France-Merrick Foundation Grant ( requests for over $50,000)

From France-Merrick Foundation

The France-Merrick Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Maryland, primarily in the Greater Baltimore area. This is achieved through project-oriented grant making that supports organizations capable of sustaining their efforts independently. The Foundation emphasizes capital projects that incorporate sustainable practices and energy conservation, aiming to increase organizational capacity for a positive community and environmental impact.

Type of Support

Overview

The grant program supports a broad range of initiatives within the state of Maryland, with a specific focus on:

Civic and culture: Projects enhancing civic pride, livability, tourism, and cultural vitality.
Community and economic development: Prioritizing workforce, economic development and neighborhood stabilization, especially in East Baltimore.
Environment: Actions aimed at preserving natural habitats, promoting climate resilience, and reducing carbon footprints.
Education: Funding K-12 and higher education with a particular interest in literacy, socio-emotional learning, career readiness, scholarship assistance, and the integration of education with community and economic uplift.
Health and human services: Programs improving health, access to care, food security, housing, and supporting people with disabilities.
Historic preservation: Restoring and maintaining historically significant sites, with an emphasis on those that contribute to economic development and connect to the Foundation’s broader goals.

Each of these areas receives support with the intent of fostering a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community through strategic, one-time investments in significant, impactful projects.

Eligibility

Organization's Location

USA

Program Location

Preferred locations: MD (Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne's County), All eligible locations: MD

Organization Type

Non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status

Other

Located within the State of Maryland, primarily within the greater Baltimore area
Must have financial stability to sustain the project for which funding is being sought
Expected to demonstrate adequate administrative capacity, financial stability, and program effectiveness
Ability to describe evaluation criteria, methods, and expected outcomes in their requests

Ineligibility

Individuals

Special events or advertising space in programs

Deficit financing/debt reduction

Political activities

General operating/annual giving

50k+

Application deadlines

Submission

Schedule

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry

Application deadlines

Feb 2, 2025

May 31, 2025

Step 2: Full proposal (check website)

Review Criteria

The Foundation prefers to support project-specific requests that have clear start and end points, rather than providing support for recurring annual needs or continuous operational expenses. Should the proposal involve the construction of new facilities or the refurbishment of current structures, priority will be placed on the integration of environmentally sustainable practices and the implementation of energy-saving strategies within the project.