BCF Stronger Schools and Stronger Neighborhoods Grants from the Baltimore Community Foundation offer targeted funding between $1,000 and $20,000 for projects that improve school climate, student mental health, and neighborhood vitality in Baltimore.

The program supports two distinct focus areas: school climate improvement and student mental health initiatives within school settings, and resident-led projects that advance neighborhood greening or community safety. The grant reflects the foundation's commitment to holistic community development by linking educational environments to the broader health of Baltimore's neighborhoods. Applications are accepted through July 20, 2026.

Nonprofits, schools, and resident-led organizations working in Baltimore are encouraged to apply.

Stronger Neighborhoods Giving and Grants | BCF - Baltimore Community Foundation Where connected neighborhoods, inclusive community centers, and clean, safe spaces help every resident find a true sense of belonging.

A thriving Baltimore region starts with strong neighborhoods Neighborhoods that are equipped with the resources they need to steward community assets, attract fresh investment, and leverage their social capital remind every resident that they’re a part of a community that cares.

At Baltimore Community Foundation, our discretionary grantmaking efforts support neighborhood projects that make local spaces more safe, clean, green, and vibrant. We work closely with community and civic leadership to understand residents’ own vision for improving the local quality of life.

Then we use our connections, philanthropic experience, and the support of our change-driven donors to activate community-first, resident-led projects. Revitalized neighborhoods reshape our region See the impact giving makes on local neighborhoods, growing communities, and the region we love. Read the inspiring stories of how small to midsize grants are transforming local neighborhoods.

Reservoir Hill Improvement Council One RHIC project, the Whitelock Art Walk has improved street safety, walkability, and local charm. Resident leadership creates stronger communities and meaningful impact—and our Spotlight Awards highlight just that. Progress between 3/31/2023 and 12/31/2024 We encourage community-led, resident-initiated solutions No one knows Baltimore neighborhoods like the residents who call them home.

That’s why we proudly support locally led programs, projects, and initiatives that provide creative and effective solutions for the communities they aim to serve. Through our targeted grantmaking efforts, we help fund projects that make our neighborhoods more: Promoting and preserving the physical security of Baltimoreans and their property.

Includes crime prevention and interventions for a wide range of issues from gun violence to traffic safety. Addressing trash, dumping, vandalism, and pollution, whether proactively or… reactively. Integrating plant life into the physical environment, support for… sustainability… culture and infrastructure, as well as urban agriculture.

Contributing to the cultural, social, and/or physical fabric of the… community by creating or preserving community amenities and/or activities that make a neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, and play. Give to the BCF Fund for Neighborhoods Join us in supporting safe, clean, green, and vibrant neighborhoods. Review our Stronger Neighborhoods grant instructions and start your application.

Help us create neighborhoods where every resident thrives through the BCF Fund for Neighborhoods Every gift, no matter the size, helps us transform local places and spaces into safe and vibrant gathering spots where communities come together and find belonging. grow a flower patch in a community healing garden, like one we funded in Northeast Baltimore as a place of meditation for local immigrants.

provide supplies and youth stipends for a community clean-up day. support the installation of lighting features in communities where safety is a concern. [wcdp_donation_form id="14497"] If you a have proposal that will make Baltimore neighborhoods stronger we want to hear about it Neighborhood grant proposals should be developed in partnership with residents and organizations directly connected to the community.

We prioritize proposals that have demonstrated community-wide support and align with one or more of our key funding focus areas: safe , clean , green , and vibrant neighborhoods. BCF will not consider ideas being proposed by single individuals or an outside entity that does not have the support of residents in the targeted community.

Start your application here We’re proud to support the programs and projects that make a difference across this region. Thank you for taking the time to propose your solution. To make this application process easier, we encourage drafting your proposal in our proposal template before officially submitting it below.

NOTICE: BCF has transitioned to a new grant application platform, GOapply. Even if you have applied for a grant with us before, you will need to create a new account in the portal using the link below. If you have previously submitted a grant application, your application history will be connected to your new GOapply account through your organization's Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Tax ID.

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Maya Smith , Program Administrator at msmith@bcf. org. Have you ever applied for a grant from BCF?

Start by creating an account Login with your existing account and start a new application Login with your existing account to continue working on the application that you started (but did not fully submit) during a prior session I have an existing account but I cannot recall my password Don’t see your question listed below? Connect with our grantseekers support team here . 1.

Is my organization or project eligible for funding from BCF? 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.

2. Do you provide multi-year funding? 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. 3. Our organization is not located in Baltimore but we serve Baltimore residents.

Can we apply? 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. 4.

What is the typical grant award? BCF awards a wide range of grant amounts. A typical award is $20,000.

Smaller projects are often awarded $1,000 – $5,000. 5. I don’t have all of the required attachments, what should I do?

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 .

6. What would help make my proposal stronger? 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: Describe Need : Concisely tell us what problem you are trying to solve and/or what is the opportunity.

Population : We are looking for you to demonstrate that you are connected to and really understand who you are proposing to serve. 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. 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. 7. Where can I find data and other statistical information to help explain and measure my impact?

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 .

8. What happens after I submit a proposal? 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. 9.

How does BCF make its funding decisions? 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. Please see our grant application page for current year details.

10. What happens after my organization receives a grant? 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. 11.

What are BCF’s reporting requirements and where can I find the report form? 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. 12. Will BCF help connect my organization or project to other family foundations, funds or donors at BCF?

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. Drop your message below and we’ll be in touch soon!

What can we help you with? Contact Dara Schnee , VP of Philanthropy, for a confidential, in-depth consultation about these and other giving options, tax benefits of each and how they can help to achieve your financial and charitable giving goals. If you need assistance with Donor Central, please fill out the form below or call (410) 332-4171 with any questions you have and we will respond as soon as possible.

Set up a Donor Central account Question about my fund Help with website BCF Community Investment Team is here to help. Please fill out the form below with any questions you have and we will respond as soon as possible. [insert page='a-new-look' display='content'] [wpdm_package id='19503'] [wpdm_package id='19509'] Would you like printed copies?

Contact John Gilpin at jgilpin@bcf. org to request hard copies of our Personal Estate Planning Kit. Please provide your mailing address and how many copies you would like.

Want even more free resources? Visit our planned giving website to find additional tools and resources to help your clients. Visit our Planned Giving Website 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.

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. Director, Baker Fund Grants Program 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 question s.

To be considered for funding, p roposals 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: I have not applied for BCF funding online in the past. Select this option if you have never used our website to apply for a grant from BCF.

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.

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. Director of Planned Gifts Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation Please fill out this form and select the documents you are requesting.

Form 990-T BCF's W-9 Form BCF's MD sales tax exemption certificate Instructions for Mutual Share Donations