Baltimore Children and Youth Fund issues grant awards

BALTIMORE – After a months-long process that included community design and capacity building sessions, and a formal proposal review process, Associated Black Charities (ABC) today announced grantees for the historic Baltimore Children and Youth Fund. As the fiscal manager for the fund, ABC noted that an impressive 84 organizations will receive $10.8 million in funding which covers direct grants, technical assistance, funding to support new grantees with a fiscal sponsor, and background checks and legally-required “sexual and abuse molestation insurance” for all grantees.

Grant awards will be issued in September once award recipients submit insurance information and other required documentation. For more information on the makeup of the grantees, see our Grant Award Summary letter.

“We went through a community-driven process to finally reach the point where we are ready to issue grant awards,” said Diane Bell-McKoy, executive director of Associated Black Charities. “This process will undoubtedly yield dividends for the Baltimore community for years to come.”

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 (ABC) to administer grants from the Fund for one year. They have the option to extend for an additional year which would be dedicated to establishing the permanent intermediary.

“After a thorough and transparent process, I am excited for all of the grant recipients and for all of the children this fund is designed to help,” said City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young. “I am confident these grants, over the years, will yield tangible lasting results for our youth.”

The response to the fund was overwhelming with $75 million in grant requests from over 487 grant applications, all competing for just $12 million in funding. In total, almost $9.6 million is slated to be distributed directly to the organizations for various programs. In addition, $800,00 is earmarked for technical assistance and capacity building especially for new grantees. This includes funding to provide fiscal best practices, and subject matter expertise support.
 

“Technical assistance and capacity building were core values from the community and were articulated in the Children and Youth Fund report and later inserted in the Memorandum of Understanding with ABC and the City of Baltimore,” Bell-McKoy said.

A number of newer grantees will be required to undergo legally-mandated background checks and acquire sexual abuse and molestation insurance. Any outstanding balance may be relocated to direct grant funding or technical assistance.

In reviewing applications, the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund prioritized proposals that outlined a commitment and a concrete plan to achieve the following community-driven priorities:

·       Strengthen the Village

·       Foster Authentic Youth Leadership, Empowerment + Self Actualization

·       Build Sustainable Bridges to Educational and Economic Advancement Opportunities, and to Business Ownership

Prior to making funding decisions, Associated Black Charities, and its planning team (Frontline Solutions International and UPD Consulting) facilitated a community-led process that included:

·       Community outreach to spread awareness about the fund.

·       Community input sessions to shape the direction of the fund.

·       A one-month RFP process.

·       Community capacity building workshops to ensure prospective grantees knew how to use the BCYF portal to
apply for funding. 

·       The recruitment and selection of a 24-person proposal review panel to review and assess grant proposals.

·       Recommendations by the proposal review panel.

·       Final review by Associated Black Charities including financial review overseen by several CPAs.

The following organizations were recommended by the Fund’s Proposal Review Panel and the ABC financial and compliance review:

Those not recommended for funding in year one will have an opportunity to meet and discuss their grant application and are eligible for technical assistance enabling them and can apply during the next grant cycle in 2019. Additional information about technical assistance opportunities for applicants who did not receive grant awards in this round will be released in mid-September.

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Press Inquiries: Lester Davis, lester.davis@baltimorecity.gov, 443-835-0784