MCAEL Capacity Building Grants

Applicants for Program Grants must:  

• Offer at least 120 hours of instructional time a year per learner (e.g. 3 hrs/wk. for 40 weeks)
• Have an established infrastructure (staff and standard ESOL program components in place, including assessment measures) 
• Be able to show a solid track record demonstrating the ability to successfully carry out the program
• Have managed enrollment for its classes (registration dates with session start/end dates – not drop-in)

A Program Grant may be used to maintain, expand, and improve the delivery of adult ESOL services to those who live and/or work in Montgomery County.  This includes supplementary services that enable more learners to attend ESOL classes, such as childcare and transportation support. Grant funding can also be used to strengthen the program management and organizational capacity of the organization to deliver English classes.  

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, have a similar designation from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or have a partnership that includes a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Nonprofits must be incorporated under state law. While applicants can have offices outside Montgomery County, beneficiaries of funded services must be either Montgomery County residents or employed in Montgomery County.  An organization may apply for MCAEL funding regardless of whether it has applied for other County-administered grant programs. Applicants who receive funding one year are not guaranteed funding in subsequent years – funding is dependent on many factors including performance in the current and/or previous years. 

Access Grants can support:

• Classes that are drop-in (adult learners may join at any time during a session/semester)
• Programs that offer fewer than 120 hours of instructional time per learner per year

Access Grants are mainly to be used for the direct costs of implementing adult ESOL classes, but also may be used for learner support, such as childcare during instruction and transportation assistance.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, have a similar designation from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or have a partnership that includes a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Nonprofits must be incorporated under state law. While applicants can have offices outside Montgomery County, beneficiaries of funded services must be either Montgomery County residents or employed in Montgomery County.  An organization may apply for MCAEL funding regardless of whether it has applied for other County-administered grant programs. Applicants who receive funding one year are not guaranteed funding in subsequent years – funding is dependent on many factors including performance in the current and/or previous years.

Access Small Grants can support: 

• Classes that are drop-in (adult learners may join at any time during a session/semester)
• Start-up or recently established adult ESOL classes 
• Programs that offer fewer than 120 hours of instructional time per learner per year 

Funding is to be used for the direct costs of adult ESOL classes but may be used for childcare during instruction if the budget allows.  Access Small Grants include a Program Development Assistance consultation at the outset of the grant period if needed and program advice/support throughout the year. 

Nonprofit groups that are incorporated in the state of Maryland; 501c3 tax-exempt status is not required.

FY23 or previous year recipients of grants of $7,500 or less

Applicants for an FY24 Program and/or Access grant are not eligible to apply for an Access Small Grant.