The Claude C. Thornton Foundation August eNews
- CCTF Board
- 4 days ago
- 15 min read
Greetings Friends and Family,
Can you believe that summer is almost over and the new school year is beginning? How time flies. We are saying goodbye to what was a hot and rainy summer to welcome beautiful fall foliage. Not only do we have fall to look forward to, but we also have warming holidays that will bring us back to what matters most: family and community.
We want to highlight that our summer intern closing ceremony will be on August 21 at 12 pm. Our interns have gone above and beyond this year, building and developing tracking systems for our metrics and grant submission workflow, and inputting new IT processes. We are very grateful for them. We invite you to join us on Friday, August 21, to wish them well in their future endeavors. See info below for registration.
We are now three months away from our Annual Greater Baltimore Climate Summit on November 12th. Tickets are officially live, and we would love for you to be part of this impactful experience. For more information on how to attend, support, or get involved, please review the details below. We have so much going on for the end of the summer and early fall below.
As always thank you for always being a part of the CCTF community.
With love and gratitude,
The CCTF Team
Highlights
CCTF Intern Spotlight: Catherine Cheng
Meet Catherine, an IT Intern with the Claude C. Thornton Foundation and a Johns Hopkins student majoring in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Catherine supports the Foundation’s website, technology systems, IT infrastructure, and data organization. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring national parks and bringing her curiosity and problem-solving skills to everything she does.
Catherine will be closing out her internship with us on August 21 at 11:00 AM. We invite you to join us in celebrating her accomplishments and the conclusion of her internship experience! Please visit our events page to RSVP and be a part of the closing ceremony.
The Claude C. Thornton Foundation Continues to Build a Legacy of Educational Excellence
The Claude C. Thornton Foundation remains committed to supporting students as they pursue higher education and work toward their future goals.
To date, the Foundation has contributed over $3,000 toward our partnership with Coppin State University. As part of our ongoing commitment, we have pledged $25,000 and are continuing to push this effort forward as we work to raise the remaining funds over the next five years. Through this partnership, we hope to help create more opportunities for students to access, achieve, and succeed in higher education.
Your donation helps us continue uplifting students, strengthening Baltimore communities, and honoring a powerful legacy of educational excellence.
We still need your support. Scan the QR code to make a donation today and help us continue this important work.
Upcoming Events
Baltimore City Mayor’s Back to School Kick-Off 2026
Baltimore City families are invited to attend the Mayor’s Back to School Kick-Off on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at War Memorial Plaza. This annual event is designed to help students and families prepare for the upcoming school year while connecting with community resources, organizations, and family-friendly activities.
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: War Memorial Plaza, 100 Holliday Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
BCPSfest 2026 – Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools will host BCPSfest 2026, a back-to-school celebration for students and families preparing for the new school year. Families can enjoy hands-on activities, learn about BCPS programs and community resources, and connect with organizations that serve children and families throughout Baltimore County.
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: New Town High School, 4931 New Town Boulevard, Owings Mills, MD 21117
Join Us for the Third Annual Greater Baltimore Climate Summit
We are excited to welcome the community to the third annual Greater Baltimore Climate Summit, a powerful gathering focused on resilience, community, and action in the face of environmental uncertainty.
This year’s summit will feature insightful panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities designed to bring together leaders, organizations, advocates, and community members who are committed to strengthening environmental infrastructure and advancing climate solutions across Baltimore City and surrounding counties.
The Greater Baltimore Climate Summit is hosted by a committee of professionals from The Butterfly Effect, Morgan State University, Baltimore Green Space, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative, and other local organizations.
Inspired by innovative climate programming and aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, the summit aims to foster collaboration between government, academia, the private sector, and civil society.
Together, we can raise awareness, build stronger partnerships, and take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable and resilient future for Greater Baltimore.
Greater Baltimore Climate Summit Needs You!
As we prepare for GBCS 2026, we are inviting fellows, volunteers, and poster presenters to help bring this important work to life. This summit is rooted in collaboration, community, and action, and we are looking for passionate individuals who want to support environmental awareness, resilience, and meaningful change across Baltimore City and surrounding counties.
Whether you are interested in helping behind the scenes, welcoming guests, supporting event activities, or sharing your research or community-based project, there is a place for you to get involved. Your participation helps create a powerful and welcoming space for learning, networking, and building solutions together. Click here to apply as a fellow, submit a poster, or volunteer.
Summer Internship Closing Ceromony
Join the Claude C. Thornton Foundation as we celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2026 Summer Interns! Over 14 weeks, this dynamic group of future leaders will have supported our mission through dedication, creativity, and excellence.
This year's cohort has left a lasting mark on our programs and initiatives. Meet our standout interns:
Yvette Yan | Data Analyst & Consulting Management
Candy Bian | Operations, Consulting, & Financial Management
Shreyans Juniwal | Consulting Management
Catherine Cheng | Data Analyst & IT Infrastructure Management
Abigail Rivera-Gu | Marketing & Consulting Management
Tommy Hwang | Project & Consulting Management
We’ll reflect on their contributions, share highlights from the summer, and wish them well as they continue to grow as changemakers.
Don’t miss this inspiring send-off!
Building Greater Baltimore Momentum Series
Join us for the August edition of GBCI's webinars, we will discuss how Maryland has been calculating the Genuine Progress Indicator since 2011, when it became one of the first states to do so.
We'll hear from Dr. Elliott T. Campbell, Director of the Office of Science and Research within the Watershed and Climate Services at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Elliott Campbell holds expertise in systems ecology and the interactions between people and the natural environment. His work focuses on climate mitigation, quantification, and planning, as well as ecosystem service quantification and tools to integrate this information into decision-making.
Explore More Upcoming Events
Want to see what else we have coming up? The Claude C. Thornton Foundation is partnering with organizations throughout the community on additional events and opportunities. Visit our website to learn more about upcoming events, partnership activities, and ways to get involved.
Community Resources
Blossoms Blooming Mentorship Program
This video is just a glimpse into our annual Blossoms Brunch award ceremony, where we collectively honor community mentors who have poured into our professional, personal, and emotional growth.
The Blossoms Blooming Mentorship Program empowers young women to reach their full potential through academic and professional mentorship and etiquette training. Last year we launched our group mentoring experience, grounded in discussion topics such as mindset, relationships and partnerships, career mobility, professional opportunities, femininity and more.
Stay tuned for updates on future events. If you would like to learn more about this mentorship program, please click this link to inquire. To keep up to date with Blossoms Blooming follow us on Instagram and/or contact us via email at cari@thecctfoundation.org for any questions or concerns.
Parents, We’re Here for YOU!
From navigating the school system to supporting your child’s mental health, behavior, and overall success, parenting can come with many challenges, but you do not have to do it alone.
The Claude C. Thornton Foundation’s Parent Advocacy & Coaching Program, led by Autrese Thornton, a multi-decade special educator, school administrator, and nonprofit manager, is here to listen, guide, and empower families with the tools, resources, and confidence needed to advocate for their children.
Did you know we offer parent coaching? Parents play an important role in shaping their child’s success and helping influence school leadership decisions. Our coaching supports families in staying informed, clearly identifying what matters most for their child, and building strong partnerships with schools.
We help parents understand what to look for in strong school leaders, including a commitment to student achievement, transparent communication, experience working with diverse communities, collaboration with families and staff, accountability, and respect for community voice.
Parents can get involved by staying informed about school leadership updates, attending community forums, completing surveys, sharing priorities with school board members or advisory groups, and building relationships at the school level with principals, assistant principals, teachers, and school improvement teams. We want to hear from you: What areas of education, mental health, or behavior do you need the most support with?
When families and schools work together, decisions better reflect the real needs of students and communities. You’ve got this! If you would like to schedule a free coaching session with us, please use this link to schedule a session.
Email us at athornton@thecctfoundation.org
Employment Opportunities
As part of our commitment to economically supporting our community, we are excited to share these job opportunities with our network. We hope these workforce resources help you strengthen your friends, families and neighborhoods.
Baltimore City Community College – Assistant VP, Academic Engagement & Partnerships
Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) is seeking an Assistant Vice President, Academic Engagement & Partnerships to provide leadership for academic engagement, student success initiatives, community partnerships, transfer opportunities, and academic support programs. Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, this leadership position manages initiatives related to co-curricular student support, student retention and completion, articulation agreements with four-year institutions, dual-enrollment programs, and partnerships with organizations such as Baltimore City Public Schools and state education agencies.
The Assistant Vice President will also oversee the Center for Academic Achievement, support tutoring and developmental education initiatives, evaluate student-success programs, oversee reporting associated with extramural funding such as the Perkins V Grant, and represent the Vice President of Academic Affairs at meetings and committees.
Location: Baltimore City Community College – Main Campus, Liberty Heights, Baltimore, MD
Department: Academic Affairs
Job Type: Full-Time Staff'
Salary: $115,000–$125,000 annually
Job Number: 202500083
FLSA Status: Exempt
Opening Date: June 10, 2026
Required Qualifications:
Master’s degree
Five years of experience with student-success initiatives and partnership building in higher education
Experience managing teams and multi-component projects
Experience building community partnerships
Experience coordinating academic support services
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
APPLY DIRECTLY HERE
Explore Careers in Higher Education with Mid-Atlantic HERC
Mid-Atlantic HERC connects job seekers to a wide range of higher education opportunities across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. From faculty and leadership roles to administrative and support positions, their job board offers options for all experience levels.
They also provide helpful tools like resume support, webinars, and job alerts to guide your search. If you are looking to grow your career in higher education, this is a great place to start.
Maryland Department of the Environment – Environmental Compliance Specialist I
The Maryland Department of the Environment is currently hiring an Environmental Compliance Specialist I with the Water and Science Administration. This is an entry-level environmental position where the employee learns to conduct inspections, investigate environmental compliance issues, and help enforce state and federal environmental laws. Work involves water pollution, construction sites, stormwater, wetlands, erosion and sediment control, and environmental permits. A bachelor's degree in environmental science, geology, environmental engineering, biology, chemistry, forestry, or a related field can substitute for the required experience. The position was posted August 12, 2026 and applications are being accepted through August 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Location: Montgomery/Frederick County area, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: $59,305–$93,533 annually
Recruitment #: 26-001878-0006
Closing Date: August 26, 2026
Maryland Department of the Environment – Wetland Reviewer / Natural Resources Planner II
The Maryland Department of the Environment is hiring a Wetland Reviewer/Natural Resources Planner II with the Water and Science Administration. The position reviews projects that may impact tidal wetlands, waterways, water quality, and environmentally sensitive areas. Responsibilities include environmental permit review, wetland protection, water-quality certifications, policy implementation, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and communicating with government agencies and the public. Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree in environmental science or natural resources and one year of related experience; qualifying master's degrees can substitute for the experience requirement. The position opened August 12, 2026.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: $63,154–$81,705 annually, with growth potential to $99,603
Recruitment #: 26-002501-0004
Closing Date: August 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Maryland Military Department – Energy Performance Manager
The Maryland Military Department is currently hiring an Energy Performance Manager in Baltimore. This position serves as the agency's Energy Coordinator and works on energy conservation, utility management, energy-reduction projects, building audits, energy-use analysis, energy plans, grants, utility rebates, and energy-efficiency initiatives. The employee will analyze electricity, natural gas, water, propane, and heating-oil usage and help the agency meet Maryland and federal energy-performance goals.
Location: Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Schedule: Tuesday–Friday, 6:30 AM–5:00 PM
Salary: $71,805–$113,243 annually
Recruitment #: 26-002587-0036
Closing Date: August 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Maryland Department of the Environment – Natural Resources Planner II / Enforcement Planner
The Maryland Department of the Environment is hiring a Natural Resources Planner II to work as an Enforcement Planner. This position manages environmental enforcement cases involving water pollution, NPDES permits, wastewater facilities, wetlands, stormwater, erosion and sediment control, sewer overflows, industrial facilities, and other environmental programs. The position requires a bachelor's degree in environmental science or natural resources planning and approximately one year of related experience, although qualifying graduate education may substitute for the experience requirement. The position also offers a hybrid schedule with three days in the Baltimore office and two telework days per week.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Work Modality: Hybrid
Salary: $63,154–$99,603 annually
Recruitment #: 26-002501-0002
Closing Date: August 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Maryland Transportation Authority – Environmental Scientist / Environmental Analyst IV
The Maryland Transportation Authority is currently hiring an Environmental Scientist within its Office of Environmental, Safety & Risk Management. The position works with environmental compliance programs involving air and water quality, hazardous materials, waste management, recycling, spill prevention, fuel-storage tanks, asbestos, lead-based paint, environmental audits, and environmental management systems. The position may also offer a hybrid telework schedule. This is a more experienced-level position requiring substantial environmental analysis or environmental-management experience.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Work Modality: Hybrid may be available
Salary: $76,608–$120,814 annually
Job #: 8436-MDTA-7/26
AECOM – Entry-Level Geotechnical Engineer
AECOM is currently seeking an Entry-Level Geotechnical Engineer in Germantown, Maryland. This is a strong early-career opportunity for someone with an engineering or environmental-related background. The employee will assist with environmental and geotechnical field investigations, soil and groundwater-related work, laboratory testing, subsurface evaluations, technical reports, foundation and slope analyses, and infrastructure projects. The position is expected to begin in Summer/Fall 2026 and is specifically listed as an entry-level position.
Location: Germantown, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Work Modality: Hybrid
Experience Level: Entry Level
Salary: $68,000–$85,000 annually
Looking for more opportunities?
Explore more openings across the state at your convenience. Visit Maryland Jobs Quick Search to see which industries are currently hiring and discover positions that match your skills and interests.
Grant & Funding Opportunities
As part of our commitment to economically supporting our community, we are excited to share these grant opportunities with our network. We hope these resources help you access funding, grow your projects, and strengthen the impact of your work.
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Grants Resource Center (GRC) is a funding resource designed to help colleges and universities identify and pursue federal and private grant opportunities. GRC provides access to funding alerts, grant-search tools, proposal-development resources, successful proposal examples, funding webinars, and guidance for higher-education professionals seeking external funding.
One of its major resources is GrantSearch, which allows members to search through more than 1,500 federal and private higher-education funding opportunities using customizable criteria. GRC also provides newsletters highlighting upcoming funding deadlines, federal funding developments, and grant-seeking best practices.
This is a particularly useful resource for colleges, universities, faculty, researchers, academic departments, workforce-development programs, student-success initiatives, and institutional grant offices looking for new funding opportunities.
Explore AASCU Grant Opportunities Here
The Foundation Grants Maryland website provides a centralized hub of diverse grant opportunities available to individuals, nonprofits, and community organizations across the state.
The Community Foundation offers a variety of grant programs designed to achieve specific goals within the community. Some opportunities reflect the charitable vision of local donors and Community Partners, while others are intended to spark new ideas and engage new audiences to drive community change. Click the link below to learn more about each grant’s timeline, deadlines, eligibility, and examples of previously funded projects.
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
The Courage Project celebrates everyday courage in America by honoring individuals and organizations who uplift our communities and strengthen our shared future. This initiative recognizes those whose actions reflect the foundational values of our nation and inspire others to stand for what matters.
The Civic Participation Program strengthens democracy by supporting year-round efforts that encourage active engagement in civic life. This initiative focuses on on-the-ground organizing that empowers communities to participate fully beyond election-season activities. Please note that the program does not fund academic research, technology development, book projects, individual fellowships, or conferences unrelated to direct civic organizing.
The Outreach and Restoration Grant Program is now open. Please note that the Trust is in the process of transitioning to a new grants management system to improve the application and grant administration experience for applicants and grantee partners. As part of this transition, the online application system for this funding opportunity will open later than the release of this RFP.
We anticipate that the new system will be live in June and expect the application to be available for at least one month prior to the application deadline of September 3rd, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is committed to assisting Maryland's local governments and nonprofit organizations build capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals.
Operating Assistance Grants include funding for Technical Assistance and Main Street Improvement Program Grant.
The Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) program assists local governments and nonprofits with operating costs associated with local housing and community revitalization efforts.
The General Assembly must approve these amounts during the 2027 legislative session before they are final.
Program Description: The Maryland Energy Administration’s (MEA’s) Commercial & Industrial Grant Program provides incentives to owners of Maryland-based commercial, industrial, data center, and non-profit facilities to invest in improvements that result in energy performance that exceeds current codes or standards. Both new construction and existing facilities may be considered for grants.
New For FY26: MEA is offering grants covering 100% of total project costs for qualified energy improvements made to non-governmental facilities with over 50% of their clientele defined as coming from Low Income Populations. In all other cases, FY26 C&I grants provide less than 100% coverage of proposal costs. See below for details.
Type of Grant Program: The FY26 C&I Program offers grants on a competitive basis. Each proposal received prior to the application deadline will be scored by MEA for its quality of documentation and for the magnitude of environmental benefits conveyed by its proposed scope of work. Awards will be issued in rank order as determined by scoring results until the program budget is deleted.
The Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) is proud to administer the Baltimore City Community Grants Program in partnership with The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. These grants are designed to support nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income Baltimore City residents, with a focus on creating paths to stability and opportunity.
Eligibility: To be considered for a Baltimore City Community Grant, applicants must:
Be a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or have a fiscal sponsor that has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Serve residents of Baltimore City
Have a total organizational budget of $500,000 or less
Deliver programming that aligns with at least one of the following focus areas:
Housing: Improving stability by helping people access safe and affordable housing.
Health: Promoting health and well-being
Jobs: Creating paths to jobs and careers
Education: Helping youth succeed in school and beyond
Aging: Ensuring individuals are able to age with respect, dignity, and support.
Organizations that have an open grant with the Weinberg Foundation are not eligible to apply.
Grant applications are open from June 1 – September 30, 2026 at 5:00PM EST.
BMORE Beautiful grant programs are designed to support community-based organizations achieve their beautification goals. Applications for our grant programs are accepted on a seasonal basis. Generally, interested applicants must be a registered 501c3 in good standing with the State of Maryland OR have a fiscal sponsor that meet the aforementioned qualifications. Applicants must operate in Baltimore City.
The Engineering Environmental Resiliency (EER) program supports fundamental research to advance resource and energy conservation and recovery, and to safeguard the natural environment and human health. Better use of domestic resources will help make U.S. manufacturing and energy systems more resilient and secure.
Volunteer & Community Support Opportunities
Volunteer with the Maryland Food Bank
Volunteering with the Maryland Food Bank is a meaningful way to show up for your neighbors and make a real difference. By giving a few hours of your time whether sorting food, packing boxes, or helping with distribution you help ensure families have access to the nourishment they need. Every act of service matters, and your kindness helps strengthen our community, one meal at a time.
Volunteer Opportunities with First Fruits Farm
We are excited to highlight a meaningful volunteer opportunity with First Fruits Farm, a nonprofit Christian ministry committed to providing fresh, healthy food to children and adults facing hunger.
Through volunteer service and strong community partnerships, the Farm grows and donates fresh produce to help families gain access to nutritious food.
Since beginning in 1998, First Fruits Farm has continued to grow through faith, service, and God’s provision. Today, 100% of everything grown on the Farm is donated in Jesus’ name to support those in need. This is a beautiful opportunity to give back, serve the community, and be part of a mission that is making a real impact.
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