The 2023 Frederick County Philanthropic Funders Collaborative Grantmaking Report, produced by Data Driven Frederick and the Frederick County Philanthropic Funders Collaborative, was released this spring. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of philanthropic trends and grantmaking data in Frederick County, Maryland for the year 2023. Funding gaps, collaborative efforts, and emerging priorities within the nonprofit sector are all highlighted.

The Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County is one of twelve organizations that contributed grantmaking data in the development of this report, and indeed, our Leadership Circle is featured on page 2 in the report introduction.

While we encourage our members and supporters to read the full report, we share some highlights below:

Overview of Philanthropic Trends in Frederick County

The 2023 report highlights significant growth in philanthropic activities in Frederick County, with a total of $14.38 million awarded to 371 nonprofit organizations, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. ​ The report emphasizes the importance of collaboration among funders and the need for ongoing data transparency to address community needs effectively. ​

For context, The Women's Giving Circle distributed $270,000 in grants during the 2023 grant cycle, amounting to 1.9% of the total.

Distribution of Grants by Size

The average grant size was $10,178 and the median was $3,111. In comparison, the Giving Circle average grant size in 2023 was $9,643 and the median was $8,000.

Funding by Topic

Human Needs funding continues to be the largest category of grantmaking, representing just over half of the total. The Giving Circle focuses exclusively on this category, funding grants that enrich and empower women experiencing challenging situations in Frederick County.

Funding Continuity and New Initiatives

The report highlights the balance between ongoing funding and new initiatives. ​

• 84% of known funding supported ongoing programs, while 16% funded new initiatives.

• This ratio has remained consistent over the past four years, indicating a commitment to sustaining long-term programs while also investing in new projects. ​

  
  

Funder Collaboration and Network Analysis

The report presents insights into funder collaboration and the interconnectedness of funding efforts. ​

• The Community Foundation and Delaplaine Foundation jointly funded 28 organizations with $2.3 million. ​

• The Community Foundation serves as a central hub in the funding network, collaborating with all major funders. ​

• The analysis indicates strong inter-funder ties, particularly in areas like mental health and homelessness. ​

  
  

The Giving Circle of Frederick County is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Frederick County and we are grateful for the support and guidance provided by the staff there.