Pillar Spring/Summer 2024

In This Issue

New Funds & Scholarships

Connecting donors to impact

Financial Advisors & Partnerships

InFocus Financial Advisors works with CFES

The Lower Shore Nonprofit Summit

Nonprofit professionals attend development opportunity

Inspiring Impact

A look into the lives your gifts are changing

Celebrating 40 Years

The CFES Business After Hours event

Endow Maryland

Do more for the Lower Eastern Shore

When Friends Come Together

The Stephen Long Scholarship

Upcoming Trainings & Events

A calendar filled with learning opportunities

message from the PRESIDENT

As we look toward spring, summer, and the promise of longer days, know that your Community Foundation is always growing. The dreary months of winter are warmed with the generous and caring spirits of our Foundation friends and neighbors. This issue of The Pillar will hopefully do the same for you!

We have been humbled, once again, by the support offered to the Community Foundation in response to our annual appeal. Our commitment to connecting people who care with causes that matter is strengthened by so many throughout the community, and for that we offer our sincerest thanks! If you haven’t had the opportunity to make a contribution you may do so before the end of FY2024 (June 30). Your gift secures your membership as a Friend of the Foundation and empowers the Foundation to serve as a local resource through a variety of programs, services, and the expertise of our dynamic staff.

We have a new opportunity for local businesses to join as Corporate Members of CFES. If your business would like to join or sponsor, more information is available at CFES.org/corporategiving.

The Endow Maryland Tax Credit Program continues to inspire donors to make a lasting difference. This is an easy way to have an impact by supporting one of a variety of impact areas and receive an extra benefit on your Maryland income taxes. The credits are limited and shared across the State, so contact us today if you are interested.

The spring and summer will include many ways to connect with CFES through events, grant programs, education and networking opportunities. Please keep an eye out for those invitations by mail and online at CFES.org or on Facebook. We look forward to seeing you soon!

NEW FUNDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

September 1, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Butch Waller Scholarship Fund

Part of the Governor’s Challenge Basketball Tournament hosted by Wicomico Parks and Tourism.

Betty Jane Dashiell Wicomico Library Fund

To support the operations of the Wicomico Co. Public Library .

Charles McClenahan Scholarship Fund

To benefit Somerset County High School students enrolled in a two- or four-year college.

D. Allan Richardson Pittsville VFD Memorial Fund

To benefit Wicomico County High School students continuing their education in the field of first responders or EMS.

Epoch Dream Center Capital Campaign Fund

To support the construction and maintenance of new building.

Greg Bassett Memorial Fund

Created in memory of newspaper editor Greg Bassett to provide scholarships for students pursuing a career in journalism.

Grover Cantwell Jr. Memorial Art Scholarship Fund

To benefit Wicomico High School students seeking arts-related education at a two- or four-year college.

Healthy Minds for Shore Fund

To support the work of Healthy Minds for Shore, a regional mental health coalition of providers, advocates, and community organizations.

James H. & Barbara E. Werner Designated Fund

To support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Shriner’s Hospitals for children, and Father Flanagan’s Boys Home.

James H. & Barbara E. Werner Fund for Cats

To support the work of no-kill shelters that rescue, rehabilitate, and adopt all breeds of cats.

James H. & Barbara E. Werner Fund for Dogs

To support the work of no-kill shelters that rescue, rehabilitate, and adopt all breeds of dogs.

James H. & Barbara E. Werner Fund for Horses

To support the work of no-kill shelters that rescue, rehabilitate, and adopt all breeds of horses.

Maryland Folk Festival Fund

To support the operations of the Maryland Folk Festival.

Ryan D. Minor Memorial Fund

To support nonprofit organizations working with special needs children.

Stephen Long - Worcester High Pioneers Fund

For Worcester Co. students attending historically Black universities.

Taylor Bank For Good Fund

To provide competitive grants to nonprofit organizations located primarily in Sussex, Worcester, and Accomack counties.

Tony Sarbanes Award for Public Service

To award graduating seniors who display high levels of commitment to public service.

Erica Joseph President, CFES

W. Brice Foxwell Engineering Scholarship

To provide scholarships to graduates of Wicomico County and Winters Mill High Schools pursuing careers in engineering.

Wor-Wic OC Chamber of Commerce Fnd. Eunice Sorin Fund

To provide scholarships for Wor-Wic students.

Wor-Wic Thomas & Lisa Shelton Endowed Scholarship

To provide scholarships for Wor-Wic students.

FINANCIAL ADVISORS & Partnerships

Attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, trust officers, and other professionals are valued partners in charitable giving. Together we develop client-focused giving strategies that meet specific financial goals and philanthropic interests.

Recently, long time philanthropic partner InFocus Financial Advisors, Inc., donated $1,500 to the Community Foundation. This charitable contribution reflects their unwavering commitment to supporting the work of the Community Foundation and local philanthropy.

“I constantly recommend The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore to my clients who enjoy gifting to charity,” says Eric Johnston, President and Financial Advisor at InFocus Financial Advisors. “The Community Foundation assists our clients and their gifting goals, all while offering a streamlined, efficient, and impactful approach.”

Through the stewardship of CFES, a gift supports the philanthropic priorities of our donors forever. CFES offers local charitable insight, as our staff frequently visit local nonprofits and participate in community conversations.

“When a client establishes a fund at The Community Foundation they gain access to a team of local philanthropic experts who can help them navigate the complicated world of philanthropy. Working alongside InFocus Financial Advisors, Inc., the team at The Community Foundation offers guidance on grantmaking, investment strategies, and tax advantages, ensuring that the client’s charitable dollars are used effectively to

The Lower Shore Nonprofit Summit

Over 150 professionals and students attended the 2024 Nonprofit Summit: Together, for Good, the region’s largest nonprofit professional development opportunity. Held April 26th , the event kicked off with an inspiring keynote address from Michele Waxman Johnson, Director of the Maryland 250 Commission of the Maryland Department of Planning.

The sold-out conference was hosted by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES), the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore (UWLES), and Salisbury University’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE). Sponsors included CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Avery Hall Insurance.

support causes they are passionate about.” Johnston states.

When partnering with the Community Foundation, advisors can retain the personal relationship with their client and feel confident that CFES will guide them with strategies to fulfill their charitable goals.

“By leveraging the Foundation’s expertise, clients can maximize the impact of their giving and make more informed decisions about where their contributions should go. I love helping clients achieve their charitable gifting in retirement. Our clients really enjoy it, and it grows the strength of our local community by supporting many great causes,” says Johnston.

The Community Foundation’s many flexible giving options allow us to process gifts of marketable securites, closely held stock, retirement funds, real estate, and much more. Donors can give the gift outright or structure it to produce a lifetime of income.

The impact of a charitable gift will grow over time and supports philanthropic priorities forever. To learn more visit CFES.org/ giving or share CFES.org/advisors with your financial advisor.

Lindsay Cohen and Eric Johnston of InFocus Financial Advisors; Erica Joseph, CFES President; and Robert Jeter, also of InFocus Financial Advisors.

INSPIRING IMPACT

At CFES we dream of a community where all can live, learn, work, create, and prosper. Check out these snapshots to see how your Community Foundation is creating an impact for so many wonderful programs!

The YMCA received a Community Needs grant for its Safety Around Water program which teaches kids to swim and provides the knowledge and skills to be safe in and around water.

HALO has a brand-new food pantry after a CFES grant afforded some much-needed renovation. The shelter now has a clean, safe, organized space to store food for their No One Has to Go Hungry program.

North Salisbury Elementary’s Mustang Mart won CFES’ Calcott Award for creativity in Education in ad- dition to grant funding. This innovative project gets English Language Learners practicing conversational English and math skills while running a business selling affordable school supplies to fellow students.

The Christian Shelter’s new Mission Tracker software allows them to better serve shelter guests by recording and tracking important information, setting goals, and managing wraparound services. CFES grant funding supported the software and staff training.

Want to be featured in The Pillar? Email your impact photos to vKent@CFES.ORG

Students with cognitive disabilities from all three Salisbury high schools learned gelli printing as part of adaptive art lessons. This activity boosts confi dence, teaches color theory, and provides unique opportunities for experimentation and working together. Supplies were purchased with a CFES Education grant.

Somerset Co. Technical High School received a grant for age simulation suits for Certified and Geriatric Nursing Assistant students. The suits help students build understanding and compassion for future patients by creating a firsthand experience of the physical and sensory changes that come with aging.

Celebrating 40 Years Business After Hours Event

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore celebrated 40 years of impact with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce at a Business After Hours event on April 11.

“For the past 40 years, we have been working to strengthen partnerships with individuals, families, businesses, and community-based organizations to invest in the causes that matter to create a vibrant community and address critical needs,” said CFES President Erica Joseph. “Encouraging participation in our giving circles and recognizing the contributions of those sharing their time, talent, and treasure is the perfect way to celebrate this milestone.”

How To Make a $1,000 Donation Cost Only $750* (even without itemizing!)

$1,000

You donate $1,000 to your community foundation ($500 min. donation required for the Endow MD tax credit.)

State taxes are reduced by a $250 tax credit. - $250

Net cost to you. =$750

If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, your gift may also be eligible for the federal charitable tax deduction – reducing the cost to you even more!

*This example is not intended to provide accounting advice. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

Do More for the Lower Eastern Shore

The “Endow Maryland” tax credit provides an incentive for Marylanders to give back to their local communities in a meaningful and lasting way by offering tax credits for gifts of at least $500 to permanent, endowed funds at qualified community foundations in Maryland.

With a gift of cash or stocks, individuals and businesses can benefit a variety of needs including; women and girls, youth, arts, education, environment, a specific county, or the many other impact areas met through our Community Needs and Field of Interest Funds.

The credit is 25% of the value of the donation, and excess credits may be carried over by businesses or individuals for up to five years. The tax credits are offered to donors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Examples of eligible funds include:

The Community Needs Fund: Supports nonprofits serving a variety of needs in the Lower Shore community.

Help Your Neighbor Fund: Grants to local charities for emergency assistance such as pharmaceutical, food, and utility assistance.

The Lower Shore Shore Scholarship Fund: Supports local students attending Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

To learn more about the Endow Maryland Tax Credit program and the qualifying funds visit CFES.org/endowmd.

When Friends Come Together

Stephen Long Scholarship

When friends come together with a shared vision, they can create a very meaningful impact. That is exactly what happened when these Pocomoke natives created the Stephen Long–Worcester High Pioneers (SL-WHP), a new nonprofit organization that provides financial support to Worcester County students enrolled in one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities.

“We proudly named our nonprofit after our alma mater, Stephen Long Elementary School. The all-Black elementary school was named in honor of dedicated educator Professor Long in 1937, who had been murdered 16 years prior,” said Ronnie L. Collins Sr., SL-WHP’s Vice President.

Born in Pocomoke at the end of the Civil War, Stephen Handy Long was a prominent African American educator who was appointed Supervisor of Colored Schools in Worcester County in 1914. Long was so well respected as an educator that more than 2,000 people traveled to his funeral in 1921.

The nonprofit created an endowment fund at CFES to grow its impact on the community.

“We chose to create a fund at the Community Foundation because CFES is a leader in philanthropy, and partnering

Ronnie L. Collins Sr., June Roberts, David Merrill, Betty Price Timmons, Marvin L. Jones Sr.

with an organization that supports so many nonprofits makes great sense to us,” said Marvin L. Jones Sr., SL-WHP’s Parliamentarian.

“Together, we can build a community that celebrates diversity, values education, and uplifts the aspirations of our students of color. Those who mentor others and do community service activities are our future community leaders, and we want to help them be all they can be,” noted David Merrill, SL-WHP’s President.

The

Grant & Award Deadlines

Mini Grant Deadline - 15th of Every Month

Education Grants - August 23rd

CFES Annual Award Nominations - Aug. 31st

Workforce Development Grants - Oct. 1st

Funding requests that are outside of our current open grant programs require a Letter of Inquiry submission. Eligible organizations may submit a Letter of Inquiry online on a rolling application deadline.

Qualified

Charitable Distributions

THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME

It’s easier than ever to make the gift of a lifetime! CFES can help turn your individual retirement accounts (IRAs) into tax-saving charitable gifts. Your retirement funds can go further than ever before to make a difference in our community. Giving is one of life’s pleasures; we can help you enjoy it today.

Around the Foundation

SHRM Certification

Congratulations to Heather Geraldes and David Plotts who recently earned their Society for Human Resource Management-Certified Professional (SHRMCP) certification. SHRM is the only competency-based human resources certification focused on the knowledge and behaviors needed to be proficient in the HR profession. Credentialed professionals enhance organizational effectiveness through the creation of improved HR practices and strategic alignment with other functional areas of an organization.

Challenge Grants!

Celebrating 40 years with $40,000

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

Starting a Nonprofit • May 22 • 9AM - 11AM • CFES

Learn about starting a nonprofit and best practices for those just starting out.

Fund Accounting 101• June 5th • 9:30AM - 11AM • CFES

Presented in partnership with The Small Business Development Center at Salisbury University. Learn the fundamentals of good bookkeeping and accounting practices for fund management.

Grant Professionals Network • June 12 • 9 AM • Virtual

Join our programs team to network and learn alongside other grant professionals on the Lower Shore.

Giving Tuesday 2024 • December 3rd • Save the Date

Full list of

&

Erica, Jessica, and Shelbie visited San Antonio for the AdNet Conference which is the country’s premier conference for community foundation development and donor services.

CFES was honored by the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore at their Annual Meeting with the Spirit of the Shore Award.

In recognition of the Community Foundation’s 40th anniversary, CFES recently unveiled two challenge grants for the Foundation’s giving circles, the Black Excellence Community Fund and the Women’s Fund. CFES intends to raise $40,000 to bolster the impact these two giving circles make in our community, and has kick started this campaign with a challenge grant of $10,000 to each giving circle

Giving circles are a team approach to philanthropy and offer members a chance to learn more about how they can have an impact by working with others who care about similar causes.

To participate online visit CFES.org/donate, and select either fund, and note “Challenge Grant” in the comment section.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Velda E. Henry, Chairman

Daniel M. O’Connell, Vice Chairman

M. Dean Lewis, Secretary

Robin L. Evans, Treasurer

Edward Barber

Allen C. Brown, Sr.

Gail L. Foltz

Sharone V. Grant

Dr. Carolyn S. Johnston

James P. Jones

Andy Kim

Ginnie H. Malone

Michael B. Mathers

William R. McCain

Tyrone E. Mills

Phyllis R. Mitchell

Melody S. Nelson

Janice M. Perdue

John K. Phoebus

Gregory D. Tawes

Michael P. Truitt

Dr. Annette E. Wallace

Sonya A. Whited

Dr. George I. Whitehead, III

Gayle H. Widdowson

FOUNDATION STAFF

Lauren Ansted Program Officer

Sharon Dickson, CPA Finance Director

Cathy Diekmann Program Officer

Veronique Diriker Ph.D. Chief Advancement Officer

Heather Geraldes Program Director

Erica Joseph President

Victoria Kent Marketing Officer

Jessica Meehan Gifts & Grants Officer

Katerra Marshall Office Coordinator

David Plotts Controller

Shelbie Thompson Donor Relations Officer

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care with causes that matter for the common good of the Lower Eastern Shore. We are a 501c3 nonprofit with an inspiring history of fostering charitable endeavors, and have provided more than $107 million in grants and scholarships to the local community since 1984. We collaborate with individuals, families, and businesses to match their charitable interests with community needs and strengthen local nonprofits through grants and resources. We are devoted to improving our regional community and believe in the power of philanthropy.

Our Offices will be closed: Mon. May 27th - Memorial Day Wed. June 19 th - Juneteenth Thurs. & Fri. July 4th & 5th - Independence Day Mon. Sept. 2nd - Labor Day