Stronger Schools Grants

Stronger Schools Grants is sponsored by Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF). BCF's Stronger Schools Grants focus on funding efforts that support Baltimore City and County students' successful recovery in kindergarten readiness, student mental health, and school climate and culture.

Stronger Schools Grants - Baltimore Community Foundation BCF’s Stronger Schools Grants are focused on funding efforts that support Baltimore City and County students’ successful recovery in the areas of kindergarten readiness, student mental health, and school climate and culture .

We will consider funding programs/projects that happen both in school buildings and in the surrounding community, but applicants must explicitly demonstrate that they are hosted in partnership with school(s) and that the program/projects goals align with school leaders’ expressed goals.

Kindergarten Readiness Proposals Our interest in supporting early childhood education is specifically geared towards improving school readiness in kindergarten, as measured by the state’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).

Grant requests should align to the four domains assessed by the KRA: Physical well-being & motor development Efforts and activities may include, but are not limited to, direct support for young learners, and other supports that target parents/guardians and school staff. We will also continue our support of Judy Centers.

Student Mental Health & School Climate and Culture Proposals Grant requests may include, but are not limited to, efforts and activities that support all grade bands in the following areas: Positive behavioral interventions, supports and incentives Campaigns, activities and events that promote a safe and positive culture (e.

g, anti-bullying, relationship-building) Enrichment opportunities (e.g., sports, arts, work-based learning)* Expanded academic opportunities (e.g., accelerated learning, online adaptive learning platforms, tutoring, dual language, AP, summer and other recovery)* Programming for targeted populations (e.g., English language learners, students with disabilities, homeless students) S chool personnel and infrastructure : School culture and climate plans Student wellness support teams School-based health services (e.g., social workers, mental health and counseling staff) Student advisory meetings Professional development (including paraeducators and substitute teachers) Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plans Student Learning Plans (creation and/or implementation) Home visits, family workshops and other activities that connect families to schools Addressing barriers in the home environment that hinder student learning* Stronger Schools grant proposals should be developed by or in direct partnership with school leaders at the school(s) to be served and aligned with school leaders’ expressed goals.

Applicants should also note the importance of being able to measure their success. Success can be indicated by documented improvements in kindergarten-readiness, chronic absenteeism, attendance rates, suspension and other behavioral data, perceptions (e.g., Do students report feeling more connected to their peers and school? Do they feel safer?)

and course completion rates.

Data references may include, but not limited to: Student academic progress in English and math (e.g., MCAP scores, Maryland School Report Card, iReady) and other benchmarks such as course completion and graduation rates Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) Other school quality and success measures (e.g., chronic absenteeism/attendance, behavioral/suspension, enrollment) District or school-level student, parent, and/or stakeholder surveys Pre- and post-student perception surveys that capture improved attitudes, administered by grantees *Again, these activities must be connected to data/metrics that support student improvements.

Due to high demand, BCF is no longer accepting Stronger Schools applications for 2024. We look forward to receiving your application in the 2025 grant-making season. Click here to start your grant application 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.

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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