We strongly believe that residents and community-led organizations best understand how to achieve the ambitious goals set before us. For that reason, successful applications will be collaboratively driven by the expressed needs of the community they aim to serve. In addition, applications should clearly define what successes will be tracked, and how those accomplishments will be measured.

Most BCF grants are reserved for nonprofits with IRS 501 c(3) status, but we will also consider projects working with fiscal sponsors as long as the fiscal sponsor meets financial standards. 

To be considered for funding, all grant applications must be submitted through the online application portal, unless otherwise instructed.

No. In December 2022, BCF’s board voted on a new strategic direction that would make Stronger Neighborhoods Grants and Stronger Schools Grants available across all of Baltimore City and Baltimore County. We welcome competitive proposals from grantees that previously served our targeted neighborhoods and selected school communities, but there is no longer an exclusive allocation to support projects/programs in restricted geographies.

The Baltimore Community Foundation awards grants to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status. We will also consider projects working with fiscal sponsors as long as the fiscal sponsor meets financial standards.

The Baltimore Community Foundation does not generally fund the following:

• Annual fund campaigns
• Religious or sectarian purposes
• Capital campaigns
• Individuals, excluding scholarships
• Event sponsorships

Yes. However, the ability to make multi-year grants is dependent upon funds available and is at the discretion of the board committee with oversight of the grant.

BCF was created to serve the greater Baltimore region. We fund organizations that are located in or benefit residents of Baltimore City or Baltimore County. Your headquarters may be located elsewhere, but your program must serve the people of this region in order to be eligible for a grant.

If you are located outside our service area, visit the Community Foundation Locator to find a community foundation serving your area.

BCF awards a wide range of grant amounts. A typical award is $20,000. Smaller projects are often awarded $1,000 – $5,000.

Your proposal will not receive consideration without the required attachments. You may need to consider a fiscal sponsor that meets financial standards. For IRS documents, if you don’t have a copy of your latest 990, you can find your most recent submission using this search tool.

BCF’s current discretionary grant programs emphasize collaboration for stronger schools and stronger neighborhoods, so make sure you really highlight how your relationships and partnerships have and will collectively make a difference. It is so important that Stronger Schools proposals require a letter of support from the school(s) with whom they are partnered. 

• Show us you are an expert. When answering the first question in the application, you are encouraged to think of it in 4 parts:

1. 1. Describe Need: Concisely tell us what problem you are trying to solve and/or what is the opportunity.
   2. Population: We are looking for you to demonstrate that you are connected to and really understand who you are proposing to serve.
   3. Impact: Our donors want to know their support is making a difference, so be sure to share what will change as a result of your efforts.
   4. Success: What will you be measuring to “prove” you were successful? You are encouraged to use data when possible.

• Successful proposals clearly describe and prove impact – upfront in the application and how it is reported at the end. For the proposal/application, think: what are you trying to change and how will know you were successful; how will you measure it? Make sure you take the time to think through how you will tell the story. You are encouraged to use data as a measurement of change. For example, with schools, if you are trying to improve student attendance, you will need to review the attendance statistics before you begin, and then compare them after you complete your activities. For neighborhoods, for instance, you may want to reduce dumping in the area so you might track if there was a reduction in 311 service calls. Hopefully, as a result of your efforts you see measurable change. While this “quantitative” data (e.g., numbers) are essential, we also encourage you to share “qualitative” data, or information that describes the quality of the impact your efforts have made based on your own judgment. That may include qualities or opinions you have observed and collected through interviews, for instance.

For Stronger Schools proposals, you should start with your school partner. They have access to data at various levels: individual students, classroom, and schoolwide. You can also find some data on school profiles: Baltimore City Public Schools and Baltimore County Public Schools both have websites that feature School Profiles, which includes demographics, attendance rates, assessments data for English and math, graduation rates, parent surveys results, school survey results, the school’s performance plan, and the school effectiveness review. 

Additional data about schools, the district, and all of the state’s 24 jurisdictions are available online at  Maryland Public Schools Report Card. 

For Stronger Neighborhoods proposals, the best place to start may be with your community/neighborhood association. Many groups have existing relationships with government agencies and regularly receive reports such as service calls (e.g., 311), police/crime statistics. 

The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance’s Vital Signs gives a wealth of information on city neighborhoods. You can explore data/indicators from the U.S. Census and on housing/community development, children/family health and wellbeing, crime/safety, workforce and economic development, arts/culture, education/youth, and sustainability. The city’s Code Map offers a wealth of information on development zones, permits, vacants and property ownership. See the city’s department of planning for additional resources such as housing market topology maps and demographics. Other resources include the Baltimore City Health Department’s website where you can find research, stats, and data on major public health issues.

Baltimore County has similar data available on their Open Data website.

Once you submit a proposal, we will review it for eligibility. If we need further information, a program officer will call, and may request a site visit. After confirming that your request is a match for one or more grant programs, the program officer will evaluate your proposal, then submit it to a board committee for review and possible approval.

BCF Strategic Grantmaking Committee meets several times each year to review proposals and approve grants. Our committee is comprised of BCF trustees and other volunteers who serve without compensation and for rotating terms. They discuss funding requests and the merits of proposals in a series of confidential meetings at BCF. The review process, from time of application to time of approval, decline or deferral by our board, can take up to three months.

Once a grant is awarded, you will receive an email notifying you of the award. Subsequently, you will receive an electronic grant agreement that needs to be electronically signed. Read the grant agreement carefully to make note of your responsibilities, then sign and return it. Then we will release payment of the grant in accordance with the payment schedule and any special conditions spelled out in the grant agreement. We are happy to arrange an electronic transfer of funds for grant payments.

Please keep us informed about your progress and accomplishments and complete the reporting requirements outlined in your grant agreement.

Most grants require a final report. If you are required to submit a report, the terms are outlined in your grant agreement. Our standard grant report form can be completed by clicking here.

Through our service to donors we often provide information on organizations and issues in the Baltimore area that are pertinent to the donors’ interest. However, we are unable to assist you in setting up an informational meeting with or distributing information about your organization to our donors.

The Baltimore Community Foundation has a small portfolio of scholarship funds, which are primarily administered and managed by the CollegeBound Foundation. CollegeBound Foundation maintains a robust scholarship application portal for students to apply for a total of $3 million in scholarship funding, with over 500 students each year receiving an award. CollegeBound Foundation also provides specialized support to awarded students throughout their college experience, including peer and adult mentoring, workshops and seminars with College Completion Advisors, and supplemental College Completion Awards to provide additional financial support.

To learn more and apply for scholarships, visit the CollegeBound Foundation at www.collegeboundfoundation.org.

Interested in supporting the Baltimore Community Foundation Fund for College Scholarships? Visit The BCF Fund for College Scholarships to donate today.