Baltimore Community Foundation has marshalled the generosity of donors and the experience of communities to meet short and long-term needs in the Baltimore region for nearly half a century. During the current crisis - which will touch every member of our region and have reverberating effects for months and possibly years to come - BCF has a vital role to play. We are committed to putting every tool at our disposal to use to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, sustain vulnerable families and communities, and ultimately help our region emerge stronger.
BCF made a series of emergency grants at the start of the COVID-19 crisis to support food and essential supply distributions. Simultaneously, we created the COVID-19 Evolving Community Needs Fund to address both immediate needs and those yet to come. Immediate needs we have funded include:
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Credible information sources to vulnerable populations to stem the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming emergency departments and health care providers
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Grassroots, neighbor-to-neighbor response to care for vulnerable seniors and families in need of essential supplies such as diapers, formula, food, hygiene products, while larger systemic responses are getting underway
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Food security. Because a major corporate philanthropic effort is underway to support Baltimore City’s institutional responses to food insecurity, BCF will focus immediate attention on Baltimore County, where the need is also great.
See all COVID-19 Response grants made to date here.
Please note: this list will be updated weekly as new grants are awarded.
Over the longer term, BCF will focus on the sustainability of nonprofit organizations serving Baltimore City and Baltimore County in key sectors, deploying our technical assistance, grantmaking, fundraising, impact investing, convening, and advocacy where public policy responses are warranted, to support:
Community needs will evolve over time, particularly as public sector and public policy responses take effect. Throughout the crisis and its aftermath, BCF will adapt our response to ensure that we are meeting the most pressing needs in ways that are impactful and not duplicative of other efforts. Our response is informed by direct community input and made possible by the generosity of our donors.
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For Nonprofit Organizations: To apply for COVID-19 Response Funding, visit www.greaterbaltimorecovidresponse.org.
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For Donors: To support BCF’s COVID-19 Evolving Community Needs Fund, DONATE NOW.
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To see a list of COVID-19 grants made to date, click here.
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Check back here for regular updates on COVID-19 Evolving Community Needs and BCF's response.