In this edition of the CFAAC Community Connector, discover the latest CFAAC updates, learn about CFAAC grants, check out upcoming events and new funds, and gain expert insights for professional advisors.

Happy Spring!

We have great news to share. We just awarded more than $87,600 to 12 nonprofits through our Environment Anne Arundel Fund and $47,500 to 10 nonprofits through our new Food Insecurity Fund. Even more exciting is that the grant process for Food Insecurity introduced us to new nonprofit partners, expanding our network of organizations addressing food insecurity in our community. 

We are in the process of reviewing our Fund for Anne Arundel grants, a fund that helps support nonprofits that are working to support the needs highlighted in our Community Needs Assessment Report. Every year, we receive more applications for this grant. This year, we received over $2.1 million in requests. The need in our community is great and it’s always an arduous review process because there are so many deserving organizations.

Thanks to a generous donor, every gift to the Fund for Anne Arundel between now and May 15 will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. Help us reach our $50,000 goal and double your impact for Anne Arundel County nonprofits. Read further into this newsletter to learn more about how you can help us to fund more of these impactful grant proposals.

We also announced the launch of our newest giving circle: Collective Giving of Anne Arundel County (CGAACo), a community-led giving circle and a component fund of the CFAAC. Giving circles are an outstanding way to make a big impact with gifts of any size. CGAACo is a great addition to the philanthropic landscape because it is offering a new outlet for donors of all levels to connect and create positive change through philanthropy. You can learn more about CGAACo here.

Nominations for the Celebration of Philanthropy Awards opened on May 4 and are open until July 9. Help us celebrate those who show up, give back, and lift others up through their work in the community by nominating someone today. More details are in this newsletter.

Our annual Anna E. Greenberg Board Leadership Symposium will be held next week on May 12 at the Michael E. Busch Library on West Street. This is one of our most popular events of the year, so I encourage you to register now to reserve your spot. You can learn more about the symposium in this issue.

John Rodenhausen, CAP^®
CFAAC President & CEO

Do you know an unsung hero who is making a meaningful difference in our community? Nominations for the 2026 Celebration of Philanthropy Awards will be accepted from May 4 through July 9, 2026. It is CFAAC's most inspiring event of the year, so now is the time to submit your nominations and mark your calendars for the awards luncheon on November 12, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel.

When the Fund for Anne Arundel grant cycle closed earlier this month, the nonprofits of Anne Arundel County were seeking more than $2.1 million in support.

The need is significant, and we want to fund as much of it as we can. Thanks to a generous donor, every gift to the Fund for Anne Arundel through May 15 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. With your help, we can reach our $50,000 goal and put twice as much funding into the hands of Anne Arundel County nonprofits.

Every gift brings us closer to saying yes to another nonprofit answering our community's needs. Your donation, no matter the size, will be pooled with gifts from neighbors across the county and then doubled by our matching donor to fund the organizations doing this important work. Thank you for being part of making Anne Arundel County a better place for all.

CFAAC proudly welcomes the following funds to our family of funds:

Brendan Sailing Roberta Wilson and Kurt Lowman Scholarship Fund

The Brendan Sailing Roberta Wilson and Kurt Lowman Scholarship Fund is a CFAAC Nonprofit Agency Endowed Fund, established in 2025 by Brendan Sailing. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships supporting youth to attend Brendan Sailing Summer Camps.

Whitcomb Charitable Fund

The Whitcomb Charitable Fund is a partially endowed Donor Advised Fund held at the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, established to support the philanthropic interests of the fund advisor(s).

Mary Smith AAWGT Lifetime Membership Fund

A CFAAC Endowed Fund established to support Anne Arundel Women Giving Together’s mission of funding programs that are devoted to improving the lives, health, education, and well-being of women, their children, and families.

Strong boards don't happen by accident. CFAAC is hosting an in-person, interactive symposium designed to strengthen nonprofit governance, support effective leadership, and help boards sustain long-term impact. Led by nonprofit consultant Rob Levit, this session covers practical strategies for building and sustaining an effective board. Nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and board members are all welcome.

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Time: 12:15 to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library
Cost: $25, includes lunch

Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? Join the Anne Arundel County Library for this virtual course for an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation. The class includes the basic elements of a proposal the “do’s” and “don’ts” of writing and submitting a proposal, how to follow up, and a hands-on exercise to develop a proposal outline.

Date: May 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Via Zoom

REGISTER HERE

Join the AAEPC for an education program led by Alex Pagnotta, Managing Attorney at Sinclair Prosser Gasior, exploring how trusts support charitable goals, family legacy, and long-term estate planning. Designed for attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, and allied professionals.

Date: May 14, 2026
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Location: The Lodge 
Cost: Free for 2026 AAEPC members | $80 for guests

Recent tax law changes reshaped by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have significant implications for individuals, businesses, and gift and estate tax planning. With a permanent increased estate tax exemption, income tax has become the new estate tax. Join us to learn how to maximize income tax planning strategies for your clients and their beneficiaries.

Date: June 3, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Lures Bar and Grille
Cost: $45 2026 AAEPC Members | $65 Non-Members

As you work with charitable clients over the course of your career, you’ll likely help dozens of married couples establish Donor Advised Funds and other types of funds at CFAAC, structure charitable gifts in wills and trusts, establish charitable remainder trusts, and everything in between.

But what happens to charitable assets in the event of divorce? Read more.

For many attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, the tax law changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) are old news. That is not the case for many of your clients. For many clients, now is the first time they’ll really be listening. 

Read more about the five things to know.

 

Charitable lead trust is far from a household word, and you might not run across the need for one very often in your practice. They sure do come in handy in certain client situations, though. At CFAAC, we are happy to establish a Donor Advised Fund or another type of fund to serve as the income beneficiary of a charitable lead annuity trust, or CLAT, established by a client.  

Read more about the basics of a CLAT. 

The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), publicly supported philanthropic organization with the long-term goal of building permanent funds that provide support to local nonprofit organizations through grants and special projects. Our mission is to inspire and promote giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1998, CFAAC is one of the largest funders of nonprofit organizations in Anne Arundel County. CFAAC distributes $6 to $9 million annually. Learn more at www.cfaac.org.