In Troubled Economy, Grants Plug the Holes

Foundation Gives to 46 Groups in Md.

Despite a recession that has caused donations to nonprofit groups to plummet as need has increased sharply, 46 Maryland organizations received grants last week from the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) joined with community foundation leaders, nonprofit executives and donors at an event last week to celebrate the $440,000 in new grants to regional nonprofit groups. Most of the grant winners cater to low-income families through emergency assistance or long-term services.

The grantees include CASA of Maryland, which serves Latino immigrants in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, Interfaith Works, an emergency assistance organization, and A Wider Circle, which provides furniture and other household items to low-income families.

"Many groups are seeing an unbelievable uptick in demand, but local governments are really struggling with their budget items, including support of nonprofits, and private philanthropy is down," said Sally Rudney, executive director of the Montgomery Community Foundation, a subset of the regional group. "It's created a perfect storm for people who are vulnerable."

Nonprofit groups throughout Maryland have received grant money during the economic crisis, but many foundations have lowered their grant amounts. That's not true of the community foundation, whose recent round of grants set a record.

Four Maryland medical researchers also received major grants recently through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, another of the few philanthropic groups that have increased giving lately. Three researchers from Johns Hopkins University and one from the National Institutes of Health were awarded $100,000 grants. One of the projects is designed to alter mosquito bacteria to prevent the spread of malaria; another would use viral interference to protect against HIV.

Most foundations and private philanthropists are focusing on providing for emergency needs, such as food and shelter, because of the increased number of people going without such necessities, experts say. The regional community foundation's Neighbors in Need fund awarded grants to four direct-service organizations last week.

Roz Jonas of Bethesda, who donates to the community foundation as well as individual nonprofit groups, said she thinks it's important for relatively affluent residents to help take care of less-fortunate neighbors.

"Now's not the time for people to stop giving," Jonas said. "It's the most important time for those who have the ability to assist those that are in need."

Rudney said that one couple that donates anonymously through the community foundation has completely changed its giving patterns since the recession began. The couple used to spend much of its money on national and international causes but recently decided to donate closer to home.

"What's heartening is that when need is up, people are making the choice to give where the need is greatest," Rudney said.

At Manna Food Center, a food distribution group in Montgomery County, demand has risen 50 percent since fall. Executive Director Amy Gabala said the Neighbors in Need grant is critical for the group to keep feeding hungry people in the county.

"The great untold story in Montgomery County is the high number of people struggling every day," Gabala said. "Without these grants, we'd be hard pressed to meet that demand."

Jonas said she has been impressed at how organizations and individuals have stepped up to help those in need during the recession. Until she took a tour of nonprofit groups with the regional community foundation, she said, she had no idea how much need was so close to her home.

"I've really had my eyes opened to what's going on in this region," Jonas said. "If people don't have enough to eat, someone has to help them, and it's inspiring to see people helping that effort."