Here are 15 Maryland funding opportunities that offer general operating, unrestricted, or otherwise flexible support, with a mix of statewide and local options.

What Does “Unrestricted” Actually Mean?

An unrestricted grant gives the nonprofit more control over how the money is used.

That can include things like:

• Salaries

• Rent

• Technology

• Insurance

• Communications

• Administrative costs

• Program expenses

• Professional services

• Other legitimate organizational needs

General operating support is the phrase you'll see most often. A funder may call it “general operating support,” “operating support,” or “flexible funding” rather than simply saying “unrestricted grant.” The important part is what the grant agreement actually allows you to do with the money.

1. Abell Foundation Small Grants

Up to $10,000 | Baltimore City | Rolling

If your nonprofit is based in or serves Baltimore City, put this one near the top of your list.

The Abell Foundation accepts Small Grant requests of $10,000 or less on a rolling basis, with no application deadline. Its eligible uses include general operating support, seed funding for startups and pilots, ongoing programs, capital projects, research, and advocacy. (Abell Foundation)

This is especially interesting for smaller nonprofits because you don't have to wait for one giant annual grant cycle.

First-time Small Grant applicants must attend an information session before applying, and Abell says applicants can generally expect a decision within 60 days. (Abell Foundation)

Best for: Baltimore nonprofits in Abell's focus areas, including education, health and human services, workforce development, environment, arts, community development, and criminal justice/addiction.

Abell Foundation — Grants

2. Goldseker Foundation

Baltimore | General operating support | Inquiry-based

The Goldseker Foundation is another strong Baltimore option.

Goldseker says directly that it provides general operating support and that the majority of its grants are for general operating support, particularly for organizations aligned with its strategic priorities. (Goldseker Foundation)

Its core areas include:

• Community development

• Education

• Strengthening the nonprofit sector

The foundation welcomes email inquiries and letters of interest throughout the year. Organizations invited to develop a full proposal receive application instructions. (Goldseker Foundation) This is not a “fill out this giant form tonight” situation. You first need to establish whether your work fits.

Best for: Baltimore organizations working toward long-term social and economic progress.

Goldseker Foundation

3. Hoffberger Family Philanthropies

Greater Baltimore | General operating support | Watch for next opportunity

The Hoffberger Foundation is unusually clear about its approach. It provides general operating support to community partners so organizations can decide how best to use the funds. Its current priorities are:

• Children's mental health and trauma

• Workforce development

• Economic mobility

The foundation serves the greater Baltimore area. (Hoffberger Family Philanthropies) If your nonprofit works in one of these areas, this is a funder worth knowing even when the application window isn't open.

And yes, general operating support is actually what they say they provide.

Hoffberger Family Philanthropies — General Grants

4. Baltimore City Community Grants Program

Typical award: $20,000 | Baltimore City | Unrestricted or project-based

This program is administered by the Baltimore Community Foundation in partnership with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

Eligible organizations must have a budget of $500,000 or less, serve Baltimore City residents, and work in one of the program's areas:

• Housing

• Health

• Jobs

• Education

• Aging

The program states that grants can be one-time, unrestricted or project-based, depending on the organization's needs and proposed use. (Baltimore Community Foundation)

That budget cap makes this one particularly relevant to smaller community organizations. The current application portal is closed, so watch for the next cycle.

Baltimore City Community Grants Program

5. Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

Up to $25,000 | Baltimore City & Baltimore County | Unrestricted general operating

If your organization primarily supports women and their families, bookmark this one.

The Baltimore Women's Giving Circle accepts requests of up to $25,000 for either a General Operating Grant or a program grant. Its guidelines specifically define General Operating Grants as unrestricted funds supporting the organization's overall mission and day-to-day operations. (Baltimore Women's Giving Circle)

That can cover the things nonprofits actually have to pay for:

Staff. Rent. Utilities. The stuff nobody puts in the inspirational Instagram post.

The 2026 application period opened November 1 and closed December 15, with funding beginning July 1, 2026. The next cycle should be watched for late 2026. (Baltimore Women's Giving Circle)

Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

6. Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds

Up to $3,500 | Baltimore region

Small grants deserve more attention.

The Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds provides gap funding to nonprofits in the Baltimore region. Organizations can request up to $3,500, and the fund says its allowable purposes are broadly defined and can include unrestricted needs and staffing. (Baltimore Community Foundation)

For a small organization, $3,500 can cover expenses like:

• A software subscription.

• A part-time administrative expense.

• Transportation.

• Staff support.

• A small operational hole that otherwise becomes a very annoying large operational hole.

The fund generally limits organizations to one grant per calendar year.

Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds — Baltimore Community Foundation

7. Maryland Humanities — Hatza SHINE Grant

$5,000 | Statewide Maryland | General operating support

This is one of the best statewide examples.

The Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant provides 80 general operating support grants of $5,000 each to Maryland nonprofits conducting work in the humanities. (Maryland Humanities)

Maryland Humanities says the program is designed particularly for small and midsize humanities, cultural, and educational nonprofits that may not have the staff or resources to compete for larger fundraising opportunities. (Maryland Humanities)

The current FY2027 application window runs through September 13, 2026. So if your organization fits the humanities requirement, this is one to investigate now.

Maryland Humanities — Grants

8. Maryland State Arts Council — Grants for Organizations

General operating support | Statewide Maryland | Arts organizations

For Maryland arts organizations, MSAC's Grants for Organizations (GFO) program provides annual operating support to nonprofits and other eligible organizations producing or presenting ongoing public arts programming. (MSAC)

The program uses a tiered formula, with smaller organizations receiving a higher percentage of allowable expenses. For example, the FY2028 target cap for organizations with budgets between $50,000 and $500,000 is 15%. (MSAC)

For FY2027, MSAC is moving to a revised application structure and a four-year application cycle. New applicants and organizations that did not receive GFO funding in the most recent cycle must complete an Intent to Apply process. (MSAC)

The current application is closed, but the next Intent to Apply deadline is listed as September 15 annually.

Maryland State Arts Council — Grants for Organizations

9. Arts Council of Anne Arundel County — Community Arts Grants

General operating support | Anne Arundel County

If your arts nonprofit is based in and serves Anne Arundel County, this is one to know.

The Community Arts Grant provides general operating support to 501(c)(3) arts organizations serving Anne Arundel County. (Arts Council of Anne Arundel County)

The program has three organization-size tiers:

• Tier I: annual operating budget up to $100,000

• Tier II: $100,000–$750,000

• Tier III: above $750,000

There are also Founding Grants of up to $2,500 for new applicants. (Arts Council of Anne Arundel County)

The FY2027 cycle is closed. The FY2028 application period is expected to open in March 2027.

Arts Council of Anne Arundel County — Grant Opportunities

10. Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County — GOS I

$10,000–$50,000 | Montgomery County | General operating

Montgomery County arts and humanities organizations have a particularly useful local option.

The General Operating Support I program provides operating support to nonprofits with at least $50,000 in annual cash operating revenue and expenses for the previous three completed fiscal years. Awards range from $10,000 to $50,000. (AHCMC)

The program supports organizations across disciplines including:

• Performing arts

• Visual arts

• Media arts

• Literary arts

• Folk and traditional arts

• History

• Philosophy

The FY2026–27 application cycle has closed. But if your organization qualifies, this belongs on your annual grant calendar.

AHCMC — General Operating Support I

11. Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County — GOS II

Montgomery County | General operating

GOS II is the larger-organization version of the Montgomery County operating-support program.

Eligible nonprofits must have at least $150,000 in annual cash operating revenue and expenses for each of the previous three completed fiscal years. The program provides two-year operating support. (AHCMC)

For FY2027–28, the application deadline was April 10, 2026.

The organization also needs a full-time paid executive director or comparable leader and other organizational requirements. So this isn't the Montgomery County grant for a nonprofit with $8,000 in its bank account and one very enthusiastic volunteer.

GOS I is the more realistic track for smaller organizations.

AHCMC — General Operating Support II

12. Dresher Foundation

Harford County | Flexible foundation funding

The Dresher Foundation focuses its philanthropy in Harford County across:

• Health

• Education

• Human services

• Civic and culture

Its published grants database shows repeated awards for general operating support to Maryland organizations, including Harford County organizations. (Dresher Foundation)

Examples include general operating awards to organizations such as Harford Family House, Homecoming Project, Moveable Feast, and the Community Foundation of Harford County. (Dresher Foundation)

The foundation operates on a quarterly cycle and asks prospective applicants to contact its executive director about the timing of a request. The 2026 application deadlines include October 9, 2026 for the next cycle. (Dresher Foundation)

This is one where I would contact the foundation before assuming your request qualifies as unrestricted. Its history clearly includes operating support, but the exact request and program fit still need to be discussed.

Dresher Foundation

13. Maryland State Arts Council — Former Creativity Grant for General Operating Support

Up to $4,000 | Small Maryland arts organizations

I'm including this one with a big watch-the-transition note.

MSAC's Creativity Grant for General Operating Support was specifically created to strengthen the sustainability of small Maryland arts organizations and provided up to $4,000. (MSAC)

However, MSAC permanently closed this particular track after December 31, 2025.

Beginning with FY2027, general operating support for arts organizations is being moved under the revised Grants for Organizations program. (MSAC)

So don't apply for this one.

Watch the replacement GFO process instead.

I'm including it because smaller arts organizations may still find old articles telling them to apply for the $4,000 Creativity GOS grant. Those articles are now outdated.

That's exactly the kind of thing that can send a grant seeker down the wrong rabbit hole.

14. Baltimore Community Foundation — Stronger Schools, Stronger Neighborhoods

Baltimore City & County | Flexible community funding

BCF's Stronger Schools, Stronger Neighborhoods grantmaking supports organizations and community projects working with schools and neighborhoods.

BCF says it has supported resident-led groups and community projects in Baltimore City and Baltimore County for nearly three decades, with funding designed to help residents accomplish projects, engage more people, and develop community leadership. (Baltimore Community Foundation)

This isn't a blanket “here's unrestricted money for anything” program.

However, BCF's broader grantmaking history includes general operating support for community organizations, and its discretionary funding structure includes flexible resources. (Baltimore Community Foundation)

The current 2026–27 calendar includes a September 23, 2026 submission deadline.

For a neighborhood-based nonprofit, this is worth researching even if your work isn't packaged as a traditional social-service program.

Baltimore Community Foundation — Grant Opportunities

15. Baltimore Community Foundation — Black Philanthropy Circle

$25,000 | Baltimore metropolitan area | Black-led or Black-community-focused nonprofits

This one is highly targeted.

The Black Philanthropy Circle provides $25,000 grants to nonprofits that are Black-led or based in Black communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area and directly support Black people and communities. Its focus areas include:

• Arts and culture

• Economic welfare

• Education and youth

• Community organizing

• Environment

• Human services

• Health and wellness (Baltimore Community Foundation)

The 2026 application cycle ran April 1–30, 2026, so it is currently closed.

I would keep it on the calendar if your organization meets the eligibility requirements.

One caution: I am not labeling this one “unrestricted” because the current program page does not explicitly make that promise. It belongs on this list as a flexible local funding lead, but you should confirm allowable use in the current application guidelines before treating it as general operating support.

Black Philanthropy Circle — Baltimore Community Foundation

A Better Way to Read This List

There are three different situations here.

Clearly unrestricted/general operating

These are the strongest matches if your goal is genuinely flexible funding:

• Abell Foundation

• Goldseker Foundation

• Hoffberger Family Philanthropies

• Baltimore City Community Grants

• Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

• Mitzvah Fund

• Maryland Humanities SHINE

• MSAC Grants for Organizations

• Arts Council of Anne Arundel County

• AHCMC GOS I

• AHCMC GOS II

Flexible funding is part of the history or program structure, but confirm current terms

• Dresher Foundation

• Baltimore Community Foundation community grantmaking

• Black Philanthropy Circle

Don't accidentally apply to the old program

• MSAC Creativity Grant for General Operating Support

If you find an old blog post saying:

“Maryland arts organizations can apply for up to $4,000 in Creativity General Operating Support.”

Check the date.

That program closed permanently at the end of 2025 and was folded into the revised GFO structure beginning FY2027. (MSAC)

What Can You Actually Use Unrestricted Money For?

This is where unrestricted funding becomes useful. Imagine a nonprofit receives a $10,000 general operating grant.

The organization might need:

$3,000 — staff or contractor costs
$1,500 — software and technology
$1,000 — insurance
$1,200 — rent or workspace
$800 — communications
$1,000 — accounting/legal support
$1,500 — program expenses

The exact allocation depends on the organization's budget and the grant agreement. You aren't trying to make every dollar look exciting. Sometimes the most important nonprofit expense is the person making sure the program actually happens.

Don't Call a Restricted Grant Unrestricted

If a funder awards:

$10,000 for your youth literacy program

you cannot simply decide:

“Well, rent is expensive this month.”

Read the award agreement. If the grant is restricted to a particular program, population, activity, or budget category, the nonprofit needs to follow those restrictions. If the award is explicitly general operating support, the organization has considerably more flexibility.

Keep the award letter and grant agreement with your accounting records.

Which Grants Should a Small Maryland Nonprofit Look At First?

If you're very small, I'd start with:

• Abell Small Grants — if you're in Baltimore City.

• Mitzvah Fund — if you're serving the Baltimore region.

• Maryland Humanities SHINE — if you're a humanities, cultural, or educational nonprofit.

• Anne Arundel County Community Arts Founding Grant — if you're a new arts organization there.

• Baltimore Women's Giving Circle — if your mission centers on women and families.

• MSAC GFO — if you're an arts organization anywhere in Maryland.

If you're more established:

• Goldseker

• Hoffberger

• Dresher

• AHCMC GOS I

• AHCMC GOS II

become more interesting depending on your location, mission, budget, and organizational history.

One Last Thing: Build a “Flexible Funding” List

Don't make your grant tracker only say:

Grant | Amount | Deadline

Add these columns:

• Funder

• Geography

• General Operating?

• Unrestricted?

• Program Restricted?

• Budget Requirement

• Years in Operation

• 501(c)(3) Required?

• Fiscal Sponsor Allowed?

• Application Type

• Next Deadline

• Last Checked

Always keep a tab for 'Last Checked'. Grant information ages. A page you found in a 2023 Google search may still be sitting there looking perfectly legitimate while the program has completely changed.

That's why every opportunity in this article should be checked against the official funder page before applying.

And if you're building a Maryland nonprofit funding pipeline, I'd rather have eight grants that actually fit your organization than a spreadsheet with 147 opportunities that all come with a tiny asterisk and a headache.