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Campaign for BCF and Baltimore raises $103.7 million to help Baltimore thrive now and in perpetuity

Campaign for BCF and Baltimore raises $103.7 million to help Baltimore thrive now and in perpetuity

June 16, 2016

The Baltimore Community Foundation is celebrating the most successful fundraising campaign in the organization's 44-year history -- the Campaign for BCF and Baltimore. The three-year effort has raised $103.7 million, generating more than $30 million to support immediate needs and almost $70 million in endowment for long term goals in Baltimore.

"BCF set a bold goal to raise $100 million during this campaign," said Laura Gamble, co-chair of the Campaign and chair of BCF's board of trustees. "This was a huge undertaking for us, but we knew it would pay untold dividends both in the immediate impact it would have in Baltimore and in ensuring that BCF would be able to continue its great work for years to come."

Wes Moore served as Campaign co-chair with Ms. Gamble. George Bunting, Eddie Brown and Suzanne Cohen served as the honorary chairs. Ray Bank served as board of trustees chair for most of the campaign. Their leadership and outreach was instrumental to the success of the Campaign.

"What we set out to do was to raise one hundred million dollars for Baltimore," said Wes Moore. "It really says something that Baltimore trusted BCF with that gift."

The Campaign's 250 major donors represent a diverse cross section of individual Baltimoreans, business owners, private foundations, and many others who care deeply about the future of our city. Major gifts ranged from $10,000 to $16 million. Twenty-eight donors made gifts of $1 million or more.

Gifts to the Campaign for BCF and Baltimore will be used to support grants and endowment. Some gifts are already being used for immediate needs in BCF's priority areas of neighborhoods and education. Other gifts will help build permanent endowments to strengthen BCF and ensure its ability to respond to Baltimore's evolving needs today and in the future.

"All of this generosity is driven by BCF's vision that Baltimore boasts a growing economy where all have the opportunity to thrive," said Tom Wilcox, BCF President & CEO. "Because of the Campaign's success, we now can dare -- not just to dream -- but to assert that this community foundation can achieve what Baltimore deserves."

Visit the Campaign for BCF and Baltimore page

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Building Stronger Neighborhoods Regionwide

We have a nearly 30-year history of offering grants to resident-led groups and community projects in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. These grants give residents the resources they need to accomplish a small project, get more people involved, and encourage the next generation of neighborhood leaders. We also fund programs that support the development of leaders of all ages who are working to improve their neighborhoods and schools. Our support is intended to help identify, activate, inform and network leaders. And finally, we believe when schools and neighborhoods team up to improve their school and community, meaningful and lasting change can be made. We are interested in funding proposals in which the students and adults in schools collaborate intentionally with community residents, neighborhood associations, and other individuals, groups, and institutions in the area surrounding a school.  

School Leadership

We believe that attracting and retaining effective and diverse school leaders is a key lever for change in Baltimore’s educational landscape, and so we fund school leadership development efforts at the district and individual school level. We are interested in funding proposals that focus on principal coaching, mentoring, peer networking, wellness/self-care, as well as pipelines that identify and develop new leaders. We will also continue to support efforts that build a culture of appreciation and encouragement for school leaders.

How Can We Help?

Melissa McC. Warlow
Director, Baker Fund Grants Program
410-332-4172 x150

Apply for a Grant

Our on-line application system provides applicants with a portal to start a new grant application or to continue updating an application already in process. Please be sure to select the “Save and Finish Later” button when you are finished working on your application in order to save your current session’s work. At any time during the application process you can select the “Contact Us” button in the top right corner of the screen and you will be able to send an email to the Baltimore Community Foundation staff with specific questions. 

To be considered for funding, proposals must be submitted through the online application portal, however, we provide a PDF version of the application along with other useful forms here for your reference:   

When you are ready please select one of the following options:

OPTION 1

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Select this option if you have never used our website to apply for a grant from BCF.

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OPTION 2

I previously applied for BCF funding online in the past.
Select this option if you have applied for any of BCF’s grants using our website. Your profile may still be in our system and you may login using your account.

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Place-based Grantmaking in Selected School Communities

We have allocated funds for two geographical areas that bookend a crucial corridor on the Westside of Baltimore City: Howard Park /Forest Park area (served by Calvin Rodwell Elementary Middle School and Liberty Elementary), and Reservoir Hill/Penn North area (served by Dorothy I Height Elementary). In these three schools and their surrounding neighborhoods, we will support projects and activities designed to make the communities safe, clean, green and vibrant; and improve the quality of the schools. Some projects may be neighborhood-focused, some school-focused and others collaborative projects between the schools and their respective communities.

Early Learning & Judy Centers

High quality early childhood education has a lifelong effect on students. Through our Early Learning grant program, we are interested in system-wide early childhood education proposals that will help Baltimore City and County’s youngest learners, and their families, get the start they need. Nonprofit organizations that offer programs and/or services to Judy Centers are encouraged to contact the centers directly to explore partnership opportunities.

How Can We Help?

John A. Gilpin

J.D., CAP®,AEP®

Director of Planned Gifts
410-332-4171 ext. 132

How Can We Help?

Kate Sam

Communications Officer
410-332-4171 ext. 181

How Can We Help?

Cathy Brill

Executive Director
Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation

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