PRESS RELEASE
Media Contact: Imany Dye, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Iadye@mdnonprofit.org | (443) 238 2336
March 10, 2023 / ANNAPOLIS, MD – During the Maryland House of Delegates Appropriations Committee hearing yesterday, nonprofit advocates presented in-person, virtual, and written testimony in support of House Bill 1226. Sponsored by Delegate Anne Healey (D-22), House Bill 1226 would establish a Nonprofit Sustainability Fund within the Maryland Department of Commerce funded at $100 million annually, to benefit small and mid-sized 501(c)(3), (4), and (6) nonprofits in Maryland.
“Small and mid-sized nonprofits are the fabric of communities through thick and thin,” said Maryland Nonprofits President and CEO, Heather Iliff. “In a sector with $66 billion in economic impact in the state and 12.9% of all private sector jobs, a fund of $100 million is at a scale that would make a difference.”
Maryland Nonprofits launched a campaign to create the $100 million Nonprofit Sustainability Fund in January 2023. To date, 864 nonprofits and individuals from every jurisdiction of Maryland and beyond have signed an open letter to Governor Wes Moore, Speaker Adrienne Jones, and Senate President Bill Ferguson, advocating for the establishment of a state-funded $100 million general operating grant fund to support small and mid-sized nonprofits.
Testifying in favor of the bill in the Appropriations Committee were SciTech2U, Nonprofit Prince George’s County, Nonprofit Montgomery, Pro Bono Counseling Project, Professional Development and Research Center (PDRC) International, HART for Animals, Homeless Persons Representation Project, Girls on the Run of Montgomery County, The Light House, and Paul’s Place. Additional nonprofit organizations submitted written testimony.
“I struggle to secure enough funding to fully staff our rapidly growing organization,” said Zainab Abbas, Executive Director of SciTech2U. “Funds from HB 1226 would support SciTech2U to build its capacity to reach more underrepresented youth in Maryland. For instance, we could hire a professional grant writer, a full-time LEAD instructor [and] a data analyst who can help us to evaluate the impact we have on the youth we serve.”
The Nonprofit Sustainability Fund would revolutionize the funding landscape for small and mid-sized nonprofits in Maryland, which are disproportionately led by women and people of color.
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About Maryland Nonprofits
For 30 years, Maryland Nonprofits has worked to promote a thriving and effective nonprofit sector in Maryland and nationally through our Standards for Excellence Institute. With our 1,500 members, we coordinate advocacy with nonprofit leaders to advance equity and public policy that supports vibrant community organizations and civil society. Maryland Nonprofits capacity-building services include the state’s largest nonprofit consulting group, training, an annual conference, and accreditation through the Standards for Excellence® program. We are the home of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth (MARFY), Maryland Latinos Unidos, and the Charge-Up Collaborative. Maryland Nonprofits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a mission to strengthen organizations and networks for greater quality of life and equity. Visit www.marylandnonprofits.org for more information.