The following changes are confirmed for Community Grants in FY 21:
  • County Council and County Executive grants will be combined into a single program.
  • The application portal for FY 21 will open on January 2 for nonprofits wishing to renew current grants, plus those applying for new grants. New programs and program enhancement grants are capped at $20,000 per organization and will only be awarded based on funding availability.
  • Applications for renewing and new grants will be due by January 29, 2020.
Priorities for funding in FY 21 are as follows:
  • Viable and effective programs funded in FY20
  • Renewing programs may request funding levels from FY 18 and FY 19 if FY20 funding was lower, or if funded in FY 18 and 19 but not in FY20.
  • Limited funds for new requests may be available, depending on funding availability.
Grants to be renewed will be announced in the County Executive’s budget.  Any new grants will be reviewed and transmitted to the Council after March 15. Grant application training sessions will be held:
  • January 7, 2020 – Plum Gar Recreation Center at 10am
  • January 7, 2020 – Wheaton Community Center at 2pm
  • January 8, 2020 – Council Office Building at 5:30pm
  • January 9, 2020 – Silver Spring Civic Center at 10am
The process and timeline for Cost-sharing Capital Grants will be unchanged. Watch for a full County Council worksession on Community Grants in January.

Click here to view the December 19, 2019 memo on the FY21 Community Grants process from the Office of Management and Budget to the County Council.