Race, Equity, and Inclusion


What we believe:

Our region is stronger, better, and more prosperous when all residents have equal opportunities to participate in civic life. We recognize the disparities experienced by people of color and other communities in accessing those opportunities, and we seek to redress those disparities.

By being intentional and strategic about diversity, equity, and inclusion, BCF will be a more informed, innovative, and effective community investor and will increase progress toward our vision of a Baltimore with a growing economy, where all have the opportunity to thrive.

What we're doing:

In 2011, the BCF board created a task force to develop a framework and a timeline for educating trustees, staff, and partners about diversity and inclusion principles and incorporating those principles into our emerging focus areas of schools and neighborhoods. From the outset, the task force recognized that equity and inclusion encompasses many factors, however the history of structural racism in the Baltimore region makes it important to focus - at least initially - on race. They ways we're doing it: 

  • Education - ongoing opportunities for board and staff to develop a common language and understanding of REI issues
  • Organizational Development - an examination of BCF policies and practices with regard to race, equity, and inclusion
  • Grantmaking - an exploration of how REI considerations can be embedded into BCF's community investment work in the areas of neighborhoods and education; and strategies for encouraging BCF grantees to consider REI in their work

What we've done: 

  • Developed recommendations to improve BCF’s internal operations in the areas of personnel, board & committee development, vendor recruitment, investment management, and communications
  • Created new criteria for managing vendor and contractor relationships
  • Hired a new investment manager using diversity and inclusion as a recruitment criterion; directed our lead investment management firm to consider diversity in hiring future investment managers
  • Provided the Race Matters Toolkit training, available here, to lead partners from BCF’s two target neighborhoods, Greater Highlandtown and Reservoir Hill
  • Started a quarterly brown bag series on diversity and inclusion topics for BCF board, staff, and volunteers
  • Began incorporating diversity and inclusion principles into BCF’s evolving grantmaking guidelines

Hear us talk about it: 

Listen to BCF Trustee Harry Johnson and VP for Community Investment Danista Hunte talk about our approach on WYPR's "Lines Between Us" program in this December 21, 2012 interview.
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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