(January 5, 2023) The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center (MWHC) is among 50 Maryland nonprofit organizations who received grant funding for general operations from Maryland Humanities’ SHINE (Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity) program.
“Operational funds are critical to nonprofits, especially in times of nationwide economic challenges,” says Diana M. Bailey, MWHC Executive Director. “When we are confident that we are prepared to meet our infrastructure, rent/utilities, and other critical operational expenses, we can focus more on our core mission of recognizing the achievements of Maryland’s women.”
Maryland Humanities allows grantees flexibility to determine where funds are most needed, adds Ms. Bailey.
Lindsey Baker, Executive Director at Maryland Humanities, says that this policy is intentional: “With the SHINE Grants, we aim to lower barriers and provide funding in a more equitable way to organizations statewide,” according to Ms. Baker. “Reporting from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations found that general operating support enables nonprofits to build a strong and sustainable infrastructure to provide programs and services that will have the greatest impact. We’re looking forward to helping push the field forward in this direction.”
The MWHC is planning programs for 2023 that include Memories of the Woman’s Industrial Exchange; Trailblazers, Innovators and Unsung Heroines: Maryland Women Making History Today; ongoing exhibitions of current Maryland women artists; and discussion panels in collaboration with Maryland Public Television’s upcoming special programming about Harriet Tubman and Anna and Frederick Douglass.
View MWHC 2022 achievements here.
“Maryland Humanities has been a valued partner for the MWHC and has supported several past programs that celebrated Maryland’s women. This grant is invaluable to our ability to “add HERStory to history to tell OURstory.”
SHINE grants are funded by the State of Maryland via the Maryland Historical Trust. See the full list of grantees and learn more about SHINE Grants here.
The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center recognizes, documents and celebrates the contributions of Maryland women, past and present, to our social, political and economic order. We do this with a combination of exhibits, events and online features that pay tribute to Maryland women’s contributions in education, politics, science, community activism, the arts, the military, business and other areas. The exhibit and event space, located in the Marian House/Woman’s Industrial Exchange at 333 N. Charles Street, is open by appointment and for special events.
