BCF’s commitment to young people through the Youth Path of Invest in Baltimore extends from early childhood development—making sure that children enter school ready to learn—to creating opportunities for children and youth to cultivate civic responsibility and engagement in their communities.

We invest both in direct service and in training and professional development for adults entrusted with caring for and leading children and young people.

We try to reach children in a variety of ways by awarding grants for early learning both to schools—like Baltimore’s Montessori Public Charter School and the Infant and Toddlers program of the Baltimore City Schools—and to organizations rooted in communities, like Sandi’s Learning Center, the lone certified daycare provider in its West Baltimore neighborhood, and Episcopal Community Services’ Ark Preschool, which serves homeless children.

See Our Recent GrantsBCF’s commitment to high quality out-of-school programs is demonstrated not only by our repeated support for organizations like Baltimore Urban Debate League and the Stadium School Youth Dreamers, but in other ways as well. BCF is involved with helping to try out a tool for assessing the quality of after-school programs, developed at a Michigan State think-tank. If adopted, the tool will bring additional rigor to Baltimore’s already highly rated after-school scene.

Providing children and young people with the support and services they need to thrive, from healthy development during infancy through their successful transition into adulthood, is the mission of the Youth Path.

Please note: We are refining our priorities for strategic grantmaking. During this transition, we will not be accepting proposals for grants from the paths of Invest in Baltimore. Other grant programs remain open to proposals at this time. Find out more.

Waverly youth in the arT.linK program

Youngsters in Patterson Park get a workout in the neighborhood’s youth soccer league.
One Step Up scholars Sherrone Ricks and Jeane’ Baker celebrate with donors Jonnie-Kay McLean and Norman Morrison.
A Baltimore City student soaks up the sun at North Bay Adventure Camp.
Enjoying the lake at Druid Hill Park. Photo by Middleton Evans.
Dreams do come true: Our Playground at Stadium Place, rebuilt by determined volunteers and generous donors after the original was destroyed by arson. The work was supported by a fund at BCF. 

BCF’s efforts through the Diversity Path will work to rebuild Baltimore’s black middle class.

Baltimore’s vibrant arts and cultural scene boasts innovative projects like the Contemporary Museum’s Mobtown Modern Music Series, which combines classical instruments, jarring visual components and DJ-style electronics into informal performances of works by modern composers. Photo by Robert McIver Photography.
Cyclists atop Federal Hill take in views of the city skyline and bustling Inner Harbor. Photo by Middleton Evans.
Collecting butterflies in the field for a nature study.
In the spring of 2009, an army of dedicated volunteers worked to rebuild Our Playground at Stadium Place, which had been destroyed by arson in September 2008. Photo by Kristine Buls.
Enjoying one of the simple pleasures of summer at a neighborhood camp.
BCF’s Human Services Path emphasizes health, aging, and family economic security.
Neighbors team up to beautify and reclaim a vacant lot.
Most Middle Grades Partnership scholars qualify for the city’s competitive high schools.
Rapid and reliable public transportation for our region is a central goal of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, a fund of BCF. Photo by P.A. Greene.
Children beat the heat in the waters of the Walter Sondheim Fountain at the Inner Harbor. Contributions to construct the memorial were collected through a special project fund at BCF. Photo by Will Kirk, courtesy of Homewood Photography.
Students at Great Kids Farm learn about local food production, from “seed to fork.”
Baltimore’s successful One Plus One recycling program has engaged residents in making the city cleaner and greener.
Baltimore City students and farm manager Greg Strella (far right) with the summer harvest at Great Kids Farm.
Students at Baltimore’s Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology, one of many public charter schools helping to transform public education in our city. Photo by Stephen Jones, courtesy of Baltimore City Public Schools.
BCF’s Promoting Baltimore Path works to ensure that Baltimore continues to retain and attract citizens and businesses.
Experience-Corps Baltimore places older adult volunteers in struggling city elementary schools to serve as classroom aides, mentors, and tutors. Photograph by Michael Ciesielski, courtesy of Greater Homewood Community Corporation, Inc.

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