- Overview
- General Grants
- General Grants with a Challenge Match Funds Component
- Grant Categories / Areas of Interest
- Grants Categories / Areas of Interest Defined
- Eligibility Criteria
- Further Guidelines
- How to Apply
- Grant Cycles
- Review Process
- Contact Information
Applicants who wish to apply for a grant award that does not fit into other specific Foundation grant categories may apply in the General Grants category. General Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis for review by the Trustees. Only organizations located in Frederick County, Maryland or serving Frederick County residents are eligible to receive a General Grant. Grants may be awarded with or without a challenge matching funds component. Please review the information below to determine if your request fits the Foundation's criteria.
General Grants are awarded to fund an organizations operating and program expenses. Operating costs include the fixed and variable expenses of the organization. Program costs include expenses associated with the services related to the organization's mission. General grants may be awarded with or without a challenge matching funds component.
General Grants with a Challenge Match Funds Component
General Grants with a challenge matching fund component are awarded to cover both program and operating costs as defined above and require that matching funds be raised before Foundation funds are distributed.
The goal of the general challenge match funds component grant is to encourage others to give. In particular, the goal of the award is to encourage board members to support the organization and to tease out new contributors and contributions to the organization. Organizations may have a limited time in which to raise matching funds as well as a limited funding pool e.g. in-kind and government funding cannot count toward matching funds. Trustees set the matching funds parameters.
Grant Categories / Areas of Interest
The Ausherman Family Foundation awards grants to organizations that fit into one of the following grant categories or areas of interest:
- Arts & Culture
- Children, Youth, and Families
- Christian Missions
- Education
- Health
- Human Services
- Nonprofit Sector Support / Field Building
- Public / Society Benefit
- Arts & Culture
- Children, Youth & Families
- Christian Missions
- Education
- Health
- Human Services
- Nonprofit Sector Support/Field Building
- Public/Society Benefit
Organizations or activities that promote enjoyment or understanding of the visual, performing, folk, or media arts; communication organizations (film, video, publishing, journalism, radio, television); and organizations or activities that promote the appreciation or understanding of historical events. Includes groups of or services to artists, performers, entertainers, or writers; art and performing art schools, centers, and studios; and historical societies and museums.
The category includes organizations or programs that provide enrichment and increased opportunity to children and youth as well as organizations or programs that strengthen families. Programs and activities included are scouting programs, mentorship programs, youth leadership programs, youth community service clubs and job training, parent engagement, education, college access, academic enrichment, and arts activities.
Organizations or programs operated for the purpose of Christian worship, training or study, governance or administration of a Christian institution, or the promotion of Christian activities, and may include funding for educational materials and retreat activities, and other program expenses.
Institutions of higher education that provide academic education are considered. Also includes libraries and organizations providing continuing / supplemental education outside of the formal school system such as English-as-a-second-language programs and literacy and reading programs for children and adults. This category excludes schools offering K through 12th grade education.
All treatment, rehabilitative, and research programs relating to physical and mental health. Including but not limited to the following sub-categories: Hospitals and primary care facilities, mental health and crisis intervention, diseases, disorders and related medical disciplines, nutrition, and dental care.
Programs and services that provide basic welfare to help individuals, families, and communities to prevent, alleviate, or better cope with crisis, change, and stress. Human services include the following sub-categories: crime & delinquency prevention, legal services, employment / jobs, food housing / shelter, and women's issues.
Strengthen the impact of nonprofit institutions by providing opportunities for networking, collaborating, partnering, and building knowledge and skill within the sector. This includes grant making to improve organizational efficiency, effectiveness, leadership, strategic planning, financial systems, programs, marketing, communications, fundraising, operations, and technology.
Organizations or programs that contribute to the public good and benefit society including, but not limited to, the following sub-categories: beautifying public spaces, civic organizations and institutions, community / neighborhood development and improvement, and philanthropy, voluntarism, and grant making foundations.
The Nonprofit Organization must be physically located in Frederick County, Maryland and provide services for Frederick County residents. If the organization is located outside of Frederick County, Maryland, the organization must provide services for Frederick County, Maryland residents.
If an organization is physically located outside of Frederick County, Maryland, only the costs of the programs associated with the services provided to Frederick County, Maryland residents will be considered for funding.
1. Grant requests should outline realistic dollar amounts, backed by documentation and a clear description of the need for funding.
2. Grant requests of less than $2,500 will not be considered.
The General Grant Program runs continuously; therefore, there are no application deadlines.
Organizations that wish to submit a request for the General grants program are asked to first send a letter of inquiry to the Ausherman Family Foundation. The LOI should include:
2. Organizations that wish to submit a request for the General Grants Program are asked first to submit a letter of inquiry to the Ausherman Family Foundation.
3. To begin the online process and submit a letter of inquiry, click on this link: Grant Process
1. The Ausherman Family Foundation's Executive Director will review the letter of inquiry.
2. You will receive an email response from the executive director either requesting additional information or approving your letter of inquiry (LOI).
3. Once the LOI has been approved you will be directed to access the grant application site and complete a formal grant application.
4. Your application will be reviewed and voted upon by the Trustees.
5. The Executive Director will inform you of the Trustees decision.
6. Grant recipients sign a Grant Covenant / Agreement and submit grant report(s) as detailed in the Covenant.
If you have questions after reviewing the information above or trouble accessing the online grant process, contact Joyce A. Heptner, Executive Director, by calling 301.620.4443 or emailing jheptner@aushermanfamilyfoundation.org.