Community Service Partnership (CSP) Program
Howard County Government is committed to investing in the provision of critical human services by nonprofit organizations in Howard County through the Community Service Partnership (CSP) Grant Program.
Our Purpose: To partner with nonprofits to meet basic needs and foster safety, security, and well-being for Howard County residents.
Our Vision: Communities that are connected, resilient, and thriving.
Our Goals: (1) All people in Howard County have access to services for basic needs and (2) individuals and families are safe, secure and economically stable.
Our Guiding Principles:
- We thoughtfully and equitably invest county resources to strengthen our public safety net.
- We support proven, sustainable, innovative, and community-based solutions.
- We collaborate with our nonprofit partners and other funders to address critical human needs and achieve meaningful, measurable impact.
- We strive for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in everything we do.
Our Funding Focus: (click here to learn more about CSP’s Funding Areas of Focus)
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Level I: Basic Human Needs — Addressing the basic needs of individuals and families to eliminate barriers to longer-term well-being, safety, and security.
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Level II: Safety & Security — Building the foundation for all residents to access opportunities by investing in resources individuals need to grow and thrive.
Our Grant Types:
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Core Support Grants – This grant provides funding for both organization operations and direct service delivery. (combines the former Core Support Grant and Safety, Security, & Well-being Grant).
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Human Service Transportation (HST) Program Grants – This grant provides funding to support transportation services for adults with disabilities.
- One-Time Project Grants – This grant provides funding to support specific, time-sensitive projects that address emerging needs or opportunities affecting critical human services.
*Funding for CSP grants is made available through the Howard County budgeting process and is dependent upon the resources available each budget year. Please be aware that CSP grant amounts are subject to change from one grant year to another.
All FY27 CSP Grant Applications (Overhead, Direct Services, and One-Time Projects) closed on January 20, 2026.
We are currently going through the review process and applicants will be notified of the results in late spring 2026. No further applications will be accepted at this time.
Click here to access the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Applications for FY26 HST Grants (Human Services Transportation) closed on July 30th, 2025. The application process for FY27 will begin in June/July 2026.
Grant Application Portal (https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/howardcountymd-ocp/participant)
FY26 CSP Human Service Grant Recipients:
FY25 CSP Human Service Grant Recipients:
FY24 CSP Human Service Grant Recipients:
FY23 CSP Human Service Grant Recipients:
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.
- Budget Modifications - Grantees must now submit all CSP Grant Budget modification requests through the Budget Modification Request feature in Neighborly, located under the Reporting section of the portal. Per the Grant Agreement, budget changes that, in total, reallocate more than 25% of the Grant award or more than $25,000 (whichever is reached first) require prior written approval from the Department. No changes are considered final until the Department provides written approval. Budget changes below this threshold may be made without prior approval but must be reported in the Grantee’s next regularly scheduled report. At no point may any budget modification include costs that are ineligible under the Grant. The Department reserves the right to disallow any ineligible costs and require correction by the Grantee.
- CSP Draw Requests:
- ENO & HST Grants: We are excited to announce that draw requests for ENO & HST Grants will now be submitted via Neighborly. Please use this guide (Draw Request Submission Guide) to help you navigate through the process. Should you experience any issues and additional support, please reach out to CSP Staff.
- Initiative Grants (if required by your grant agreement): Please use the CSP Draw Request Form – Please use this form to request a grant payment. 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.
All Core Support, SSW, ENO, and HST Grant reporting will be completed entirely through the Neighborly platform. Grantees should refer to their Grant Agreements for specific reporting requirements and due dates. If you experience any issues or need additional support, please contact CSP staff for assistance.
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 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.