nonprofit montgomery news

Nonprofit COVID-19 Response Meeting Recap (from 10/14)

2020-10-23T11:49:57-04:00October 22nd, 2020|Events|

On the digital divide and new funding opportunities. Video link.
On the digital divide and new funding opportunities. 
View the recording (link above) for nonprofit perspectives on the impact of the digital divide impacts people seeking healthcare, middle and high school students, young adults connecting to employment, and adult learners. Lack of equipment, knowledge, and internet access are having a disproportionate impact.

Ruschelle Reuben, Associate Superintendent, MCPS

  • Mental health and technology presentation.
  • Collaboration Council Webinar: Bringing Digital Learning Equity to Your Program: Pre-Recorded Webinar is being offered by the Collaboration Council as a part of its Youth Development Community of Practice.

Technology and OBP (Montgomery County Office of Broadband Programs)

Low Cost Internet at Home: 

  • Comparison of low cost home Internet programs.
  • Comcast and RCN are offering $10/mo, first 2 months free, no equipment fees or installation charges – AND NO CREDIT CHECK.
  • If families sign up by Dec 31, Comcast will waive all debt the family may owe (prior to Covid they offered to waive debt older than 1 year). Now they will waive all past debt which is a big reason families can’t enroll in the program. The other fine print is the family cannot have been a Comcast Internet subscriber in the last 90 days.
  • For RCN and Comcast, families are eligible if they qualify for 12-13 low income programs including SNAP, WIC, SSI, public housing, and Medicaid
  • Comcast’s Internet Essential Partners Program program provides the opportunity for nonprofits and school districts to fund and quickly connect large numbers of students and families to broadband access at home.
  • For Verizon, there is a small group of people eligible. The customer qualifies for a federal Lifeline benefit which reduces the cost to $19.99.  Verizon offers greater bandwidth. After 3 months there is $15 equipment fee. No installation fees, but there is a credit check and you must not owe money to Verizon.
  • You can also call 311 to request a tech support appointment or help signing up for low cost home Internet programs.

Main Street Connect
To learn more about the joint pilot project with Main Street Connect and Montgomery County providing free WiFi to Main Street residents, click here.

Grants and Funding

2020-10-01T09:49:21-04:00September 30th, 2020|Grants & Funding|

Reopen Montgomery Small Business Grants Still Available
Lotteries will be conducted on a rolling basis until 30-days after the County enters Phase 3 Reopening, or the funding is expended. This grant program is funded by the CARES Act, and must be used by December 31, 2020. Click here for more info.

MSAC Creativity Grants: Creativity Grant Overview The purpose of the Creativity Grant Program is to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations to maintain a strong and stable arts infrastructure in the State of Maryland.

Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County: Arts Residencies in Schools Grants (ARSG) support individual teaching artists trained in curriculum-based art techniques to serve students from communities that have traditionally received insufficient resources and that have limited access to arts education experiences throughout the school year.

Nonprofit Montgomery Solo Support Group

2020-10-01T09:46:11-04:00September 29th, 2020|Events|

Come join us for an informal, no judgement sharing session for solo-preneurs. Are you the leadership group of one at your organization? Want to chat and learn from others in the same situation? This is always a challenging role, but especially right now during this unprecedented time.

When: Friday, October 2, 9:30-10:30am
Where: Zoom, click here to register.

Food Council’s Food Security Virtual Training Series

2020-10-01T09:50:09-04:00September 28th, 2020|Training Opportunities|

The Montgomery County Food Council will be hosting a series of virtual trainings presented by local experts during the Fall of 2020, to share information, best practices, tips and resources to assist those engaged in the COVID-19 food security response.

Schedule: 
October 8th, 11am-12pm: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 101 (ENGLISH)
October 8th, 2-3pm: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 101 (ESPANOL)
October 22nd, 11am-12pm: Safe Operation of Emergency Food Distributions
November 5th, 11am-12pm: Nutrition Standards for Food Assistance Providers and Food Education Resources
November 19th, 11am-12pm: Culturally Competent Community Engagement and Outreach

Black and Brown Coalition: Virtual Accountability Forum

2020-10-01T09:51:11-04:00September 27th, 2020|Events|

Join the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence for our Virtual Accountability Forum on October 15, 7pm entitled: “Seeking Accountability on Promises Made to Black and Brown Children”. Attendees will hear from public officials, students and parents on achieving equity for underserved Black, Brown and low income children. Attendees will also hear from public officials, parents and students regarding the impact of distance learning and the challenges related to the recovery of learning loss, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Register today.

County Executive to Hold Series of Virtual FY22 Budget Forums

2020-10-01T09:52:08-04:00September 26th, 2020|Uncategorized|

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will hold a series of virtual budget forums to get input from residents about both the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Operating Budget priorities and the Capital Budget/Capital Improvements Program (CIP) priorities.  All the forums will be hosted via Microsoft Teams. Click here for more information.

The FY22 Budget forums are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, October 8: Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Mid County at 7:00 pm
Tuesday, October 13: Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Bethesda at 7:00 pm
Monday, October 26: Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Up County at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, October 28: Citizens Advisory Board/CIP Forum, Silver Spring at 7:00 pm

MORE Alumni: Join us for a year of MORE

2020-10-01T09:57:00-04:00September 25th, 2020|Events|

MORE graduates should keep an eye on this space and this page to see what’s on tap. Each month on the second Wednesday, we will either host an alumni spotlight featuring a specific organization’s data journey or hold open office hours to get all your data, evaluation, and outcome questions answered (or at least we’ll try).

Save the date for the first MORE Alumni Spotlight on October 14 with our esteemed member and MORE graduate, VisArts.  Arts organizations strongly encouraged to attend, but everyone is most welcome!

When: Wednesday, October 14, noon to 1pm
Where: On Zoom. Click here to register.

Data Visualization: How to report evaluation data to stakeholders

2020-10-01T09:53:28-04:00September 22nd, 2020|Events, Training Opportunities|

Are you swimming in data, but just don’t know how to share all of those numbers in a meaningful way?  As a nonprofit professional, there’s a good chance that you and your staff manage a LOT of data throughout the year. From enrollment information and daily attendance records, to annual surveys and other participant/client data, at some point you may wonder how you can translate all of your information into compelling charts and graphs.

Want to learn how to make that happen? Join us for an introductory session on basic principles of data visualization (aka “data viz”) so that YOU can learn tips and tricks to more effectively share your organization’s data with the world!

Led by Sharp Insight LLC
Sharp Insight is an evaluation firm that helps mission-driven organizations measure and strengthen the quality and impact of their programs.

When and Where: Thursday, October 15, 11am-12:30pm on Zoom
Click here to register. Open to everyone, but we’d love it if you supported our work by becoming a member.

Nonprofit COVID-19 Response Meeting Recap (from 9/16)

2020-10-01T09:55:14-04:00September 20th, 2020|Events, Uncategorized|

  • Updates on the considerations and guidelines for re-opening offices and services from DHHS.
Latino COVID19 Initiative- Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (Health and Wellbeing Initiative)

  • Salud y Bienestar bilingual information hotline to help connect people to resources is staffed by CASA and operates M-F 9am-5pm. The phone number is 301-270-8432. Click here for the informational flyers.

Updates on how the libraries are supporting the needs of the community.

  • Regarding public libraries: Anyone can get a Montgomery County Library card if you live, work or go to school in Montgomery County. And, there is some content in Spanish in the digital libraries. This is something that they are working on increasing what is available.
  • MCPL is currently doing HOLDS to GO for for contactless library book pick up. Click here for more information.
  • The Friends of the Library Montgomery County Rockville bookstore (4886 Boiling Brook Parkway) is open. Click here for more information.
  • Currently the Foundation Directory online is available for use (requires a library card).

Franca Brilliant’s presentation on funding and grant opportunities for nonprofits.
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