Impact Investments

In 2018, BCF launched Invest For More, an impact investing program making focused, carefully selected investments into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention of generating a measurable, beneficial social impact in our Baltimore region, as well as a financial return. Not only does Invest for More dedicate millions of dollars in BCF’s investment portfolio to local impact, but BCF donors and the general community have the opportunity to co-invest in the program. Donors who hold non-endowed funds at BCF, usually held in money market instruments, can dedicate a portion of their fund’s assets to Invest for More for a period of seven years. That investment will provide a financial return to the donor’s charitable fund while creating local impact through the projects supported by BCF’s local impact investments. At the end of seven years, donors may either renew their commitment to Invest for More or have the assets returned to their charitable fund to be used for donor-advised grantmaking.

BCF has committed up to four percent of its invested assets (BCF’s invested assets totaled $246,422,416 at the end of 2020) to Invest for More. Local impact investments are expected to yield a double bottom line: an expected overall financial return of about three percent as well as a social return through the projects supported. BCF made three initial investments in 2018: in Enterprise Community Partners Impact Notes; Reinvestment Fund Notes; and RBC Access Capital Mutual Fund. With investment from BCF and others:

RBC financed the Astor Court Apartments in Baltimore City, providing affordable housing to first responders and newly hired teachers and contributing to the fabric of the Charles Village neighborhood near the Johns Hopkins University.
Reinvestment Fund investments resulted in 35 homes and more than 280,000 square feet of commercial or community space created, rehabilitated, acquired, or preserved; 194 permanent jobs created or retained; and 518 K-12 education seats created or retained. Reinvestment Fund financing is also helping to redevelop the historic Hebrew Orphans Asylum building in West Baltimore into a Crisis Stabilization Center for people with acute addiction crises.
Baltimore Business Lending has helped minority and women-owned businesses launch or expand in Highlandtown, Pigtown, and Mount Vernon.
Working with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, Enterprise has provided financing to renovate and preserve the affordability of 75 apartment homes comprising the rental component of the Heritage Crossing community in West Baltimore.

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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.

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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.