PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL
The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance regarding the policies and procedures for awarding grants from the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, (BCYF). The contents of this manual are subject to change at the discretion of BCYF.
ABOUT BCYF: Our History
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, Inc. (BCYF) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to support programs for Baltimore’s young people. The Fund was conceived in 2015 under the leadership of then-City Council President Bernard “Jack” C. Young following the unrest sparked by the death of Freddie Grey, an event that revealed deep, systematic inequities in Black communities.
In 2016, Baltimore voters overwhelmingly approved a charter amendment establishing a dedicated funding stream for youth programs, guaranteeing an annual appropriation tied to the assessed value of city property. This voter mandate represents a historic, community-driven commitment to equity and opportunity for Baltimore’s children and youth.
From 2017 to 2019, the Fund operated through an interim structure to ensure community input in shaping governance and grantmaking priorities. In 2021, BCYF, Inc. became the permanent steward of these public funds, guided by a community-led governance model with a majority of members representing residents and youth-serving leaders. That same year, the Transition Board adopted an innovative funding model:
75% of grant dollars go to direct program grants.
25% is invested in capacity building (helping organizations run better and serve more youth) and technical assistance (personalized help for finances, leadership, and program quality).
This dual approach ensures organizations have both the resources to deliver programs and the infrastructure to sustain long-term growth.
Our Dual Approach to Grantmaking: Funding and Support
BCYF does more than provide grants. We pair funding with training, one-on-one support, and practical tools to help organizations strengthen leadership, improve systems, and build sustainability. Our support ranges from financial compliance coaching to organizational leadership development, helping community-based groups thrive.
BCYF also serves as a convener for Baltimore’s youth development ecosystem, bringing together youth, community leaders, and organizations to co-create the city’s first Youth Master Plan, a community-driven roadmap that sets priorities and goals for youth programs citywide. Every investment strengthens a connected, coordinated youth development network that reflects community priorities and advances equity across Baltimore.
Proven Impact
Grantee Compliance: Grantee compliance improved from under 30% in 2023 to 92% in 2024, driven by BCYF’s targeted training and support.
Support for Grantseekers: Through Pre-Application Technical Assistance, BCYF provided 43+ hours of help to 201 organizations applying for BCYF funding. Participants were five times more likely to secure funding, and 97% reported greater confidence.
Effective Trainings: The BCYF signature professional learning series, the Learning Lab, delivered 60+ hours of programming and created 1,000 seats for youth and leaders. 91% of participants were extremely satisfied, 95% reported skill gains, and 91% credited it for fostering collaboration (University of Maryland, Baltimore evaluation).
Through authentic community engagement, power-shifting philanthropy, and measurable capacity-building, BCYF advances a shared vision of justice, creativity, and abundance for Baltimore’s young people.
MISSION, VISION & VALUES
Mission
The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund builds partnerships that support an ecosystem focused on opportunities for Baltimore youth by providing support to leaders and organizations
What is the Ecosystem?
Using the term ecosystem reminds us that we find truth and knowledge in the patterns in the natural world that we can apply in social justice movements and liberatory practices.
The ecosystem we envision is an extraordinary interconnected web of physical, psychological, and energetic networks that envelop the vibrant lives of Baltimore’s youth, positively shaping their very existence - producing compassionate, resourceful, innovative, and productive humans.
Who is in the Ecosystem?
Youth-serving organizations and programs, schools, government agencies, teaching artists
Staff of youth programs
Youth and adult leaders
Children and youth
Families and caregivers
Community spaces (libraries, houses of worship, community centers)
Funders
Arts and cultural institutions
Advocacy organizations
The work of BCYF is to invest in the people who support the creation and/or sustainment of that ecosystem.
Vision
We envision a more just, creative, and abundant Baltimore where all young people live, thrive, and lead.
We envision an ecosystem of sustainable youth programs with full agency, liberated from the harm of structural racism and inequity, and able to thrive in abundance.
Values
Ubuntu (n.) I am because of who we all are. Ubuntu is the Southern African philosophy that describes the interconnectedness of all people. It emphasizes the idea that an individual’s well-being is intricately tied to the well-being of the community. The philosophy promotes humanity, service, sharing, healing, and reconciliation.
In the West, we often greet each other by saying, “How are you doing?” The Maasai people of East Africa greet each other by asking, “How are the children?” This greeting represents the idea that the well-being of the children defines the well-being of the community.
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund aspires to help the city of Baltimore embrace and live out the worldview embodied in the Maasai greeting. We firmly believe that the well-being of our children should be a collective responsibility embraced by all.
Racial Justice
We honor and celebrate the cultural resources and assets within the Black and Brown communities in Baltimore City. We acknowledge their history and power. We work to address the role of philanthropy in dismantling structural racism by engaging in internal and external work centering Black and Brown wisdom in our approach.
Intergenerational Leadership
We include youth along with adults in all aspects of our work. Having different generations work together reflects how our entire community must work together to improve the quality of life in our city.
Community Ownership
The community has equal, authentic decision-making power in distributing BCYF’s resources. Additionally, the organization must include a variety of people who are highly committed and accountable to the communities they serve. The aspiration to embody our values lies at the core of our organization’s mission.
PURPOSE
BCYF is one of the most unique grantmaking organizations in the United States. Instead of being sustained by private endowments, corporations, and individuals, we are funded by Baltimore City residents, with an annual appropriation of 3 cents on every $100 of assessed value of all Baltimore City properties dedicated to BCYF.
BCYF awards grants to organizations that provide programming to thousands of Baltimore's young people, ranging from academic support and science exploration to dance, photography, and more. Unlike traditional philanthropic efforts in Baltimore, BCYF is committed to authentic community engagement. Our strategy, grantmaking priorities, and grant decisions are shaped and led by Baltimore community members and youth leaders.
Through our strategic investments, we strive to resource a future where children and youth throughout the city enjoy access to high-caliber enrichment and learning opportunities, and children and youth programs have the resources they need to serve all our young people.
BCYF Provides:
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Direct Investment to Organizations | Investments in Infrastructure to Allow Grassroots Organizations to Receive Funds and Thrive |
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Aligned Funding, in Collaboration with Local Funders, to Create Larger Grant Opportunities | Deep Investments in Technical Assistance and Capacity Building |
PRIORITIES
BCYF’s Investment Priorities were determined through the People’s Assembly, held in Spring 2022, where community members shared their experiences and areas of need. The priorities are also strongly grounded in research from the Nobody Asked Me campaign and the Wallace Foundation’s connected learning initiative.
Priority | Overview | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
Priority 1:
| Baltimore’s children and youth deserve access to communities that center cultural wealth, learning based on cultures and the identities of learners and the community, and leveraging cultural assets. | Young people have a sustained connection to culture, heritage, and/or community. |
Priority 2:
| Baltimore’s children and youth deserve access to resources and opportunities that will prepare them for the future. | Young people are connected to careers, relationships, and futures that are meaningful and linked to their interests. |
Priority 3:
| Baltimore’s children and youth deserve access to resources that support their social and emotional needs and overall well-being. | Young people feel that their social and emotional needs are met through their experiences. |
Priority 4:
| Baltimore’s children and youth deserve equitable access to platforms that will allow them to develop their perspectives and leadership abilities and amplify their voices. | Young people’s voices are valued in ways that change their communities. |
Priority 5:
| Baltimore’s children and youth deserve equitable access to opportunities that embed and expand learning in social networks that include youth, family, and facilitators. | Young people have access to more expansive networks and communities beyond one program. |
GRANTMAKING PORTFOLIO
Aligned Grantmaking Fund
The Aligned Grantmaking Fund (AGM) provides opportunities to create granting partnerships that leverage the impact of collaborative funding investments in infrastructure and ecosystem building. This deepens BCYF’s commitment to investments that leverage additional funding sources for youth-led and youth-focused projects, build the ecosystem of the social sector in Baltimore, and support the leadership development of Black and Brown leaders. These are 1-3 year grants or match support for projects. The AGM is an invitation-only grant opportunity.
Grassroots Fund
The Grassroots Fund (GRF) addresses traditional gaps in Baltimore’s funding landscape by providing funding for grassroots, Baltimore-based, youth-serving organizations in support of an organization’s overall mission. BCYF awards multi-year grants to eligible community accountable organizations, disbursing $50,000 a year. Operating on a multi-year grant cycle allows BCYF to invest in building the capacity of its grantees, which positions organizations for success beyond BCYF funding. In addition to financial support, organizations awarded a GRF grant will receive rigorous technical assistance and capacity-building support to help them sustain and grow. A panel of community grant reviewers selects grantees during an annual grant application process.
Grassroots organizations who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply to this fund:
Baltimore City-based and serves children and youth, ages 24 years and under;
Maryland 501(c)(3) organization or has a confirmed Fiscal Sponsorship;
Annual operating budget of $350,000 or less;
Has been in existence for at least one year;
Has at least one year of experience running youth programs; and
51% or more of its employees are Baltimore City residents.
President’s Fund
The President's Fund (PF) aligns with the BCYF mission, vision, and values and offers flexibility to address pressing issues at the discretion of the President. The PF is an invitation-only grant opportunity.
Community Accountable Fund
The Community Accountable Fund (CAF) supports youth-serving organizations with a demonstrated commitment to being credible with and accountable to youth and the local communities they are proposing to serve. The fund prioritizes programming that supports a specific population of youth that otherwise do not receive adequate support and Black and Brown-led organizations. A panel of community grant reviewers selects grantees during an annual grant application process.
The eligibility criteria for CAF’s is:
Baltimore City-based and serves children and youth, ages 24 years and under;
Maryland 501(c)(3) organization or has a confirmed Fiscal Sponsorship;
Annual operating budget of $350,000-$500,000;
Has been in existence for at least one year;
Has at least one year of experience running youth programs; and
51% or more of its employees are Baltimore City residents.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
What is technical assistance and why is it important?
Technical Assistance at BCYF is the process of providing targeted support to people and organizations to develop specialized skills, access relevant resources, and strengthen their networks.
BCYF aims to shift the dynamics of grantmaking by empowering communities, uplifting youth voices, and strengthening grantee organizational capacity to ensure the delivery of equitable and effective programming to our youth. This challenges the traditional and historically harmful power dynamics of the philanthropic sector.
What are the goals and strategies for technical assistance?
All technical assistance programs at BCYF aim to increase agency for local changemakers by equipping them with the resources, networks, and skills to lead the development of their organizations and communities.
The BCYF approach:
Connect with local changemakers.
Nurture the capacity of leaders and organizations by eliminating access barriers.
Amplifying the work of BCYF grantee partners.
Foster a community that is rooted in abundance, joy, and collaboration.
Types of Technical Assistance
Community Capacity Building
Community Capacity Building is a program of BCYF focused on building the effectiveness of individuals and organizations to better serve and engage young people in Baltimore. This includes skill building in a variety of areas including marketing, communications, fundraising, financial expertise, and board leadership as examples. It also includes building the capacity of young people to serve on boards, be grantmakers, and be leaders in Baltimore's social and public sectors.
Examples: Avis Ransom Institute-#bcreds-Learning Lab-Pre-Application Technical Assistance
For more information on these Community Capacity Building offerings, please visit the BCYF Capacity Building webpage.
Grantee Technical Assistance
At the beginning of the grant cycle, organizations complete an organizational assessment that outlines core areas of strength and opportunities for growth. Based on the outcomes of the assessment, BCYF and grantee partners will work together to craft individualized goals and plans that include BCYF programming, in addition to local and national offerings and resources.
Examples: Program Officers-Financial Technical Assistance-Grantee Newsletter-Trainings-Convenings
Program Officers
Each Grantee is assigned a Program Officer as their first point of contact and main navigator for BCYF policies and procedures. Program Officers call new grantees to introduce themselves and serve grantee partners as a resource and advocate.
3x3 Financial Technical Assistance
Grantees may be identified as needing additional Financial Technical Assistance to support with the submission of approvable and accurate Monthly Financial Expense Reports. These grantees will participate in the 3x3 Financial Technical Assistance. The program aims to provide tailored Financial Technical Assistance (FTA) for a three-month period. During this time, you will schedule three individual sessions with your assigned FTA and submit draft MFER’s prior to submission for feedback and corrections before submitting your final report in the portal.
Training and Workshops
BCYF creates original content training and workshops that are responsive and forward-thinking. Previous initiatives, invited local experts to facilitate and curate engaging learning opportunities for the youth development sector.
Monthly Grantee Newsletter
A digital newsletter is emailed to grantees monthly and serves as a digital publication specifically designed to keep BCYF grantee partners informed and engaged. The primary purpose of the newsletter is to provide valuable updates, relevant information, and resources to the organizations or individuals who have been awarded grants.
Convenings
The Gathering is BCYF’s fall convening—a local, retreat-style experience designed to bring together grantee partners for connection, reflection, and shared learning. This convening strengthens our collective identity, aligns grantee missions with BCYF’s priorities, and explores the potential for deeper, community-driven impact across the portfolio.