Takoma Foundation

Takoma Foundation Grant Guidelines

TAKOMA FOUNDATION MISSION: The mission of the Foundation is to make grants that promote and facilitate a socially, environmentally, economically and culturally healthy Takoma Park community. The Takoma Foundation supports a dynamic, vibrant community that is inclusive, accepting, supportive and understanding.

AREA SERVED: Organizations providing services and activities to residents of Takoma Park, Maryland and surrounding neighborhoods.

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES: The Takoma Foundation seeks to ensure that everyone can participate in community life.  We have a preference for projects that

  • Encourage and involve resident participation in community life.
  • Build connections between people.
  • Empower small groups in dealing with immediate community concerns.
  • Provide opportunities to community residents that would not be possible otherwise.
  • Meet the needs of low and moderate income residents. 

We prefer to fund small organizations with limited access to resources, generally those with budgets under $100,000.

We see kto fund projects that meet the following objectives:

  • Contribute to the greater Takoma Park Community.
  • Are well thought out, seem likely to achieve their goals, and are ready to be implemented or are underway.
  • Can be completed within a year or less.
  • Are innovative and or come from new applicants.
  • Include a means of evaluating the results and reporting them to the foundation.

GRANT AMOUNT: $500-$2,000   

ELIGIBILITY: Non-profit organizations that have a letter of determination from the IRS are eligible to apply. Projects that have a non-profit fiscal agent may also apply. The Foundation will also accept proposals from civic and tenant associations, schools and PTAs that do not have a letter from the IRS. We cannot make grants to individuals or for-profit businesses. If you are not sure if you are eligible, please contact us before you apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Complete and submit the Takoma Foundation Grant Application.

DEADLINE: The Foundation prefers to receive applications by e-mail. Proposals for Spring 2012 should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5 pm on March 31, 2012. If you do not have access to e-mail you may send a hard copy to the offices of the Community Foundation for Montgomery County by 5 pm on March 31, 2012. Please do not file applications in both places. If you send your application by e-mail, you will receive an e-mail confirming that we received it.

Grant decisions will be made late April, and awarded funds will be available by mid-May.

HOW WE OPERATE: The Takoma Foundation is a public charity, operated as a donor advised fund of the Community Foundation for Montgomery County. The Takoma Foundation’s volunteer board raises money from the community to carry out Foundation activities. A committee of the board coordinates the grants process and makes recommendations to the Takoma Foundation board, which must approve all grant awards.

CONTACT:  For more information, visit www.takomafoundation.org or contact Maureen Kohl, Grants Committee Chair, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (301) 275-1653

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