Impact Investments

BCF launched our Invest For More impact investing program in 2018, committing up to 4% of our Long Term Pool annually to programs that yield a financial return of roughly 3% alongside measurable social and economic benefits for underserved communities. Initial investments included Enterprise Community Partners Impact Notes; Reinvestment Fund Notes; and RBC Access Capital Mutual Fund. Since then, BCF has deployed more than $4.5 million for affordable housing projects, grocery stores, green spaces, small business loans and more.

Not only does Invest for More dedicate millions of dollars in BCF’s investment portfolio, but BCF donors and the general community have the opportunity to be part of the program in one of three ways: (1) Make a gift to the Invest for More Fund; (2) Invest from a donor-advised fund in the BCF Impact Pool or (3) Open a specialty donor-advised fund to co-invest with BCF and extend the impact.

Contact one of our Donor Services Officers below to get involved and learn more here:

Contact us!

Participate in Invest for More

Fundholders interested in participating in Invest for More may contact Nanyamka Hales, Donor Services Officer.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL NANYAMKA HALES

Participate in Invest for More

Fund holders interested in participating in Invest for More may contact Alexis Miller, Donor Services Officer.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ALEXIS MILLER

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Nanyamka Hales

Donor Services Officer

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Alexis Miller

Donor Services Officer

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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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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.

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Dara Schnee

VP of Philanthropy

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.

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Cathy Brill

Executive Director
Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation

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Kate Sam

Communications Officer
410-332-4171 ext. 181

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John A. Gilpin

J.D., CAP®,AEP®

Director of Planned Gifts
410-332-4171 ext. 132

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.

Apply for a Grant

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 questions.

To be considered for funding, proposals 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:

OPTION 1

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.

OPTION 2

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.

How Can We Help?

Melissa McC. Warlow
Director, Baker Fund Grants Program
410-332-4172 x150

School Leadership

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.

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.

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.