With hundreds of nonprofits based in the Mid-Shore, there are plenty of options from which to choose when mapping out your charitable giving agenda. Although we can’t list them all, here are more than a few nonprofits you should know. In addition to the charities listed herein, there are many additional service organizations—such as American Legion, BPO Elks, Lions Club, Moose Lodge, Optimist Club, and Rotary Club—that support the community with charitable and networking events.
CAROLINE COUNTY
Adkins Arboretum
Ridgely; 410-634-2847; adkinsarboretum.org; Promotes the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay region’s native landscapes.
Benedictine Foundation
Ridgely; 410-634-2112; benschool.org; Assists individuals with disabilities in becoming as independent or semi-independent as possible.
Caroline County Human Services Council
Denton; 410-479-4446; carolinemd.org/; Expands and manages the implementation of a local, interagency, community-based human service delivery system for children and families, and develops new and innovative services.
Rebuilding Together Caroline County
Denton; 410-479-2929; rebuildingtogethercaroline.org; Provides free services to Caroline County homeowners who are elderly or disabled, or households with children that face necessary but unaffordable dwelling repairs.
St. Martin’s Ministries
Ridgely; 410-634-2597; stmartinsministries.org; Helps meet basic human needs of impoverished people while respecting and affirming their dignity, and addressing root problems that perpetuate the cycle of poverty.
DORCHESTER COUNTY
Baywater Animal Rescue
Cambridge; 410-228-3090; baywateranimalrescue.org; Provides and encourages humane treatment of animals.
Delmarva Community Services
Cambridge; 410-221-1900; dcsdct.org; Helps senior citizens and persons with developmental disabilities maintain an independent lifestyle within the community.
Dorchester Center for the Arts
Cambridge; 410-228-7782; dorchesterartscenter.org; Enriches Maryland’s Eastern Shore through quality, engaging programming in the visual, literary, musical, and performing arts.
Dorchester Chamberof Commerce
Cambridge; 410-228-3575; dorchesterchamber.org; To Advance Dorchester County through educating, promoting, and growing a strong business community.
DorchesterGeneral HospitalFoundation, Inc.
Cambridge; umms.org; Works to raise funds to benefit programs and services and University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Dorchester.
DowntownCambridge—A Main Street Organization
Cambridge; 410-477-0843; downtowncambridge.org; Preserves, enhances, and promotes the Main Street District of Cambridge.
Eastern ShoreArea HealthEducation Center
Cambridge; 410-221-2600; esahec.org; Recruits and retains health care professionals and builds healthy communities through educational opportunities and collaborative partnerships.
Friends of Blackwater
Cambridge; friendsofblackwater.org; Assists Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Martin National Wildlife Refuge, and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge in carrying out their educational, interpretive, and public-use missions.
NanticokeWatershed Alliance
Vienna; 410-430-3273; nanticokeriver.org; Seeks to conserve the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Nanticoke River watershed.
Nanticoke HistoricPreservation Alliance—Restore Handsell
Cambridge; restorehandsell.org; Supports the restoration of Handsell, an 18th-century ivy-covered, red brick building located in the middle of what is known as “Indiantown.”
RichardsonMaritime Museum
Cambridge; 410-221-1871; richardsonmuseum.org; Preserves and promotes the boat-building heritage of Dorchester County and the Chesapeake Bay.
KENT COUNTY
Chester River Health Foundation
Chestertown; 410-810-5661; umcrhf.org; Raises funds that steward and enhance healthcare excellence for the people who live in or visit the communities served by UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown and Chester River Home Care.
Echo Hill Outdoor School, Inc.
Worton; 410-348-5880; ehos.org; Works to create a climate of freedom and growth that bolsters a safe, fun, and educational experience in the outdoors.
Garfield Centerfor the Arts at the Prince Theatre
Chestertown; 410-810-2060; garfieldcenter.org; Seeks to foster and promote broad public use of the historic Prince Theatre for educational and cultural purposes in order to provide wide participation and access to the performing and visual arts for the Kent County community.
Kent Family Center
Chestertown; 410-810-3790; kentfamilycenter.org; Provides free, comprehensive services to expecting parents and families of children birth to three in Kent County.
Sultana Education Foundation
Chestertown; 410-778-5954; sultanaprojects.org; Connects people to the Chesapeake Bay’s history, ecology, and culture, and inspires them to join in preserving and restoring America’s largest estuary.
United Way ofKent County
Chestertown; 410-778-3195; unitedwayofkentcounty.org; Raises funds to support outstanding local charities and nonprofit organizations serving those in need in our community.
Upper Shore Aging
Chestertown; 410-778-6000; uppershoreaging.org; Helps older community members maintain a good quality of life in familiar surroundings, as opposed to long-term-care institutionalization.
Women in Need, Inc.
Chestertown; 410-778-5999; win-foundation.org; Meets the immediate needs of local women while working toward helping them achieve permanent self-sufficiency through providing emergency assistance, transitional housing, agency referrals, and mentoring.
QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY
Bosom BuddiesCharities
Stevensville; bosombuddiescharities.com; Promotes breast cancer awareness, research and prevention, and benefits diagnostic mammography, treatment methodology, and healing.
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
Grasonville; 410-827-6694; bayrestoration.org; Promotes stewardship and sustainability through environmental education and habitat restoration.
Chesterwye Center
Grasonville; 410-827-7048; chesterwye.org; Provides a variety of services and support to adults with developmental disabilities, including residential, vocational, recreational, medical, and transportation assistance.
Church Hill Theatre
Church Hill; 410-556-6003; churchhilltheatre.org; Creates and presents quality performances and educational opportunities for members of our diverse community.
CrossroadsCommunity, Inc.
Centreville; 410-758-3050; ccinconline.com; Offers recovery-focused behavioral health care services—day, residential, and community—for children and adults.
Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc.
Queenstown; 410-827-8056; agresearch.umd.edu/agroecol; Funds research, policy initiatives, and outreach programs designed to help Maryland’s farmers and foresters maintain profitable and environmentally sustainable working landscapes.
Haven Ministries
Chester; 410-739-4363; haven-ministries.org; Hope is provided to those in need in Queen Anne’s County by supplying shelter, clothing, food, and support. Ministries include a Homeless Shelter, Our Daily Thread Thrift Shop, Emergency Food Pantries, Resource Center, Street Outreach, and a Warehouse with a job training program.
Compass Regional
Centreville; 443-262-4100; hospiceofqueenannes.org; Provides comprehensive, professional, and compassionate end-of-life care and bereavement support.
LEAD MarylandFoundation
Queenstown; 410-827-8056; extension.umd.edu/lead-maryland; Providing opportunities to expand leadership abilities and resources to people interested in the future of Maryland agriculture.
Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, Inc.
Centreville; qaca.org; A conservation and land use advocacy organization that works to promote good planning policy and good government in Queen Anne’s County.
Queen Anne’s County Arts Council
Centreville; 410-758-2520; queenannescountyarts.com; Works to promote, expand, and sustain the arts in Queen Anne’s County.
Talisman Therapeutic Riding
Grasonville; 443-239-9400; talismantherapeuticriding.org; Serves those who can benefit by the talismanic healing nature of horses and the guidance of professional therapists and instructors in a peaceful farm setting.
TALBOT COUNTY
Academy Art Museum
Easton; 410-822-2787; academyartmuseum.org; Aims to provide the knowledge, practice, and appreciation of the arts, and enhance cultural life on the Eastern Shore.
American Diabetes Association
Tour de Cure, Easton; 410-265-0075 (Baltimore Office); diabetes.org; Leads the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by the disease.
Avalon Foundation, Inc.
Easton; 410-822-0345; theavalonfoundation.com
Provides diversified arts and education programs on the Eastern Shore.
CASA of the Mid Shore
Easton; 410-822-2866; casamidshore.org; Advocates for the best interests of children who are under the protection of the court system because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Channel Marker, Inc.
Easton; 410-822-4619; channelmarker.org; Offers prevention programs and psychiatric rehabilitation services to youth and adults.
Character CountsMid-Shore
Easton; 410-819-0386; charactercountsmidshore.com; Helps foster activities at all levels of the community that will create an environment based on the Six Pillars of Character.
Chesapeake BayMaritime Museum
St. Michaels; 410-745-2916; cbmm.org; Inspires an understanding of, and appreciation for, the rich maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal reaches, together with the artifacts, cultures, and connections between this place and its people.
Chesapeake Music, Inc.
Easton; 410-819-0380; chesapeakemusic.org; Brings world-class chamber music to a growing audience of young and old on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Chesapeake College Foundation
Wye Mills; chesapeake.edu; Helps students become successful individuals through scholarship support, funds for technology, rewarding teaching innovation, and other initiatives.
ChesapeakeVoyagers, Inc.
Easton; 410-822-1601; chesapeakevoyagers.org
Promotes wellness and recovery by empowering individuals with mental health needs to reach their full potential.
Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers
Easton; 410-822-7181; cacckids.org; Uses age-appropriate curriculum to engage and nurture children ages 2 to 4 in preschool and pre-kindergarten, and children in kindergarten to sixth grade in before- and after-school programs.
Dixon House
Easton; 410-822-6661; dixonhouse.org; Provides quality and affordable care to seniors in a comfortable home-like setting.
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Easton; 410-690-4603; eslc.org; Conserves the lands that will best preserve the Eastern Shore’s farms, forests, fisheries, and rich rural heritage for the benefit of future generations.
Environmental Concern, Inc.
St. Michaels; 410-745-9620; wetland.org; Promotes public understanding and stewardship of wetlands through outreach and education; native species horticulture; and restoration, creation, and enhancement initiatives.
Evergreen Cove Holistic Learning Center
Easton; 410-819-3395; evergreencove.org; Offers classes, workshops, and retreats focused on the areas of maximum health, stress reduction, and self-discovery.
For All Seasons, Inc.
Easton; 410-822-1018; forallseasonsinc.org; Recognizes and responds to community needs in regards to mental health and sexual assault.
Freedom Rowers
Easton; freedomrowers.org; Boosts self-esteem and discipline, and opens doors for scholastic, community and personal achievement through the sport of rowing.
Friends of Wye Mill
Wye Mills; 410-827-3850; oldwyemill.org; Owns and operates the Wye Grist Mill, established in 1682.
Habitat forHumanity Choptank
Trappe; 410-476-3204; habitatchoptank.org; Builds simple, decent houses with volunteer labor, donated capital, and income from monthly mortgage payments for residents of the area who would otherwise be unable to purchase a home.
Historical Societyof Talbot County
Easton; 410-822-0773; talbothistory.org; Preserves, communicates, and celebrates the heritage of Talbot County by educating residents and visitors.
Memorial Hospital Foundation
Easton; 410-822-1000; ummhfoundation.org; Supports and encourages quality health care and medical services in the Talbot County community through University of Maryland Memorial Hospital at Easton.
Mental Health Association in Talbot County
Easton; 410-822-0444; mhamdes.org; Promotes mental health, serves the needs of the mentally ill, and develops awareness and improves attitudes toward mental illness.
Mid Shore Community Mediation Center
Easton; 410-820-5553; midshoremediation.org; Builds stronger communities by facilitating fair, free, and prompt resolution of disputes.
Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Easton; 410-820-8175; mscf.org; Connects private resources with public needs to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.
Mid-Shore Councilon Family Violence
Easton; 800-927-4673; mscfv.org; Seeks to break the cycle of domestic violence through intervention and prevention, providing shelter, counseling, services, and advocacy for victims and abusers.
Mid-Shore Mental Health Systems
Easton; 410-770-4801; msmhs.org; Plans, manages, and monitors publicly funded, medically necessary mental health services in the five-county region for consumers of all ages.
Mid-ShorePro Bono, Inc.
Easton; 410-690-8128; midshoreprobono.org; Provides access to free or reduced-fee legal services throughout the Mid-Shore to qualified litigants in civil matters.
NeighborhoodService Center
Easton; 410-822-5015; nsctalbotmd.org; Seeks to improve the quality of life, both socially and economically, for low-income residents of Talbot County.
Oxford Community Center, Inc.
Oxford; 410-226-5904; oxfordcc.org; Provides a welcoming place where area residents and visitors of all ages can participate in programs and activities that enrich community life.
Pickering Creek Audubon Center
Easton; 410-822-4903; pickeringcreek.org; Provides environmental and science education programs to students from eight Maryland counties and the District of Columbia.
Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Inc.
Tilghman; 410-886-9200; phillipswharf.org; Seeks to educate and create an understanding of, and appreciation for, the ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay and the heritage and life of the Chesapeake Bay watermen.
Positive Strides
Easton/Preston; 443-239-4953; positivestridescenter.org; Provides therapy for physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged individuals through therapeutic horseback riding.
Shore Rivers
Easton; 443-385-0511; shorerivers.org; A clean water voice for Maryland’s Eastern Shore and home to the Chester, Choptank, Miles-Wye, and Sassafras Riverkeepers.
St. Michaels Community Center
St. Michaels; 410-745-6073; stmichaelscc.org; Promotes and provides quality activities and services that will contribute to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the community.
Talbot Community Connections
Easton; 410-770-5908; talbotcommunityconnections.org; Raises and distributes funds, services, and supplies to answer unmet needs fundamental to the safety, security, health, and well-being of Talbot County’s children and adults.
Talbot CountyArts Council
Easton; 410-310-9812; talbotarts.org; Provides funding and other assistance for arts programs, arts organization, and arts education in Talbot County.
Talbot Hospice Foundation
Easton; 410-822-6681; talbothospice.org; Offers hope, compassionate support, and services to all members of the community facing end-of-life issues, including patient/family care, community education, and advocacy.
Talbot Humane
Easton; 410-822-0107; talbothumane.org; Rescues animals from neglect, places companion animals into loving homes, reunites lost pets with their owners, and reduces pet overpopulation through aggressive spay and neuter programs.
Talbot Interfaith Shelter
Easton; 410-690-3120; talbotinterfaithshelter.org; Provides safe, temporary shelter to men, women, and children who lack adequate housing, and raises awareness of the issues of homelessness in our community.
Talbot Mentors
Easton; 410-770-5999; talbotmentors.org; Provides mentors to Talbot County children to support them in the challenges and opportunities of adolescence through friendship, guidance, and education.
Talbot Partnership
Easton; 410-819-8067; talbotpartnership.org; Encourages the community to recognize the problems of, and implement solutions related to, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug addictions.
Tilghman Watermen’s Museum
Tilghman; 410-886-1025; tilghmanmuseum.org; Celebrates the culture and heritage of Tilghman Island’s watermen and their families through an ever-growing collection of historical artifacts and boat models.
United Fund of Talbot County
Easton; 410-822-1957; unitedfund.org; Raises funds to meet the under-funded human service needs of the Talbot County community, benefiting member educational, recreational, health, character-building, and human services organizations.
Waterfowl Festival, Inc.
Easton; 410-822-4567; waterfowlfestival.org; Dedicated to creating, restoring and conserving waterfowl habitat throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and nearby coastal bays.
Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore
Easton; 410-770-8347; womenandgirlsfund.org; Targets and funds local programs that address crucial and underserved issues impacting the region’s women and girls.
YMCA of theChesapeake
Easton; 410-822-0566
ymcachesapeake.org; Multiple locations in Easton and throughout the Eastern Shore; youth, adult, and family fitness facilities, programs, camps, childcare, and community events.
