Where Maryland Nonprofits Can Find Grants: 9 Places to Check

Where Can Maryland Nonprofits Find Grants?

Maryland nonprofits have several good places to look for funding, but they do not all serve the same purpose. Some list open grants. Some help you research funders. Others are useful only for nonprofits working in a particular county or field.

Here are the places worth bookmarking.

1. Maryland Nonprofit Navigator

Start here if you are a Maryland nonprofit and are not sure where to look first.

The Maryland Department of Commerce operates the Nonprofit Navigator, a free resource designed to help nonprofits navigate state, federal, local, and private grants.

The Navigator provides grant-search assistance, help navigating state grant processes, application support, training, and a regularly updated nonprofit opportunities page.

Go here:
Maryland Nonprofit Navigator and Nonprofit Opportunities

Best for:

• General Maryland grant searches

• Finding current opportunities

• Organizations new to grant seeking

• Getting help with Maryland grant processes

If you bookmark only one Maryland-specific page from this article, make it this one.

2. Maryland Governor's Grants Office

The Governor's Grants Office is another useful state resource, particularly when you are looking for government funding or trying to understand Maryland's grant system.

Its Resource Library connects organizations with state and federal grant resources and points nonprofit grantseekers to technical assistance through the Nonprofit Navigator.

Go here:
Maryland Governor's Grants Office

Resource Library:
Maryland Grants Resource Library

Best for:

• State grant resources

• Government funding

• Grant-management information

• Maryland grant guidance

This one is more of a government grant resource hub than a giant searchable list of every nonprofit grant in Maryland, so use it alongside the Nonprofit Navigator.

3. Maryland Philanthropy Network RFPs

For private and philanthropic funding, check the Maryland Philanthropy Network's Requests for Proposals page. It publishes current RFPs and funding announcements from foundations and other grantmakers serving Maryland.

Go here:
Maryland Philanthropy Network: Requests for Proposals

You can also use its grantseeker resource section:

Maryland Philanthropy Network: Grantseeker Resources

Best for:

• Foundation grants

• Private philanthropy

• Open RFPs

• Maryland-focused funding announcements

One important clarification: Maryland Philanthropy Network itself does not award grants or accept funding proposals. It is a network and information resource. You use the site to find opportunities from funders, then apply to the organization offering the grant.

4. Candid Search

This one needs a little explanation because you may still hear the names GuideStar and Foundation Directory. Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged. In 2026, Candid's current research platform is Candid Search, which combines data previously associated with both GuideStar and Foundation Directory.

Go here:
Candid Search

So what happened to GuideStar?

Historically:

GuideStar was primarily used to research nonprofit organizations, including their nonprofit profiles, IRS information, financials, programs, and Forms 990.

Foundation Directory was the tool built primarily for grant prospecting and funder research.

Candid Search now brings those datasets together.

So if your goal is:

“Which foundations might fund our Maryland nonprofit?”

use Candid Search.

It allows grantseekers to research funders, previous grants, nonprofit recipients, geographic giving patterns, subject areas, and open RFPs.

Best for:

• Researching foundations

• Finding funders that support similar nonprofits

• Looking at previous grants

• Researching funding by geography or cause

• Building a grant prospect list

Full prospect-research features may require paid access.

However, Candid also provides free access to Candid Search at more than 2,000 partner locations, including libraries and nonprofit resource centers.

Find one here:

Candid Near You

Small nonprofits should also check Candid's current free-access programs. As of August 2026, qualifying nonprofits with less than $1 million in annual revenue or expenses that earn a Gold Seal of Transparency may qualify for free prospect-research access through Candid's Gold for Gold program.

5. Grants.gov

If you are looking for federal grants, go to the source. Grants.gov is the federal government's official portal for finding and applying for federal grant opportunities.

Go here:
Grants.gov

There is also a newer search experience:

Search Federal Grants

You can filter opportunities by eligibility, including grants available to nonprofit organizations.

Best for:

• Federal grants

• Larger programs

• Government-funded projects

• Organizations ready for more formal grant requirements

A warning before you find a perfect federal grant with a deadline in three days: Organizations applying directly for federal financial assistance generally need an active SAM.gov entity registration. Simply obtaining a Unique Entity ID without completing the required registration is not enough to apply directly for federal awards.

Registration information:

SAM.gov Entity Registration

Do this well before you desperately need it.

6. Your Local Community Foundation

If your nonprofit serves a particular Maryland county or region, check the local community foundation.

Community foundations often manage grant funds specifically for organizations serving their geographic area.

For example:

Baltimore City and Baltimore County

Baltimore Community Foundation

BCF supports organizations and initiatives serving the Baltimore region through grantmaking and community investment.

Anne Arundel County

Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County: Nonprofit Grants

CFAAC runs multiple grant programs for nonprofits serving Anne Arundel County, with programs covering areas such as food insecurity, the environment, women and girls, and other community needs.

Howard County

Community Foundation of Howard County

Its Community Grants program supports eligible nonprofits serving Howard County.

Frederick County

Community Foundation of Frederick County: Grants

The foundation operates several grant programs with different priorities, application periods, and eligibility requirements.

Lower Eastern Shore

Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore: Nonprofits

CFES serves Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties and provides grants as well as nonprofit training and support.

Washington County

Community Foundation of Washington County: Grants

Its grantmaking primarily supports qualified nonprofit organizations and causes serving Washington County.

Best for:

• Locally focused nonprofits

• Smaller and mid-sized grants

• Community programs

• County-specific funding

If your county is not listed above, search:

[your county] Maryland community foundation grants

Do not ignore local funders simply because their grants may be smaller than federal opportunities. Geographic fit can matter a great deal in foundation grantmaking.

7. Maryland State Arts Council

If your nonprofit works in arts, culture, arts education, public art, presenting, or related programming, check the Maryland State Arts Council.

Go here:
Maryland State Arts Council Opportunities for Nonprofits

MSAC maintains grant opportunities specifically for eligible Maryland nonprofit organizations, government entities, universities, and arts organizations.

Its Grants for Organizations program, for example, provides general operating support to qualifying nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations producing or presenting ongoing arts programming.

Best for:

• Arts nonprofits

• Cultural organizations

• Arts education

• Public art

• Organizations presenting arts programming

Check the current program page before applying because available programs and cycles can change from one fiscal year to another.

8. Maryland Humanities

If your organization works with history, literature, culture, public humanities, museums, heritage, education, or related community programming, check Maryland Humanities.

Go here:
Maryland Humanities Grants

Maryland Humanities provides grant funding to nonprofits conducting humanities work throughout Maryland, including programs that have supported general operating expenses.

Best for:

• Humanities organizations

• Cultural and historical programs

• Museums and heritage work

• Community education

• Humanities-based nonprofits

Again, read the current grant guidelines. A funder being relevant to your mission does not mean every grant cycle will be open or appropriate for your organization.

9. Chesapeake Bay Trust

For nonprofits working in environmental education, conservation, restoration, forestry, climate, community greening, watersheds, or Chesapeake Bay-related work, the Chesapeake Bay Trust should be on your list.

Go here:
Chesapeake Bay Trust Grants and Opportunities

The Trust maintains multiple grant programs and funding opportunities for eligible nonprofits, schools, government entities, and community organizations working in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region.

Best for:

• Environmental nonprofits

• Conservation

• Environmental education

• Community greening

• Watershed restoration

• Climate and natural-resource projects

Also Check Maryland DHCD If Your Work Involves Housing or Community Development

If your nonprofit works in housing, homelessness, neighborhood revitalization, community development, Main Street programs, or related economic-development work, bookmark the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Go here:
Maryland DHCD Community Development Funding and Support

DHCD maintains programs involving grants, loans, technical assistance, tax credits, housing initiatives, and community-development funding.

This is more specialized, so I would not put it at the top of every nonprofit's weekly search list. But for the right organization, it can be extremely relevant.

Where Should You Start?

If you do not have a grant researcher and simply want a manageable routine, start with these four:

1. Maryland Nonprofit Navigator for Maryland opportunities.

2. Maryland Philanthropy Network for private-foundation RFPs.

3. Candid Search for deeper funder research.

4. Grants.gov when federal funding fits your organization.

Then add your:

• Local community foundation

• Relevant Maryland agency

• Issue-specific funders

You do not need to search twenty websites every morning. You need a few reliable sources and a good way to record what you find.

Before Adding a Grant to Your List

Check these before spending time on the application:

• Is our organization eligible?

• Does the funder support our location?

• Does our program fit the funding priority?

• Is the funding for programs, operations, capital, or another specific use?

• Is there a minimum or maximum request?

• Is matching funding required?

• Is an LOI required first?

• Is the deadline realistic?

• What reporting will be required?

• Has this funder supported organizations similar to ours?

A grant is not a good opportunity simply because your nonprofit technically qualifies. Good grant research is partly about finding opportunities and partly about knowing which ones to leave alone.

Keep a Grant Tracker

At minimum, track:

• Funder

• Grant or program name

• Website

• Amount

• Deadline

• Geographic requirements

• Eligibility

• Funding priority

• Contact

• Application requirements

• Status

• Next action

Then review it regularly. That is much easier than rediscovering the same grant three weeks later and wondering why the link looks familiar.