With 44 years of experience, the Fuel Fund of Maryland has been a lifeline for households facing utility hardships. We understand that our role with utility assistance can sometimes be confusing. To help you better understand what we do and how we do it, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions.
Fuel Fund of Maryland is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We’ll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.
Please make your check payable to: Fuel Fund of Maryland and mail to:
Fuel Fund of Maryland
PO Box 62266
Baltimore, MD 21264-2266
Attn: Ms. Denise Griffin
Contact Ms. Denise Griffin, Development Director
Phone: 410-844-3833
Email: dgriffin@fuelfundmaryland.org
No. FFM is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is not part of any utility company. BGE provides non-cash bill credits to the Fuel Fund of Maryland. Any financial assistance distributed to a qualifying applicant is through the generosity of our donors, businesses, foundations, and community partners.
Utility contributions and matching funds to the Fuel Fund of Maryland come from shareholder (BGE) funds, not ratepayers, and are not added to the cost of service.
The Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides funds to Maryland low-income households, but it is not an emergency/crisis program. Maryland’s Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) also helps. FFM is intended to supplement, not replace, government assistance. All FFM applicants must apply for these two programs as a condition of receiving FFM assistance.
Fuel Fund does not require a qualifying applicant to reimburse any financial grant funds they receive from our organization. At times, people who have been helped through a crisis become Fuel Fund donors in the future.
Our role in the utility assistance process is to determine the potential FFM financial grant for which the applicant may be eligible; not to determine BGE balance(s), OHEP eligibility, and/or OHEP financial assistance. An applicant who receives a financial grant from FFM will be asked to pay a portion of their outstanding utility balance since they are the “owner” of their utility bill.
Often, households working at minimum wage jobs still fall below federal poverty level guidelines. Many of our applicants live at the level of poverty. Any crisis, such as an illness or loss of a job, can cause an inability to pay their home utility bill. Additionally, post COVID-19, more households need utility assistance for the first time ever.
Shutoffs in the winter are typically determined based on the temperature outside. When the temperature is below 32 degrees, utility companies cannot shut off a customer. This may only delay terminations for those unable to afford service. An inability to pay winter bills may prompt households to forgo needed medication or food to keep up payments. A household may cut back on nutrition to meet their other bills or use dangerous alternatives.
We are unable to assist you with your request for an oil donation since we are not equipped to receive, store, and deliver such a product. Please reach out to your current oil company for recommendations or call United Way Referral: 410-685-0525 to see if they have any resources.
Common Misconceptions
A utility assistance grant is for BGE customers only. However, the Fuel Fund may be able to provide bulk fuel assistance (oil, propane, kerosene, or pellets) to households outside the BGE service territory.
No, the Fuel Fund provides one-time financial grants to help households with no power or in receipt of impending utility turn off. We do not offer ongoing monthly assistance.
Yes, but an applicant must have no power in their home or be facing an impending utility turnoff. We often direct applicants to government assistance programs like LIHEAP (Federal) and OHEP (State). Our goal is to supplement these programs, not replace them. Most importantly, an applicant will be responsible for paying a portion of their utility balance to ensure personal responsibility.
No, the Fuel Fund of Maryland is an independent non-profit organization.
No, the Fuel Fund helps year-round.