Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
As leaders, grant makers, and stewards of philanthropy, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care to 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 $94 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 programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Eastern Shore Nonprofit Support Center
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, as part of its core mission, has supported local nonprofit organizations since 1984. In addition to financial support, the Foundation has developed a number of Nonprofit Support Programs designed to enhance the capacity of local organizations to effectively achieve their mission. Meeting and conference facilities, educational programs, grants research, and professinal development services are available for the nonprofit sector.
Community Needs Grant Program
The Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant Program provides program support to a broad range of charitable programs. Applicants must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations providing non-sectarian programs, or eligible programs within government agencies serving citizens on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland (specifically Somerset, Wicomico, and/or Worcester County). The program has a $5,000 grant award maximum.
Education Award Grant Program
The Community Foundation’s Education Awards Grant Program provides support for classroom-based programs in public and private schools (pre-K through 12th grade) on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland (specifically Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester County). For additional eligibility detail, please visit the MSDE nonpublic school website. Eligible private schools must be on the MSDE nonpublic schools list. The program has a $5,000 grant award maximum.
Field of Interest Grant Program
Field of Interest Funds are established by donors to support a particular area of interest. Within that subject area, the Foundation makes grants to the most appropriate organizations and projects serving that interest. Selection is guided by the Foundation’s Community Initiative Committee.
Workforce Development Grant Program
The Community Foundation’s Workforce Development Grant program supports scholarship opportunities for job training, education, or professional development programs. Special emphasis will be placed on programs serving people with disabilities, high school juniors and seniors, non-traditional students, nonprofit professionals, and skilled professionals in fields that serve vulnerable populations in our community.
Women’s Fund Grant Program
Each spring, The Women’s Fund focuses its grant making on programs addressing the unmet needs of women and/or girls on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Requests must articulate a direct and measurable benefit of this targeted population in Wicomico, Worcester, and/or Somerset County. The grant award maximum is $5,000.
Mini-Grant Program
Applicants must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations, public schools, faith-based organizations providing non-sectarian programs, or eligible programs within government agencies serving citizens in Somerset, Wicomico, and/or Worcester Counties. The grant award maximum is $2,000.
Technical Assistance & Capacity Building grants provide support to for pilot projects, organizational improvement and capacity building, technology and equipment purchases.
Emergency Assistance grants provide pharmaceutical, transportation, food, and utility assistance through our local charities.
Youth Help grants provide support to students who otherwise could not afford to take advantage of opportunities that would help them grow and become better citizens of our community.
Volunteer Engagement grants provide support for volunteer led projects at eligible nonprofit organizations.
Where we work
Accreditations
Council on Foundations National Standards 2002
Council on Foundations National Standards 2012
Council on Foundations National Standards 2017
Awards
Salisbury Award 2009
Salisbury Award Committee
Affiliations & memberships
Chamber of Commerce 1984
Council on Foundations - Member 1998
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Average grant amount
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Conducting Solid Research, Sharing Best Practices, Enhancing Collaborative Work.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Short-Term (FY 21):
Operational Optimization - During & Post Covid
Grow Capacity and Strength of Nonprofits
Enhance Operations and Effective Utilization of Technology
Medium Term (FY 22-23)
Operational Optimization - During & Post Covid (Phase 2)
Grow Capacity and Strengths of Nonprofits (Phase 2)
Enhance Operations and Effective Utilization of Technology (Phase 2)
Engage Next Generation of Donors
Grow Legacy Society
Long-Term (FY 24-26+)
Grow Capacity and Strengths of Nonprofits (Phase 3)
Enhance Operations and Effective Utilization of Technology (Phase 3)
Engage Next Generation of Donors (Phase 2)
Grow Legacy Society (Phase 2)
Grow Assets and Grants Awards in all 3 Counties
Define priorities for FY 27-32
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are fully capable in our current staffing to meet our goals.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have completed all short-term goals, and are working on medium and long term goals.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 07/25/2022
Mr. Jim Jones
Melody S Nelson
James R Thomas
Julius D Zant
Stephanie T. Willey
Dwight W Marshall
Nationwide Insurance Agent
Carolyn Johnston
Michael P Truitt
Merrill Lynch & Co
Andy Kim
Kim & Associates, PA
Greg Tawes
Truist Bank
Gayle W Widdowson
Velda E Henry
W. Todd Hershey
Delmarby, Inc.
James P Jones
First Shore Federal Savings and Loan
Annette E Wallace
Pocomoke High School
George I Whitehead
Ginnie Malone
Jan Perdue
Allen Brown, Sr.
Dean Lewis
Taylor Bank
Ed Barber
Robin Evans
Tyrone Mills
Dan O'Connell
PKS & Company
Sonya Whited
Perdue Farms
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/15/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.