The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) has awarded over $10 million in grants to more than 175 grassroots organizations during BCYF Month, demonstrating a substantial commitment to equity, youth leadership, and community engagement. This funding targets organizations with proven ability to engage young people in meaningful, community-rooted ways. The grant selection process involved an intergenerational Community Grant Review, with nearly half of reviewers being young people themselves, ensuring decisions reflect Baltimore youth's values and needs. Grantees include diverse organizations such as The Chris Wilson Foundation, Youth As Resources, and Ballet After Dark, Inc.
BCYF provides free technical assistance to grant applicants, offering support in program development, budgeting, and data collection to maximize impact. Devin Jackson of new grantee A Prosperous Tomorrow highlighted the funding's transformative potential, stating it enables program expansion that equips youth with high-value skills, thereby reengineering futures and shifting possibilities for an entire generation. Michael Rosenband of Requity praised the inclusive partnership with BCYF, which has allowed his team to engage in broader conversations and feel part of a larger movement.
Alysia Lee, President of BCYF, emphasized the fund's role in building infrastructure around community-rooted excellence, ensuring Baltimore's young people are surrounded by opportunities. Since its 2020 inception, BCYF has awarded over $31 million to programs serving Baltimore children and youth, supported by city tax dollars. This initiative, born from unrest following Freddie Gray's death, addresses longstanding public funding inequities in Black communities, marking a significant step toward systemic change. The fund's approach centers youth voices in decision-making through processes like the Community Grant Review, creating a model for equitable investment that could influence similar initiatives nationwide.
