Baltimore Children & Youth Fund Hosts Boardlight Event to Support Youth Organizations with Dual Investment Strategy

The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund will host its Boardlight event on Thursday, October 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET at Baltimore Unity Hall, offering Baltimore's grantees, partners, and community members an opportunity to learn about BCYF's mission, available resources, and the city's ongoing investment in youth-serving organizations. This learning and connection event specifically targets organizations operating with budgets under $750,000, helping them better understand BCYF's dual investment model that combines financial support with technical assistance.

Following the main event, BCYF will conduct a Pre-Application Technical Assistance session designed to prepare grantee applicants for the upcoming $2 million summer funding round. The PATA program has demonstrated significant effectiveness, with participants being five times more likely to receive grants than those who don't engage in the training. This statistic underscores the program's success in creating more equitable access to funding opportunities for smaller organizations that typically face barriers in traditional grant processes.

"This event is a great opportunity for Baltimore residents to see how public funding is transforming the lives of young people across our city," said Alysia Lee, President of BCYF. "Along with professional development and grant application support, it's a hands-on way to experience how BCYF empowers and uplifts grassroots organizations." The event represents a strategic approach to community investment that moves beyond simple funding distribution to build lasting organizational strength and capacity.

Boardlight emphasizes community learning, skill-building, and connection, demonstrating how BCYF's support extends beyond financial resources to create sustainable organizational development. Together with the PATA sessions, this approach reflects BCYF's comprehensive strategy for community investment, combining financial resources with technical assistance to expand equity and sustainability across Baltimore's youth ecosystem. This dual investment model represents a significant shift in how public funding can create lasting change by building organizational capacity rather than simply providing temporary financial support.

The event's specific focus on organizations with budgets under $750,000 highlights BCYF's commitment to supporting smaller, community-based groups that often struggle to access traditional funding opportunities. By providing both financial resources and educational support through programs like PATA, BCYF aims to create a more equitable distribution of resources across Baltimore's youth-serving landscape. This approach addresses systemic barriers that have historically limited smaller organizations' ability to compete for funding against larger, more established institutions.

The dual investment strategy employed by BCYF through events like Boardlight and the PATA program demonstrates how public funding can be leveraged to create more sustainable community impact. By building organizational capacity alongside providing financial support, BCYF helps ensure that youth-serving organizations can continue their work effectively beyond individual grant cycles. This model represents an important evolution in community funding approaches that prioritizes long-term sustainability and equity over short-term project support. To learn more about BCYF, visit https://www.bcyfund.org.