How Can We Help?
David Kanter
Donor Services Officer
Baltimore Community Foundation empowers mission-driven people to invest in impactful projects and helps community organizations get the capital they need to build a better Baltimore.
One of the many ways we’re working to create a stronger, safer, and more vibrant Baltimore is through our strategic discretionary grantmaking efforts. By focusing our grantmaking on projects that equip schools and revitalize neighborhoods, we’re helping create a region where all can thrive.
From supporting the arts and funding green projects, to expanding affordable internet access and advocating for positive policy changes, we give our donors the tools they need to invest in the causes they care about.
Learn how our donor-advised funds, impact investments, and other giving tools preserve and strengthen the unique character and culture found right here in Baltimore:
Over the past two decades, BCF has supported over 8,900 organizations through strategic grantmaking and targeted donor-advised funds.
Thanks to the support of our generous donors, BCF has invested over $737M into the region of Baltimore.
Through collaborative planning, grantmaking, and mobilizing, BCF supports over a million residents in Baltimore City and County.
When you want to make a meaningful difference BCF is here for you.
Our philanthropic expertise, connection to hundreds of nonprofits and programs, and active involvement in Baltimore position us to serve you—and multiply the impact of every individual effort.
Already have a donor-advised fund? Log into your account to invest in causes you care about, manage your fund, or view your statements.
Explore our giving options, learn how to open a donor-advised fund, or meet with a donor services officer to talk about expanding your impact.
View our open grant opportunities,
application process and deadlines, and apply for grant funding.
Our comprehensive resources for advisors give you the tools you need to help your clients build a lasting legacy of generosity and philanthropy.
Our recent Impact Stories show the inspiring experiences of the generous givers, passionate civic leaders, and empowered Baltimoreans who carry out BCF’s mission in a real, tangible way. They tell just how powerful intentional giving and thoughtful collaboration can be.
Baltimore’s strength shines through its people, neighborhoods, and ideas. The Baltimore Community Foundation builds on that strength every day through grantmaking, investments, and partnerships. Together, we’re building a better Baltimore.
When we envision a better Baltimore, we imagine a community where children thrive in healthy learning environments, where residents feel safe in their neighborhoods, surrounded by clean and green spaces, and where every individual finds a true sense of belonging.
It’s an ambitious goal, and getting there will take every single one of us. But collective efforts have immense impact.
Donor Services Officer
Donor Services Officer
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.
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.
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.
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.
Visit our planned giving website to find additional tools and resources to help your clients.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
410-332-4171 ext. 132
Communications Officer
410-332-4171 ext. 181
Executive Director
Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation
Please fill out this form and select the documents you are requesting.