while you have the ability to decide when to support your favorite charities. Long-lasting charitable branding. A hands-on approach to giving. Receive CFES diligence & charitable guidance. Corporate Giving Funds provide an alternative to managing your company’s charitable giving. We offer custom services to help your company plan, govern, and operate your community philanthropy. These funds can be tailored to support the causes and initiatives that align with your business's values. A Corporate Giving Fund provides your company the opportunity to support charities of your choice on a time frame that makes sense for you. You also have the opportunity to select your preferred level of involvement in the grantmaking process. See our Fund Type pages for a complete list of fund options. ​ How It Works: You create a fund by making a tax-deductible gift to CFES. You choose the name of your fund. We work with you to design a grantmaking strategy and provide philanthropic support services. You recommend grants to your favorite nonprofit organizations. We issue the grant checks, send acknowledgements, and maintain the records so you don’t have to. You receive benefits including tax advantages, online access and personal philanthropic services. Contact our Development Team to discuss your corporate membership. For a PDF version of this page click here.

Work With Us CONNECTING PEOPLE WHO CARE WITH CAUSES THAT MATTER. The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is a rewarding place to work and we are passionate about what we do. We are a small team working in a community that has a big heart. Interested in joining us? All active job postings will be listed below. DATABASE ADMINSTRATOR The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is seeking a Database Administrator to join our team as a part of the Foundation’s growing philanthropic and grantmaking operations. This position manages the Foundation’s Blackbaud RE/FE NXT and NPact Foundation Cloud software platforms and is responsible for maintaining the quality and integrity of the strategic data contained to steward our friends and donors. An associate degree is required, or an equivalent combination of experience and certification in database management. Experience and proficiency with Blackbaud Raisers Edge, as a Database Administrator, is required. Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT Professional Certification is required. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills. In-depth knowledge and understanding of general business software and ability to learn industry specific software. A background check may be conducted. Familiarity with the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, especially Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties is a plus. Position open until filled. The Foundation offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Send a letter of interest & resume with at least three professional references and salary requirements to careers@cfes.org . No phone calls or walk-ins please. Read Full Job Description

Get In Touch How can we help you? CONTACT US Tel. 410-742-9911 1324 Belmont Ave. Ste. 401 Salisbury, MD 21804 ​ CONTACT OUR STAFF LOCATE US We are located in the East Park Professional Center off Route 50. TELL US Name Email Phone Message Success! Message received. Send VISIT US Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 4:00 ​ Summer Hours: May 27 - August 30 Monday - Thurs day : 8:00 - 4:00 Friday: 8:00 - Noon Closed: Our office observes the following holidays. Exact dates may vary annually. Please contact us for exact dates and changes. New Year's Day | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Good Friday Memorial Day | Juneteenth | Independence Day Labor Day | Thanksgiving | Christmas FROM US Email Sign Up

Mission Possible Nonprofit Coaching & Consulting Our nonprofit consulting program delivers services that connect nonprofits with custom-tailored solutions to help grow and strengthen their organizations. Selected nonprofits are offered these services at no cost through CFES grants. We Offer: Professional consulting in the following areas: Accounting & Finance Strategic/Long Term Planning Governance & Administration Human Resources Development & Fundraising Technology Assessments Marketing & Communication Program Evaluation & Outcomes Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Executive Coaching ​ Other areas may be available! Other Benefits: Maryland Nonprofits membership underwriting Educational materials to support specific client needs Grant research provided by expert technical writers and grant consultants Virtual training & webinars on requested current nonprofit trends or challenges For eligibility & application click here Program made possible by:

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, in partnership with Network for Good, invests in local nonprofits with integrated tools, planning, and one-on-one coaching over a 12-month period to immediately build their fundraising capacity, diversify revenue, and grow and sustain their programs. At the end of the 12 month program, your nonprofit will be equipped to: Target, attract, and convert more donors Increase annual fundraising targets Leverage data to save time, create goals, and measure results Cultivate existing donor relationships to upgrade their support to major gifts Services & Benefits: Personal Fundraising Coach: Direct coaching to create a fundraising plan, ongoing fundraising strategy sessions, new ideas to enhance efforts Twice monthly consulting sessions, on-demand access to coach, trained and certified coaches Donor Management: Database designed to save time on administrative functions, filters donations, tracks gifts, and engages donors with personal emails. Real-time activity feed to view donations, communications, built-in email marketing, and direct mail Average of 7 hours a week saved using management system Fundraising Pages: Customizable for giving, fundraising, and event ticketing. Step-by-step process to build donation page, automated and customizable tax receipts emailed to donors, track donations and event ticketing 43% average increase in donations Contact us to apply Funding Provided By How We've Helped Previous to our ability to access the NFG donor management system, we were housing our data for our donors, prospects, and volunteers in separate spreadsheets – what a nightmare! With NFG we have been able to consolidate all of our records into one system, eliminating the need to maintain, filter, merge, and deduplicate manually. - Laura Schmader Chesapeake Housing Mission

The Future of Philanthropy The 40 Under 40 in Philanthropy celebrates those who give of time talent or treasure to charitable causes and inspire others to create a significant difference in our community. Nominate Someone Today! Honorees may be featured in social media posts, news publications, and other promotions, and will also receive two tickets to the Community Foundation Annual Meeting on November 1st. We ask that nominees: Be under the age of 40 at some point during 2024 and should have reached their 21st birthday prior to the nomination deadline. If a nominee works in nonprofit, their impact should be beyond the scope of the employment. The nominee’s philanthropic impact should occur in Somerset, Wicomico, and/or Worcester Counties. Multiple applications for the same nominee may be submitted and will be combined into one nomination presented to the selection committee. All nominations must be submitted via the nomination form. Nominations will not be accepted by email or mail. Important Dates May 15th Final Nomination Deadline ​ June 3rd Honorees Notified ​ June 13th Honorees must return acceptance form ​ July 9th Honorees Announced Online

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