ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

AAWGT held its annual business meeting on November 10 at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library. Following the treasurer’s report, the slate of proposed leaders for 2022 was announced, with online voting available until Nov. 22. The membership committee then shared the good news that in 2021, 35 new members joined AAWGT, including 11 members 40 years old and younger. A brief overview of the Racial Equity Study Group, which now includes 60 members, highlighted the activities of this group in learning about racial equity and advancing it within the organization. The next topic on the agenda focused on the new and improved grant application and process for 2022. (Please see description below). And finally, Rosemary Calderalo, Director of Gift Planning at the Community Foundation described how members can “Grow our Giving” to build our legacies.

Please click HERE to view the slides from the meeting.

2022 Grants Process

AAWGT awarded its first grants in 2007 when four grantees received a total of $39,881. We’ve grown since then, and in 2021 we awarded $139,381 to eight nonprofits after receiving a record 50 applications.

Realizing that our grant program had grown tremendously over the past 15 years, earlier this year President Elaine Shanley and Vice President Maryann Gosnell asked the Grants Committee to review our process with the goal of simplifying and improving it. Susan Cook, the grants chair, contacted a number of grants-experienced members for suggestions and additional outreach included focused sessions with the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) and meetings of the Grants Committee and other interested participants in August and September.

Using the suggestions gained during this process, and applying the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy, a new shorter application has been developed consistent with our need for information. The revised, streamlined review process includes numerical scoring. This will simplify the process for both reviewers and applicants while still focusing on those grant applications which best meet our mission to improve the quality of life for women and families in Anne Arundel County. And to meet the challenge of an increasingly diverse community, the principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) will be embedded in our entire process.

To further simplify the process for both applicants and reviewers, AAWGT will offer a single type of grant. Our effort to reach out to newer or smaller nonprofits continues as we encourage applications from Anne Arundel County-based nonprofits with annual Gross Receipts of $100,000 or less.

There are changes to the schedule as well. In November, we will be providing earlier notice of the particulars of our upcoming grant year both on our website and by email to assist nonprofits in their planning. Our January 3, 2022 Call for Applications will include a Word version of the application and training for applicants will be offered. The deadline for the receipt of applications will be mid-February.