History

Donald C. Linton, a founding father of the Community Foundation and trustee emeritus, has published a history of the Community Foundation. The book is available in electronic format. A hard copy version can be obtained by calling our office at 301.695.7660.

Highlights from 1986 through 1995

  • December 2, 1986 – the Articles of Incorporation are approved by the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation.
  • December 4, 1986 – the first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the office of Linton, Shafer & Company with the entire board present: Donald C. Linton, Chairman; Charles V. Main, Vice-Chairman; W. Jerome Offutt, Secretary-Treasurer, and Harold Wright. Additional trustees elected were: Donald V. Bovey; Samuel W. Barrick; Phillip A. Berkheimer; Albert H. Cohen; David Denton; Julia Hanna; Charles W. Hoff, III; Jack B. Kussmaul; Alma Moore Palm; Peggy Pilgrim; Frances A. Randall; Jacob R. Ramsburg, Jr.; Reverend Francis Reinberger; Ken Rice; Cynthia Sadler; Helen Swanson; Alfred P. Shockley; Kathryn Reed; Norman E. Waltz; Dr. Charles E. Wright; and Sen. Charles McC. Mathias, honorary trustee.
  • December 31, 1986 – a special board meeting was convened to accept a $10,000 gift from an anonymous donor.
  • November 30, 1987 – More than $500,000 was obtained in contributions, pledges and transferred funds in only three months of active fundraising. This major announcement was made at the Kick-Off Dinner held at the Sheraton Inn.
  • May 1988 – the first lease was signed for shared office space with the Jaycees at 106 West Second Street.
  • October 1988 – the First Annual Report to the Community was held at the Weinberg Center, announcing that the $1 million goal of contributions, pledges, and current assets had been met.
  • August 1990 – 14 grants totaling $14,440 were presented to Frederick County nonprofits in the first formalized grantmaking process.
  • June 1991 – 87 scholars receiving $54,000 for the 1991-1992 academic year were recognized at a luncheon.
  • July 1995 – Elizabeth Y. Day became executive director.

Highlights from 1996 through 2004

  • November 1996 – grantmaking exceeded $1 million for the first time.
  • December 1996 – the Community Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary.
  • June 1997 – assets under management reach $8.1 million.
  • December 1998 – $1.1 million was received from The Judge Edward S. Delaplaine Trust to support Frederick County nonprofits.
  • December 1999 – the Community Foundation moved to its current office location at 312 East Church Street, Frederick.
  • July 2000 – more than $3.2 million was received in contributions and more than $2 million was presented in grants and scholarships. Forty-nine new funds were created.
  • September 2001 – the Frederick County’s Gift to the September 11th Fund was created as a means for Frederick County residents to support the relief efforts and families affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • March 2002 – more than 380 scholarship applications were received, a record number.
  • November 2003 – the first Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism were recognized: William O. Lee, Viola M. Noffsinger, and Gail A. Wood.
  • May 2004 – the Community Foundation reaches nearly $28 million in assets.

Highlights from 2005 through 2013

  • September 2005 – online giving through the Community Foundation’s website was launched.
  • March 2006 – in celebration of the Community Foundation’s 20th anniversary, the board of trustees created 20 Field of Interest Funds supporting education, community enhancements, health and human services, and special interests.
  • November 2007 – the Community Foundation’s assets grew to $44 million, and more than $2.7 million was presented in grants and scholarships.
  • March 2008 – the Community Foundation’s office expansion was completed.
  • April 2009 – the Professional Advisor Council was created.
  • September 2010 – The Community Foundation ranked 47th in “Most Gifts Per Capita,” 60th in “Most Activity Volume,” and 84th in “Most Active Grantmakers” in a nationwide report by Community Foundation insights.
  • August 2011 – The Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Report was presented to the public and in September 2011, the first strategic grant applications were received.
  • June 2012 – the Community Foundation presented scholarships exceeding $500,000 for the first time.
  • June 2013 – the Community Foundation receives its largest planned gift to date from Calvin M. Murray, exceeding $20 million.

Highlights from 2014 through Today

  • August 2014 – the first grants are made from The Calvin M. Murray Charitable Fund to Frederick Memorial Hospital and The Howard Chapel Ridgeville United Methodist Church.
  • September 2015 – the next expansion in office space is completed.
  • June 2016 – scholarship distributions exceed $1 million for the 2016-2017 academic year.
  • June 2017 – scholarship distributions exceed $1 million for the second consecutive year.
  • September 2018 – The 2018 Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Report was presented to the public and new strategic initiatives are developed to address Frederick County’s emerging needs.
  • June 2019 – The Forever Frederick County campaign is officially launched to establish a flexible and sizeable endowment fund, enabling the Community Foundation to proactively address the future needs of Frederick County.
  • 2020 – the Community Foundation responded to the COVID-19 epidemic by creating The COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to provide grants to nonprofits in support of emergency relief services.
  • 2021 – the Forever Frederick County campaign exceeded its fundraising goal in record time, raising $21.8 million in three years.
  • August 2022 – The 2022 Updated Frederick County Human Needs Assessment Report was presented to the public showing growing community needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • January 2023 – The Community Foundation refreshed its brand elements including a new logo and color palette and also launched a completely redesigned website.