The Strengthening Rural Families Program

An initiative of the RMC and Maryland CASH Campaign, with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation

Seven Nonprofits Receive Grants in FY 2011

Seven rural-serving nonprofit organizations received $90,000 in small grants to assist low-income rural families increase their economic stability during FY 2011. Receipents are:

The FY 2011 Grant Cycle is closed. All available funding has been awarded. Information below is presented for reference only.

Applications Now Being Accepted for FY 2011 Rural Families Grants Program

The Strengthening the Well-Being of Rural Maryland Families, a direct service grant program funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation will accept grant applications for FY 2011 through July 9, 2010. Children Photo

The overall goal of the Rural Families program is to strengthen the economic stability of low income rural families by helping them develop the financial skills they need to save money and increase their knowledge and understanding of the financial management practices that can help them overcome barriers to economic success. The Rural Families program provides grants only to those organizations who are proposing projects that meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Ensure families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit for the first time or develop systematic savings practices that result in an at-risk rural family saving at least $1,000;
  2. Help each family who claims the EITC (or saves $1,000) to develop a financial plan that uses those funds to eliminate/reduce a financial burden that prevents the family from achieving economic stability;
  3. Connect families with available support services that can help them become self sufficient over the long term;
  4. Include an evaluation component that assesses the effectiveness of the project based on the number of families who are served in Steps #1-3 above.

To Previous Rural Families Grantees: Organizations who received a Rural Families grant (or another Rural Maryland Council grant) in the past are eligible to apply provided that they submitted an acceptable final report. Organizations who received a Rural Families grant in FY 2010 must indicate that they will work with at least 20 percent of the clients they worked with last year to help them further their economic stability.

Who Should Apply? Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community-based and community-serving organizations that can provide the services described above to low-income families in at least one rural county. The applicant does not need to be physically located in the area it serves.

Maryland's 18 rural counties are: Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worchester.

Organizations who propose setting up a free-tax preparation site will receive priority if they open that site in Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's or Talbot Counties (i.e., rural counties that currently do not have a dedicated free tax preparation site for low income families.)

Grant Amount: There is no minimum or maximum grant request; however, past awards have been between $5,000 and $20,000.

Project Period: August 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011

Successful Grantees: All grantees must attend an all-grantee meeting. By submitting an application, you agree to attend this meeting if you are awarded a grant.

Applications must be emailed to the Maryland CASH Campaign by close of business on July 9, 2010. The email address is: info@mdcash.org (We are not responsible for any technical glitches that prevent your application from arriving.)

Notification: All grantees will be notified of their status of their request no later than July 27, 2010.

Download the FY 2011 Grant Guidelines and Application Now

Rural Maryland Council :: 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway :: Annapolis, MD 21401 :: 410-841-5772