Community Service Partnership Grants Program

Grant Application Portal (https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/howardcountymd-ocp/participant)

FY26 Funding Opportunities:

All eligible applicants are invited to apply for open CSP grant opportunities. Scroll down to see list of all current CSP grant opportunities and to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The CSP Grant Program will be accepting applications for the FY26 Community Services Partnership (CSP) Human Services Grant Program beginning December 4, 2024. 

Click here to access the FY26 CSP Human Services Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). 

Application opens: December 4, 2024

Applications closes: January 8, 2024, by 11:59 pm

FY26 CSP Grant Application Information Sessions

All prospective applicants must attend one of the mandatory FY26 Pre-Application Information Sessions which are being held on November 21st & November 22nd.

Please use the links below to register for your preferred session and to receive access details:

• November 21st, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

(https://howardcountymd.webex.com/weblink/register/re677beae059396945a68940073795952)

• November 22nd, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

(https://howardcountymd.webex.com/weblink/register/rb0d0d7f0048fd8e120c9b23fcd8e53f1)

For additional information or to request accommodations to participate, please contact Camille Banta at 410-313-7387 (voice/relay) or cbanta@howardcountymd.gov. Please submit accommodation requests by November 19th, 2024.

FY24 CSP Human Service Grant Recipients:

• Final Report Coming Soon

FY23 CSP Human Service Grant Recipients:

• Core Support (CORE), Safety, Security & Well-Being (SSW), Emerging Needs & Opportunity (ENO) and PEH Grants

For previous years grant reports, please contact the Office of Public Information.

Signing Your Grant Agreement

• DocuSign – All CSP grant agreements will be signed electronically using DocuSign. Awarded agencies will receive their grant agreement directly from DocuSign. The email from DocuSign will be sent to the individual identified as the contract signatory on the Point of Contact form submitted with the respective grant application—please make us aware of any changes in this point of contact immediately. Linked below are directions on how to sign and return grant agreements. No witness is required as DocuSign serves as the witness.  Any questions regarding grant agreements or If there is an issue with the agreement received by your agency, please reach out directly to CSP Staff, do not reply through the DocuSign system. 

• How do I sign? Click Here
• How do I assign someone else? Click Here

Important Information 

• Record Retention for CSP Grants is 3 years from the end of the grant year.
• Grantee must maintain status as a nonprofit entity.
• Grantees must remain in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
• Grantees are required to obtain and maintain general liability insurance during the life of their CSP Grant.

Important Forms: (forms should be submitted to via email to CSP staff at CSPGrantReporting@howardcountymd.gov)

• CSP Point of Contact Form - if the information on the Point of Contact form submitted with your application changes, please submit an updated form.
• Budget Modification Request Form - Please use this form to request a modification to your CSP Grant Budget. Any budget modification(s) of 10% or more of a line item requires approval.  The 10% value is cumulative for the grant year and once the 10% threshold is reached, approval must be granted prior to the effective date of the change. You will receive an email notification once your modification is approved.  Grantees making unauthorized changes to their Budget risk having disallowable costs that will not be reimbursed. 
• CSP Draw Request Form – Please use this form to request a grant payment if required by your grant agreement. The form can be signed digitally but please do not select option "lock document after signing". DCRS will need to complete the "DCRS staff use only" section to process payment. 

FY25 Grant Reporting for Core Support, SSW, ENO, PEH, and HST Grants will be completed using the forms provided below and submitted via email to CSPGrantReporting@howardcountymd.gov. A grant reporting guide has been provided for each grant type—these guides provide important information including due dates, required reporting components, and completion instructions.

Core Support (CS) Grant – Report Forms:

• Core Support Grant Reporting Guide
• Core Support – Check-in Report Form
• Core Support – Expenditure Report Form
• Core Support – Performance Measures Report Form

Safety, Security, & Well-being (SSW) Program Grant – Report Forms:

• SSW Grant Reporting Guide
• SSW – Check-in Report Form
• SSW – Expenditure Report Form
• SSW – Performance Measures Report Form

Emerging Needs & Opportunities (ENO) Grant – Report Forms:

• ENO Grant Reporting Guide
• ENO – Check-in Report Form
• ENO – Expenditure Report Form

Plan to End Homelessness (PEH) Grant – Report Forms:

• PEH Grant Reporting Guide
• PEH – Check-in Report Form

Human Services Transportation (HST) Grant – Report Forms:

• HST Grant Reporting Guide
• HST – Check-in Report Form
• HST – Expenditure Report Form
• HST – Performance Measures Report Form

Collaboration – Applicant organizations are expected to demonstrate equitable partnerships with other nonprofits organizations that fall within the coordinate through integrate levels on the Collaboration Spectrum to improve the delivery of services and/or organizational effectiveness.

Funding Areas of Focus – the CSP Grant Program targets grant dollars the Funding Areas of Focus which include Level I – Basic Human Needs and Level II – Safety and Security services.

Result-Based Accountability (RBA) – RBA is a data-driven process that facilitates collaboration to improve the lives of community members. The CSP Grant Program utilizes the RBA framework to review and improve organization and program performance.

• CSP Measuring Success
• RBA Guide
• Sample Performance Measures

CSP Redesign – In early 2020, the Office of Community Partnership engaged over 260 diverse constituents to create a nimble, high-impact Community Services Grant Program that responds to the changing needs, challenges, and opportunities facing Howard County.  Rooted in measurable outcomes and collective impact, the redesigned grant program targets investments in nonprofits that equitably and effectively deliver programs and support to individuals and families in Howard County who lack adequate resources or are facing financial hardships. 

• CSP Redesign Report
• CSP Redesign Report – One Page Overview
• Data Summary – To inform the CSP Redesign process, this Data Summary was developed in early 2020 based on the analysis of quantitative data from 20+ sources and qualitative input gathered from surveys.