Quality of Life Giving Circle

A mother and her son

The Quality of Life Giving Circle, formed in 2000, supports efforts to improve the quality of life in Baltimore City for all. The Circle distributes grants to organizations and programs that may not be well known but make a substantial impact by doing “a lot with a little.” The Circle’s awards target a wide range of issues, from the arts to alternative language publications to youth programming to the environment. Since its inception, the Circle has awarded grants totaling more than $82,000.

Currently a 20-member group, the Quality of Life Giving Circle pools time, enthusiasm, and financial resources—each member contributes $500 annually—to help build a better Baltimore. The group meets informally four times a year, soliciting grantee nominations from its membership rather than relying on an application process and meeting over dinner at members’ homes before deciding on grant awards. With a loose organizational structure and informal approach to grantmaking, the Quality of Life Giving Circle maintains the flexibility that enables passionate but busy individuals to be actively engaged in a grantmaking process aimed at making Baltimore better for all of its residents.

Paul Arnest
Cheryl A. Casciani
Helen M. Schlossberg Cohen
Jane W. Daniels
Dianne Toni Eden
R. Clarissa Howison
Mollie Webb Jenckes
Bettina C. Jenkins
Jane C. McConnell
Tracy Miller
Regina P. Minniss
Michele L. Rackey
Bill and Sharon Reuter

Sandra R. Sparks
Jessica Strauss
Nancy Beth Volk
2009 Grants
2008 Grants

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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