Grants
The grant programs listed below are open to requests for funding. If the areas of interest and eligibility criteria look like a match for your need, click on the name to read the complete guidelines and instructions for applying.
Please note that many of the grants distributed by BCF each year come from donor-advised funds at the recommendation of the fund advisor. Most donor-advised funds are not open to requests for funding.
Check out our grantseeker FAQs for more information.
Areas of interest: Strengthening Baltimore’s arts and culture sector, enriching the lives of metropolitan residents and supporting civic engagement through the arts.
Eligibility: Cultural organizations (or their fiscal agents) serving the Baltimore area that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, serving the Baltimore area that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, political persuasion, age, physical handicap, gender or sexual orientation.
Areas of interest: Promote self-sufficiency for women and their families.
Eligibility: Organizations (or their fiscal agents) serving the Baltimore area that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Programs primarily serving serve women and their families living in Baltimore City or Baltimore County.
Areas of interest: Arts, education, and health (HIV/AIDS and cancer).
Eligibility: Organizations (or their fiscal agents) serving the Baltimore area that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, serving the Baltimore area that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, color, physical handicap, gender or sexual orientation.
Areas of interest: Funding for camperships that give disadvantaged and disabled metropolitan Baltimore children the benefits of a summer camp experience.
Eligibility: Organizations (or their fiscal agents) serving the Baltimore area that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that operate a day or residential summer camp program.
Areas of interest: School readiness, school leadership, and school effectiveness as well as advocacy and public policy efforts that support these three areas.
Eligibility: Organizations (or their fiscal agents) that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, serving Baltimore City or Baltimore County, that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, political persuasion, age, physical handicap, gender or sexual orientation.
Areas of interest: Mini-grants to nonprofit organizations to facilitate their good works in neighborhoods and schools.
Eligibility: Organizations (or their fiscal agents) that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, serving the Baltimore area and that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, political persuasion, age, physical handicap, gender or sexual orientation. Organizations must have a total budget less than $250,000; Apply for a project whose budget is no more than $10,000.
Areas of interest: Projects that get more neighbors involved in the community, build new leaders or improve existing leadership for the neighborhood, or increase neighborhood vibrancy through the arts.
Eligibility: Funding is for resident-led projects and community-based organizations that include resident leadership and that address a community need. Groups in Baltimore City and Baltimore County may apply. Most grants do not require 501(c)(3) status; see guidelines for more information.
Areas of interest: Programs, initiatives and organizations in the field of education in Baltimore City.
Eligibility: Organizations serving the Baltimore area that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, color, physical handicap, gender or sexual orientation.
Areas of interest: Programs in mental health, aging, health, and higher education.
Eligibility: Organizations (or their fiscal agents) that qualify as public charities under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, color, physical handicap, gender or sexual orientation.
Areas of interest: Early Childhood Education
Eligibility: Only Baltimore City Judy Center Coordinators may apply.
Areas of interest: Projects and/or programs targeted at addressing issues in the community that impact Baltimore youth, projects that foster new youth leaders or improves existing leadership in the community, and/or builds the confidence, knowledge, skills, and collective leadership of youth while addressing the root causes of injustice and inequity in their lives and communities.
Eligibility: Projects/Programs should be youth led or driven or carried out in partnership with youth.