City opens RFP for historic Baltimore Children and Youth Fund

Associated Black Charities to manage multi-million dollar grant-making process

BALTIMORE – The City of Baltimore today moved one step closer to distributing grants from the newly created Baltimore Children and Youth Fund. The City announced a one-month request for proposals (RFP) process for the first round of disbursements from the $12 million fund. The fund is being managed through a partnership with Associated Black Charities, which will handle grant disbursements through mid-2019. RFPs for the first round of grants will be accepted from Wednesday, June 6, 2018 through Monday, July 9, 2018.

The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund was launched in 2015 by Baltimore City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young. It was approved by voters in November 2016 with over 80 percent support. The non-lapsing Fund is supported through an annual set aside of property tax revenue. The City selected Associated Black Charities to administer grants from the Fund one year with the option to extend for one additional year.

“The Children and Youth Fund sends a strong signal that the City of Baltimore is fully committed to investing in our youth,” City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young said. “I created this fund as a vehicle to help ensure that small, grassroots organizations and individuals who are working tirelessly to improve outcomes for young people have access to dollars that can help propel their work. I am encouraged by the work Associated Black Charities has accomplished and I am excited to kick off the RFP process. We are one step closer to placing these much-needed funds directing funds into the communities that need it the most.”

“We have no more important priority than lifting-up and supporting our young people,” said Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. “I commend the many youth-oriented organizations in our community for all that they are doing each and every day to equip the young people of our City to succeed.”

To ensure the equitable distribution of funds, an approximately 30-person review committee comprised of community members will assess and score grant applications. The review committee will work with Associated Black Charities’ technical assistance partners, Frontline Solutions and UPD Consulting, to make final grant recommendations. Associated Black Charities will make final decisions on grant awards. The review committee will prioritize applications that demonstrate their ability to:

• Strengthening the Village
• Fostering Authentic Youth Leadership, Empowerment + Self Actualization
• Building Sustainable Bridges to Educational and Economic Advancement Opportunities, and to Business Ownership

“The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund is a historic initiative designed to expand opportunity for a population that is often undervalued and under-utilized,” said Diane L. Bell McKoy, president and chief executive officer of Associated Black Charities. “In making this investment, the city of Baltimore is sending the message that they see, hear and care about Baltimore children and youth.”

The RFP process follows a series of six community input sessions where Baltimore residents recommended investment areas. Through its partners, Associated Black Charities, will offer modest support to community members who want to submit an RFP but may be unaccustomed to navigating grant submission processes. Grantees can receive additional technical assistance as part of their award.

Associated Black Charities is a public foundation focused on changing the economic outcomes for African Americans by targeting the workforce eco-system, including addressing the issue of structural, racialized barriers and their impact on persons of color. ABC’s role on behalf of Mayor Pugh and City Council President Jack Young is to seek public input into the design and priorities of the fund, which is built into the RFP. We are also charged with making the actual grant awards; and providing support and monitoring for the grantees during this initial year of funding.

“Even when there is a demonstrated need, it is not every day that a local government makes a $12 million investment in the surrounding community. We applaud Council President Young, Mayor Pugh, and the citizens of Baltimore for their work in bringing the Fund to fruition. This is an investment that will strengthen our city while improving outcomes for children and youth,” Bell McKoy continued.

Once the RFP process closes, applications will be reviewed from July 10 through July 31. Grant announcements will be made in August. For more information, visit http://bcyfund.org/.