Help Us Grow: Donate to the CCM

Now all Maryland Taxpayers-- Individuals and businesses-- can take advantage of the Community Investment Tax Credit.

We are thrilled to announce that CCM has been approved for the Community Investment Tax Credit program of Maryland through December 2012. Anyone filing taxes in the state - individuals and companies - can earn a tax credit of 50% for a donation of $500 or more to CCM. That’s IN ADDITION to the regular deduction off of your state and federal returns. You can multiply a donation to CCM at a ratio of 27 cents to a dollar! For example, a $1,000 donation is actually only a $230 outlay from you and $730 less in tax money owed. These funds are needed to move ahead with the expansion of CCM’s facility for cooking and crafts classes, video and live performances, and close-to-nature viewing areas. Please consider a donation for the benefit of all our children!

It works like this: write a check or donate needed materials (with original invoice) valued at $500 or more, we give you a simple two-page form, and voila half the amount of your donation is deducted from your tax return. That’s in addition to the regular donation allowed for donating to a charitable organization. If you don’t need the deduction in 2011, you have up to five years to claim it.

At this time, your financial contributions will help our expansion plans to move along. Contributions of time, materials, and money are currently going into the creation of an additional classroom space at CCM. The major contribution is $115,000 from a bond bill from the state of Maryland. In July 2009, the City of Annapolis donated $35,000. A local design and construction company, River Crest Design Build is contributing its expertise with project management and renovation labor.

We are looking forward to some wonderful new programs in the additional classroom space which will have: cooking appliances, a tool cabinet, sewing machines, and a video screen. Can you see it? Like any beautiful garden, lots of work must be done before the blooming. What will you put into the making of a vibrant space for the cultivation of our children’s interests and skills? If you would like to make a donation to the Chesapeake Children's Museum, please contact us at 410-990-1993.