The Qlarant Foundation is announcing a new partnership with Catchafire that will extend access to transformative capacity-building resources for selected nonprofit organizations.  Through Qlarant Foundation, invited organizations will receive one year of complimentary access to Catchafire’s acclaimed platform designed to strengthen operational effectiveness and long-term sustainability for nonprofits.

This initiative expands Qlarant Foundation’s commitment to supporting organizations that serve vulnerable and underserved populations. By connecting nonprofit leaders with Catchafire’s online network of over 100,000 experienced professionals, the Foundation is offering access to capacity building support in areas such as marketing, fundraising, technology, HR, finance and more. Since 2009, Catchafire’s unique model has contributed over one million hours of pro bono work to nonprofit organizations, valued at over $200 million.  Qlarant Foundation is proud to offer the selected nonprofits an entire year of access to resources they might otherwise never have.

“We are absolutely thrilled to launch this partnership with Catchafire,” said Amanda Neal, Executive Director of the Qlarant Foundation. “So many nonprofit organizations are doing incredible work in their communities but lack the infrastructure or resources to fully thrive. By teaming with Catchafire, we are investing in the long-term impact and resilience of these terrific organizations.”

This new partnership marks a major milestone in the Qlarant Foundation’s strategy to go beyond traditional grantmaking and invest in the long-term success and sustainability of community-based organizations.

About Qlarant

Qlarant is a not-for-profit, nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste, and abuse, improving program quality, and optimizing performance. The company uses subject matter experts and innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. Qlarant provides customized solutions for state, federal and commercial industries across the nation.

The Qlarant Foundation— the mission arm of the organization—has provided over $7 million in grants to charities around the country. Qlarant has a 50-year record of accomplishment improving the performance of some of the Nation’s most important programs. Headquartered in Easton, MD, Qlarant has offices throughout the country and employs over 600 people. Qlarant is a five-time winner of the Best Places to Work award. For more information, visit www.qlarant.com or contact [email protected]

About Catchafire

Catchafire, a certified B Corporation, is the leader in volunteering and social impact software, sitting at the intersection of employee experience, grantmaking, and corporate philanthropy. Catchafire partners with hundreds of foundations and companies facilitating connections between 13,000 nonprofits and over 300,000 volunteers. After more than a decade of expertise, Catchafire has created over $200 million dollars in value, with over 1 million volunteer hours donated in service of supporting communities.

Qlarant Foundation, the mission arm of Qlarant, proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 grant awards program. This year, a total of $450,000 will be distributed among 16 nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting health and human service programs.   In a significant expansion of its geographic reach, Qlarant Foundation awarded grants in 3 new states – Florida, Georgia, and Texas – in addition to Maryland and the District of Columbia.

This year’s cycle attracted a record number of applicants, with 160 highly qualified organizations submitting proposals.  After a thorough review process, 16 outstanding organizations were selected to receive grants ranging from $4,000 to $50,000 in support of their impactful work.

“We are thrilled to expand our grantmaking into new states this year,” said Amanda Neal, Executive Director of the Qlarant Foundation.  “Every year the Foundation is honored to support nonprofit organizations dedicated to addressing the needs of underserved populations in their communities.”

This year’s grants will enable nonprofits to launch or grow critical programs that provide direct care, improve outcomes, and strengthen community well-being.

“Each of these organizations reflects the mission of the Qlarant Foundation: to improve the health of individuals and communities,” said Qlarant Foundation Board Chair Lamont Thompson, PT. “We are especially proud to empower new grantees in Texas, Florida, and Georgia while we continue our strong support in Maryland and our nation’s capital.”

Qlarant Foundation will formally recognize the 2025 grantees during its annual awards ceremony later this year. Those nonprofits include: BREM Foundation, Calvary Women’s Services, Chesapeake College Foundation, Child Resource Connect, Community Free Clinic, Georgia Lions Lighthouse, Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett, Key Point Health, Light of the World Clinic, Maryland Foundation of Dentistry, Mission of Mercy, NAMI Collier County, Partners in Care Maryland, Pathway Homes, Shepherd’s Hope, and Talbot County Empty Bowls.

About Qlarant

Qlarant is a not-for-profit, nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste, and abuse, improving program quality, and optimizing performance. The company uses subject matter experts and innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. Qlarant provides customized solutions for state, federal and commercial industries across the nation. Qlarant has a 50-year record of accomplishment improving the performance of some of the Nation’s most important programs. Headquartered in Easton, MD, Qlarant has offices throughout the country and employs over 600 people. Qlarant is a five-time winner of the Best Places to Work award.

The Qlarant Foundation— the mission arm of the organization—has provided over $7 million in grants to charities around the country.

For more information, visit www.qlarant.com or contact [email protected]

Editor’s Note: For many on the Mid-Shore, particularly in Talbot Couty, Chuck Mangold is the go-to guy to turn to when real estate comes up. For over two decades. Chuck at Benson and Mangold, the multi-generational real estate giant on the Shore, has seen the local market in good and bad times, enjoying the remarkable highs and surviving the low moments. So, when the Spy was thinking of an ongoing series devoted to one of the region’s most important economic sectors, Mr. Mangold was our first choice. And we are particularly grateful Chuck has agreed to participate.

In our quarterly with check-in with Chuck last week, we were surprised (and delighted) to hear his upbeat summary of the real etate market, both commerical and residentail, in the Mid-Shore region. Even more interesting was Chuck’s overall forecast for 2025 despite the voloilitty found in other parts of the country.

This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For more information about Chuck Mangold please go to his website here. 

Edward H. Kaplan, since 2007 the chair of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, will retire from that post effective June 30, 2025.  Governor Wes Moore has appointed Richard J. Bodorff, current vice chair of the commission, to succeed Mr. Kaplan as chair.  The commission is the governance board for Maryland Public Television.

Richard Bodorff

Kaplan, a Potomac, Maryland, resident, was first named to the commission in 1996.  The real estate developer and entrepreneur steered the commission through some of MPT’s most tumultuous times including the 2009 change from analog to digital broadcasting; the 2017 introduction of four distinct channels emanating from the network’s Owings Mills headquarters; the 2016 launch of MPT Passport video streaming; and the periodic challenges to federal funding for public television.

Together with his wife, Irene, Edward Kaplan became the single-largest individual donor to MPT.  The 8,500-square-foot Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio was named for the couple in 2019.

MPT’s next commission chair, Richard Bodorff – the ninth in commission history – was appointed to the commission in 2020.  A year earlier, he was elected as the chair of the MPT Foundation, Inc., the 501 (c)(3) fundraising arm of MPT.  A communications law practitioner in Washington, D.C., he has been associated with the law firm Wiley Rein, LLP, for more than 35 years, where he has served as counsel to broadcasters on matters pertaining to the Federal Communications Commission.

The Easton, Maryland, resident is a current or former board member for a number of national and local nonprofit and industry organizations, ranging from the New York City-based Broadcasters Foundation of America to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the advocacy organization America’s Public Television Stations, based in Washington, D.C.  He is a graduate of Denison University and the Vanderbilt University School of Law.  Richard and his wife, Ellen, are also major donors to Maryland Public Television.

Commenting on the retirement of Chair Kaplan, Bodorff, chair-elect, said, “Eddie Kaplan’s 18-year tenure at the head of our commission is the longest and most distinguished service by any chair since this governing body was established in 1966.  His service spanned a remarkable period of growth for MPT, and his calm hand at the helm certainly contributed to the success of the network over nearly two decades.”

The commission chair change coincides with the June 30, 2025, retirement of Maryland Public Television President and CEO Larry D. Unger.  He will be succeeded by Steven J. Schupak, MPT’s current executive vice president and station manager, who was selected after a national search earlier this year.

Addressing the change in Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission leadership, Unger noted, “Maryland Public Television is fortunate indeed to have had the management expertise and insights of Eddie Kaplan during his remarkable 29 years of commission service, and I’m delighted that Dick Bodorff will take over the reins to keep our mission in the forefront and our service ethic strong.  I am deeply grateful for the legacy of Eddie and the vision of Dick.  The best years of MPT are, as they say, yet to come!”