Maryland Philanthropy Network
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| Maryland Philanthropy Network | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maryland Philanthropy Network |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Type | Nonprofit association |
| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Region served | Maryland |
| Membership | Community foundations, corporate foundations, private foundations |
| Leader title | President & CEO |
Maryland Philanthropy Network is a statewide association that serves foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmakers across Maryland, providing convening, capacity building, and advocacy for philanthropic practice. The organization engages with a broad set of public and private institutions to influence grantmaking strategy, regulatory environments, and nonprofit effectiveness in Baltimore and suburban and rural counties, collaborating with national foundations and local actors.
History
Founded in the 1970s during a period of expansion in organized private giving, the association grew alongside entities like the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Rockefeller Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and regional intermediaries such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Early convenings drew leaders from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and state-level players including the City of Baltimore and the Maryland General Assembly. Over decades the network adapted to shifts prompted by events such as the Great Recession and policy changes influenced by rulings from the Internal Revenue Service and legislation like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Partnerships evolved with universities such as Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and think tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute to strengthen research and evaluation.
Mission and Governance
The mission emphasizes strengthening philanthropic capacity, promoting equitable grantmaking, and advancing civic partnerships with actors including the Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Department of Education, Baltimore County, and the City of Annapolis. Governance typically mirrors nonprofit models seen at the Ford Foundation and regional associations, with a board drawn from foundations such as Abell Foundation, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, private philanthropists, corporate foundations like T. Rowe Price Foundation, and academic leaders from Towson University and St. Mary's College of Maryland. Leadership roles echo practices at the Council on Foundations and feature committees on audit, governance, and grantmaking ethics aligned with standards promoted by Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.
Programs and Initiatives
Programs include capacity-building workshops, peer-learning cohorts, and grantmaker trainings that parallel initiatives by Grantmakers In Health, Philanthropy New York, and Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers. Initiatives often involve collaborations with Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, Baltimore Community Foundation, Annapolis Community Foundation, and national research partners such as The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Commonwealth Fund. Convenings address topics like racial equity, affordable housing, and public health, bringing in experts from Kaiser Family Foundation, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland Hunger Solutions, and advocacy groups including ACLU of Maryland and Maryland Disability Law Center.
Membership and Partners
Members encompass private foundations, family foundations, corporate giving programs, and community foundations such as Abell Foundation, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation, The Goldseker Foundation, Maryland Community Capital, and the Annapolis Area Community Foundation. Strategic partners range from academic institutions including Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland, College Park to nonprofit intermediaries like Living Cities and National Equity Fund. Cross-sector collaborations involve public agencies like the Maryland Department of Human Services and philanthropic networks such as National Center for Family Philanthropy and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.
Advocacy and Public Policy
Advocacy efforts mirror those of the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector when addressing state-level legislation, tax policy, and regulatory frameworks impacting philanthropy, interacting with the Maryland General Assembly, the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, and the Maryland State Treasurer. The network has engaged in policy dialogues on charitable deduction rules influenced by debates around the Internal Revenue Code and has coordinated testimony before legislative bodies alongside groups like Nonprofit Maryland and the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Public policy priorities have included tax incentives for charitable giving, nonprofit fiscal sustainability, and equitable funding practices linked to initiatives by Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation.
Funding and Financials
Funding sources combine membership dues, program fees, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants from entities such as The Pew Charitable Trusts, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ford Foundation, and local benefactors including Abell Foundation. Financial oversight aligns with nonprofit standards promoted by Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Nonprofit Finance Fund, with audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 practices informing transparency. Fiscal strategies have responded to market events like the 2008 financial crisis and philanthropic trends emphasized in reports by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Giving USA.
Impact and Evaluation
Impact assessment leverages evaluation frameworks used by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and research partners such as the Urban Institute, RAND Corporation, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation to measure outcomes across housing, health, and education initiatives in partnership with Maryland Department of Health, Baltimore City Health Department, Maryland State Department of Education, and local nonprofits. Reports and convenings have showcased grantmaking shifts informed by studies from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Maryland School of Social Work, and policy briefs from Brookings Institution and The Aspen Institute, aiming to document changes in philanthropic practice, community trust, and resource flows across Maryland.