Baltimore Grants for Nonprofits

About the Motorola Solutions Foundation

At Motorola Solutions, we are good citizens by design. Our work makes a difference in the critical moments that shape lives, businesses and the world, but our contributions don’t end there. The Motorola Solutions Foundation acts as the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions and focuses on giving back to the community through strategic grants, employee volunteerism and other community investment initiatives. The Foundation is one of the many ways in which the company lives out its purpose to help people be their best in the moments that matter.

Grant Program Focus

The Motorola Solutions Foundation, which has donated $100 million over the past 10 years, aims to partner with organizations that are creating safer cities and thriving communities, and prioritizes underrepresented and/or underserved populations, including people of color and women, within the three focus areas below:

• Technology and engineering education
• First responder programming
• Blended first responder programming and technology/engineering education programs

Overarching Priorities

• Reach people of color, women and other underrepresented and/or underserved populations within our focus areas
• Leverage robust partnerships with other nonprofit organizations and institutions
• Support organizations that exhibit strong financial health
• Support organizations with data-driven evaluation methods, including quantifiable metrics

Focus Areas

First Responder Programming

• Provide leadership development and training opportunities for underrepresented first responders, including people of color and women
• Provide mental wellness and stress management trainings for first responders and their families
• Provide wellness and scholarship support to families of fallen first responders
• Prepare youth and young adults for careers in public safety through outreach, scholarship and educational programs
• Offer safety preparedness and response training to schools, adults, students and first responders
• Lead safety and disaster preparedness trainings for the public

Technology & Engineering Education

• Engage students in innovative, hands-on technology and engineering activities, such as design, coding and robotics
• Provide vocational skills, scholarships, certifications and workforce placement opportunities in engineering, information technology and data science
• Equip teachers with the skills and training necessary to enhance instruction in technology and engineering
• Prioritize school-aged students ages 8-18, college/university students and young adults

The Abell Foundation awards grants to nonprofit community partners working to improve the quality of life in Baltimore. We provide seed funding for innovative pilots, support for ongoing community programs and services, and funding for capital projects. In addition to providing grant funding, the Foundation supports our nonprofit partners through connection to our local and national networks, as well as our team’s deep experience in and knowledge of Baltimore as it relates to our program areas.

These small grants are considered on a rolling basis.

Where we Focus

The Abell Foundation supports organizations that are building a stronger Baltimore where all its residents can thrive. Baltimore is rich in talent and determination, but it also faces significant, interconnected challenges that stem from structural racism, poverty, and unequal access to opportunity and resources.

Our Approach

The Foundation’s grantmaking, research, and investments leverage our city’s tremendous assets while working to improve systems so that they are more just and promote the well-being and safety of all Baltimoreans. We support an intentionally diverse and wide-ranging set of strategies, projects, and organizations that strive to create more equitable opportunities.Our grantmaking and research initiatives are rooted in seven core program areas that help us focus our work. We understand that our communities and the challenges they face are interconnected and some projects will not fit neatly into a single category. We encourage you to reach out to one of our program officers and start a conversation before applying.

The seven core program areas are:

• Health & Human Services
• Community Development
• Education
• Workforce Development
• Criminal Justice & Addiction
• Environment
• Arts

Learn more about the focus areas here.

Abell Foundation Small Grants

The Foundation awards small grants (of $10,000 or less). We typically award the following types of grants:

• Seed funding for start-ups, pilots, and research initiatives aimed at finding innovative solutions
• Support for ongoing projects that provide much-needed services and/or show evidence of strong outcomes
• Capital grants that support new construction, renovation, purchase of property, and/or capital equipment
• General operating support
• Outreach and advocacy efforts to develop, promote, and advance policies that address systemic challenges and/or create new opportunities

The John J. Leidy Foundation has been supporting Maryland’s nonprofits for more than 50 years.

The Foundation was formed in 1957 by Baltimore native John J. Leidy, the owner of the former Leidy Chemical Company. The Foundation is a member of the Maryland Philanthropy Network.

Areas of Interest

• Social and Economic Welfare 
• Arts & Culture 
• Health and Human Services 
• Education 
• Disabled persons 

Grant/Funding Type Provided 

• Operating Support 
• New and/or Ongoing Programs 
• Equipment 

Background

T. Rowe Price's community investments aim to support the growth of strong nonprofit leaders, organizations, and nonprofit networks. We do this by harnessing our collective power to support our nonprofit partners wholistically, as we aim to expand opportunities, ​enrich lives and ​enable equitable solutions ​to help lift people and communities.

The T. Rowe Price Foundation was founded in 1981 and has since given over $182.3M USD in direct grants and matching gift contributions. T. Rowe Price is committed to advancing community goals and creating positive change in locations where T. Rowe Price associates live and work.

Our Approach to Philanthropy

T. Rowe Price aims to be a responsive, collaborative partner with nonprofits and seek inclusivity and accountability. We aim to foster a learning culture and are committed to listening and sharing diverse perspectives and we practice Trust-Based Philanthropy principles centered on transparency, feedback, and community investments without restrictions.

Grants

Through our community investments, we support the advancement of community leaders, community organizations and community networks.

For most grants, our team will approach an organization directly to invite them to submit a grant proposal. Throughout the year we also review unsolicited grant proposals that align to our giving areas. Our grants are unrestricted for general operating purposes to help expand an organizations’ mission and ability to do their important work. 

The Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation is guided by the principle that people develop and flourish best when they enjoy fundamental civil and political rights and live in a safe and healthy environment. In recognition of the ongoing impact of institutionalized racism in the US, the rising threats of xenophobia worldwide and the devastating effects of climate change, particularly on people of color and low-income communities, the Foundation supports efforts to confront racism, protect against prejudicial treatment towards immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and mitigate climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities.

Focus Areas

Climate Justice

Recognizing the urgency of global warming and the disproportionate impact that it has on life in low-income communities and communities of color, the Foundation supports efforts to create sustainable and fair solutions to mitigate climate change. Funding is provided for:

• Building broad based, bipartisan alliances pushing for robust and equitable energy and climate policies at the federal, state and local levels
• Grass roots organizing and advocacy led by communities most affected by climate change

Racial Justice

To expose and challenge institutionalized racism and to ensure equal and fair treatment for all, the Foundation supports:

• Strategic advocacy and policy reform efforts to end racial inequities in the justice system
• Programs focused on changing the culture of punishment and criminalization of youth in schools, practices which disproportionately affect students of color

Immigrant Justice

To protect the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S. the Foundation provides grants for:

• Immigrant-led organizing and advocacy for just immigration policies
• Immigrant legal services and impact litigation to ensure critical legal and social protections for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers
• Holistic support networks for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence

Background

The Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds was established in 2012 for the purpose of providing gap funding for non-profits in the Baltimore community.

Guidelines

The purpose to which Mitzvah Fund monies may be applied are broadly defined. Proposal may include funding for unrestricted needs, transportation, staffing, etc. Previous grants have included:

• COVID-19 at-home kits for students to read, learn and play
• Resource cards to distribute with meals for families in need
• Creating a diverse library at a local school

Stronger Neighborhoods Grants

BCF’s Stronger Neighborhoods Grants are focused on programs and projects that make communities safer, cleaner, greener and more vibrant. Strengthening neighborhoods has long been a core focus of BCF. Over the past 50 years, we have granted millions of dollars for a wide range of community-led projects, from cleaning and greening activities and block captain trainings, to fairs and festivals and civic engagement drives.

Safe

Programs/projects that promote and preserve the physical security of Baltimoreans and their property. Includes crime prevention and interventions for a wide range of issues from gun violence to traffic safety.

Clean

Programs/projects that address trash, dumping, vandalism, and pollution, whether proactively or reactively.

Green

Programs/projects that integrate plant life into the physical environment, support for sustainability culture and infrastructure, as well as urban agriculture.

Vibrant

Programs/projects that contribute to the cultural, social, and/or physical fabric of the community by creating or preserving community amenities and/or activities that make a neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, and play.

Collaboration and Success

Neighborhood grant proposals should be developed in partnership with residents and organizations directly connected to the community. It is critical for proposals to demonstrate community-wide support.

Established in 1957 and animated by the Jewish value of tzedakah (obligation to be charitable), the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation promotes social justice and human rights through six program areas:

• Strengthening Public Education seeks to improve outcomes and opportunities for students and the quality of teaching and leadership in the Baltimore City school system
• Arts and Culture nurtures a robust cultural scene and ensures that the arts are accessible to children and underserved audiences in the Baltimore region
• Health and Mental Health aims to expand access to quality, affordable health and mental health services for low-income residents of Baltimore City and create better health outcomes locally, regionally and nationally by addressing environmental threats to human health
• Strengthening Israeli Democracy works to support Israel as a pluralistic society by promoting shared society between Jewish and Arab citizens in the Negev, building the pipeline to higher education and workforce integration for Israel’s ethnic minorities, and protecting Israel’s environment
• Jewish Life focuses on keeping Judaism meaningful and responsive to contemporary concerns through “repairing the world”, furthering progressive and inclusive approaches to Judaism, and facilitating nuanced discourse among American Jews about Israel
• International Human Rights advances women’s and reproductive rights, and protects the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in the US and other countries

The Foundation supports organizations that: promote systemic change; involve constituent participation in identifying needs, planning and decision-making; encourage innovation; have clear goals, a process for evaluation and a long-range funding strategy.

International Human Rights Program Area

The Foundation’s program in International Human Rights reflects the commitment of its founders to the principles of universal rights. As President of the American Jewish Committee from 1949 to 1954, Jacob Blaustein worked to protect the civil and religious rights of Jews and other minorities and to promote intergroup tolerance. He was a lifelong advocate for human rights and helped to promote the idea of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position that was established more than twenty years after his death in 1970.

The Foundation funds a small number of grantees that work to advance international human rights. The Foundation generally supports US based organizations that address international issues, rather than those based abroad. The Foundation rarely provides support for programs or projects that focus on one country or region.

Internationally, the Foundation works in three areas:

• Advancing women's and reproductive rights. We do not provide support for domestic programs in this area.
• Protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers who seek refuge in the United States and other countries.
• Supporting cross-cutting programs that advance leadership development, capacity-building and training across issues. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals in this area.

In 1971, the Foundation created and endowed the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights at the American Jewish Committee. This is an independent entity with its own governance, programmatic priorities and grantmaking program.

Background

Established in 1959, The Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation has a rich legacy of promoting life-long educational opportunities and the vitality of the Baltimore community across many dimensions. Currently, the Foundation is continuing its grantmaking focus on the Baltimore area, awarding support to nonprofit organizations in two program areas: Youth Development and Environmental Stewardship.

Program Areas 

Youth Development

The Foundation provides supports and enrichment for older Baltimore City youth, with a focus on the middle through high school years. Emphasis is on enrichment programs with strong outcomes that are trauma-informed, offer holistic approaches, and integrate wrap-around services to help young people graduate high school and connect to jobs and education.

Recognizing that the teenage years are critical in the trajectory of young people, the Foundation invests in youth development programs with a focus on cultivating and honing skills that will serve them into adulthood. The Foundation’s emphasis is on out-of-school-time programs targeting high school students that either provide training in career-related “hard skills” or teach life skills through participation in athletics or the arts. Funded programs must demonstrate evidence of successful outcomes including high school graduation rates, attendance and certification attainment.

The Foundation’s youth development grantmaking is limited to organizations in the Baltimore metropolitan region. Typically, the Foundation provides funding support for programs and general operations, but not capital needs.

Environmental Stewardship

In this new focus area still under development, the Foundation seeks to support small-scale environmental efforts through hands-on activities and community engagement. Guidelines for funding will be forthcoming.

Seeking to foster deeper connections with nature among a range of constituencies, the Foundation invests in environmental programs that focus on education and/or stewardship. In the environmental education area, the Foundation’s emphasis is on high quality programs that promote hands-on experiential activities in formal and informal K-12 educational settings to increase time spent outside in nature for youth. In the environmental stewardship area, the Foundation seeks to support the maintenance and expansion of green spaces, including parks and farms, in under-resourced neighborhoods.

The Foundation’s environmental grantmaking is limited to the Baltimore metropolitan region. The Foundation typically provides funding for general operations and/or programming, but not capital needs.

Aegon Transamerica Foundation

The Aegon Transamerica Foundation supports non-profit organizations that help improve the well-being of the communities where Transamerica employees live and work. The nonprofit, private foundation evaluates grant requests based on their location and priorities.

The Aegon Transamerica Foundation was formed on June 30, 2000, when the Aegon USA Charitable Foundation and the Aegon Transamerica Foundation merged.

Our grant programs are designed to empower our neighbors to provide people in our communities the resources to live life on their terms.

What we support

The Aegon Transamerica Foundation focuses on financial and social empowerment to create more inclusive communities where people can live longer, more fulfilling lives. The nonprofit organizations we support must:

• Encourage self-reliance and empower people socially by enhancing their adaptability, skills and capabilities
• Empower people financially by building financial awareness and knowledge and providing relevant tools
• Be active in a market where we operate
• Include opportunities for employees and stakeholders to contribute (time, effort, knowledge)
• Be a distinct and innovative initiative

Social empowerment

We support partnerships that enhance the opportunities and capabilities of people in our communities; broaden social networks, interactions, and aspirations; and increase access to essential services.

• Increase accessibility to the arts for youth and the underserved
• Advance community development, civic engagement, and leadership
• Advance inclusion and diversity
• Promote health education, nutrition, medical services, or disease prevention
• Increase access to food, housing, and clothing
• Build resilient communities 
• Encourage self-reliance and empower people socially by enhancing their adaptability, skills and capabilities

Financial empowerment

Partnerships that build financial awareness, knowledge, and skills, or provide tools to become more financially resilient. 

• Provide and promote education and personal development, especially in financial literacy
• Provide access to job skills training

Our Priorities

The Straus Foundation has identified the following program areas to serve as a blueprint for our grantmaking. However, we acknowledge that there will be many intersections between all four areas.

Jewish Community Services

The Straus Foundation has deep Jewish roots, and supporting Jewish families will always be a priority. Jewish values, particularly the value of social justice, inform all of our grantmaking. The Foundation’s grantees in this priority area are Camps Airy & Louise, a boys and a girl’s camp in Western Maryland for Jewish children. The camps were started by Aaron and Lillie Straus to provide the values and development of a camping experience to Jewish children from Baltimore and the surrounding area, regardless of their economic background. Today, the camps continue this tradition by providing opportunities for self-growth, life skills, life-long friendships, an appreciation for the natural world, and an affirmation of Jewish identity.

Immigration Advocacy and Services: Making Baltimore a Welcoming City

For close to 100 years, Aaron and Lillie Straus devoted time, resources, and a strategic vision for the health and resettlement of waves of immigrants coming into Baltimore. The understanding was that new Americans would thrive both personally and professionally, with great benefit to the city. 

While this same premise holds true today, with 50,000 foreign-born immigrants living in Baltimore City, immigration policy must be urgently addressed while ensuring legal and social services are delivered upon their arrival.

Access to Quality Health/Mental Health Services: Creating Opportunities for Personal and Community Well-Being

While structural racism, violence and persistent underinvestment in communities have led to many in Baltimore experiencing significant trauma, the people of this city also have immense strength and resilience. With that knowledge, the Foundation strives to connect children and families to early detection and prevention as a strategy to decrease the use of emergency room and other services on the most expensive side of the health delivery system and to make readily available the full array of family planning services. We look to fund opportunities that create culturally competent, community-based access to health services as well as advocacy efforts around rights and reimbursement.

Social Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship

For the last decade, The Straus Foundation has focused on the intersection of social innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship for the purpose of catalyzing the unique assets and talents of the city of Baltimore. In a short period of time, Baltimore has created a growing ecosystem that attracts and celebrates new leaders seeking more effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions to strengthen the city. We seek to equitably support promising entrepreneurs and their ideas in order to democratize opportunity, provide capital, support technical assistance, and create a new vibrancy in our city.

Alternative Grantmaking

In addition to making grants in its five program areas, The Straus Foundation will, from time to time, make allocations in the following ways:

• Foundation-Driven Initiatives: Specifics Requests for Proposal will be issued for these initiatives, and grants will be made through a competitive process;
• Funding Collaboratives: Straus Foundation dollars will be pooled with other private and public resources for a specific programmatic purpose. The collaborative will then make grants through a competitive Request for Proposal process;
• Loans: The Foundation will occasionally make a loan instead of a grant to an organization for a specific project or programmatic interest. The Foundation does not make loans to individuals or organizations for emergency needs; and
• Program-Related Investments: The Foundation will, on occasion, invest a portion of its corpus for the purpose of meeting a programmatic need as well as receiving a market-rate return on its investment.

For more than 20 years, The Baltimore Life Companies have viewed community involvement as our responsibility, not only through financial support of local organizations, but through our employees’ commitment to volunteerism. To further demonstrate our belief in good corporate citizenship, Baltimore Life has established a community grants program to help nonprofit organizations enhance the quality of life in communities—Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and the surrounding communities—where our employees live and work.

Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to multiple organizations. Our grants program is a continuation of Baltimore Life’s long-standing tradition of giving back to our communities.

Background

The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund was established in 1964 by Mary S. Baker in memory of her husband. Awarding grants that range from $1,500 to $45,000 the Baker Fund continues its founders’ civic-minded philanthropic tradition benefiting the residents of the greater Baltimore area. The Baltimore Community Foundation has managed the Baker Fund’s grants program since 1985.

Guidelines

The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund believes that arts and culture play a central role in the development and growth of healthy individuals and thriving communities and commits its resources to promote and sustain a vibrant arts and culture sector in metropolitan Baltimore. Its grants support organizational effectiveness, promote local artists and their work, and provide cultural experiences that welcome people of all backgrounds, enhance residents’ lives, and strengthen the region’s sense of cohesion and identity.

Objectives

• Enrich metropolitan Baltimore life
• Support a lively cultural environment
• Deepen civic connections and engagement through arts and culture
• Ensure that programs are inclusive and outreach efforts broad
• Sustain a healthy cultural ecosystem
• Provide funding opportunities to strengthen the programs and practices of organizations that offer significant cultural experiences, foster sector cooperation and alliances and sponsor an artist awards initiative that supports and promotes local artists through a nonprofit intermediary

Funding Priorities

Strengthening Organizational and Artistic Practices

• Capacity programs to improve internal organizational and management practices—including board training, strategic planning, fundraising and marketing expertise, budgeting and financial planning, program planning, professional development, technology upgrades and training and operating support for key partners.
• With submission of a full proposal, qualified applicants may apply for a working capital reserve or fixed asset replacement reserve grant requiring a 1:1 match. See Reserve Fund Grant Program Application.
• Occasional capacity requests from arts magnet schools
• Professional development programs for the benefit of metropolitan Baltimore artists

Innovative Programs

• Inclusive, innovative programming initiatives and projects to engage new audiences
• Small program grants (up to $1,500) for innovative programming for nonprofit organizations with budgets under $75,000 or their fiscal agents requiring description of the organization and proposed project, project budget, most recent year-end organizational budget, list of key personnel and board members and their roles, current Maryland Cultural Data report in Baker format and the organization’s or its fiscal agent’s IRS Determination Letter. Application Form not required. Requests accepted year-round.

Cultural Sector Collaboration

• Strategic alliances that support collaboration and cooperation across the cultural community and strengthen organizational abilities to work at the highest levels.

The Venable Foundation envisions that its philanthropic investments provide essential resources to nonprofit organizations in communities across the country. Guided by the belief that everyone has the right to equitable employment opportunities, healthcare, housing, food, and a vibrant cultural community, Venable grantees ensure that economically disadvantaged people are given the tools they need to thrive.

The average size of a Venable Foundation grant is approximately $10,000. First-time awardees are usually on the smaller end of the spectrum. It is up to the organization to determine what it feels is an appropriate request.

Funding Priorities

Grant support is provided to assist with general operations and projects. Currently, the Venable Foundation’s funding priorities include:

• Human Services
• Legal Services
• Education
• Workforce Development
• Youth Impact
• Health
• Environment
• Arts and Culture

You can learn more about each of these funding priorities below:

Human Services – The Foundation has a strong track record of supporting a breadth of essential human services, including programs that impact people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, incarcerated and returning citizens, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, and those affected by domestic violence and housing insecurity.

Legal Services – We support the delivery of free or affordable legal services in our communities. Pro bono consulting and representation focus on a variety of issues, including domestic violence, housing, immigration, public benefits, and discrimination, among other areas. Legal service nonprofits providing “know your rights” training and other activities are also supported. The Foundation also supports training for youth and adults to ensure diversity and access to careers in the legal profession.

Education – The Foundation supports a wide array of early childhood, in-school, and out-of-school time initiatives that provide in-depth opportunities for learning and engagement to position children for success and level the playing field for economically disadvantaged youth.

Workforce Development – We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to pursue gainful employment. Thus, we support organizations with the goal of developing the workforce of today and tomorrow. Successful programs recruit and train individuals and place them in relevant jobs so that they can earn a sustainable living wage for themselves and their families. Skill development is focused on low-income, underemployed, and unemployed community members, and on preparing youth for careers after their schooling is complete.

Youth Impact – The Foundation invests in services that impact children in each of our communities. These initiatives ensure economically disadvantaged youth are healthy and safe and have opportunities to thrive.

Health – The Foundation is committed to improving wellness and increasing access to care for economically disadvantaged individuals in the region. Successful organizations and programs work to eliminate barriers to healthcare for all ages and provide accessible and no-stigma testing for a variety of diseases. We support pediatric to geriatric services that address a variety of health concerns.

Environment – We support organizations involved in the preservation of our natural resources and those that are addressing natural or man-made disasters in our target regions. Programs educate communities and work for change on a variety of environmental issues, from wildfires to pollution.

Arts and Culture – The Foundation supports initiatives in the arts that promote deeper public engagement and build up the creative economy, with an emphasis on low-income and underserved communities.

Program Areas

Since our founding, we have awarded more than $60 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Today, we award approximately $2.5 million in grants each year across five program areas:

Arts & Humanities

Our founders valued arts and humanities for the well-rounded education it brings to humanity and the role it can play in strengthening a community.

Today the Foundation supports performing, visual and instructional arts programs in the community.

Catholic Activities

The Catholic faith and the Catholic Church community were of central importance to our founders – it was their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Knott responded to the needs of the clergy both out of gratitude for the compassion their own family had received, and a desire to support the work of men and women of integrity whom they saw serving the needs of the broader community. They supported the development of clergy and lay leaders to strengthen the Catholic Church, the reputation of the Catholic Church, and the Catholic community.

Our founders’ devotion to the Catholic faith and support of the Catholic Church has its roots in family history. Mr. Knott’s grandmother died young, and his own mother and aunt were raised and schooled by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. That act of kindness made a huge impression on Mr. Knott and he felt indebted to repay their generosity. Mr. Knott desired to support the Catholic Church in part because of what the Church had done for his family, and also because of the role that faith played in his life.

The Foundation honors this legacy by supporting organizations and programs that espouse the values and doctrines of the Catholic Church. Through our focus on Catholic activities, we support churches, faith communities, religious orders, retreat houses and spiritual centers.  

Education

• Catholic Schools and Private Schools
• Private colleges and universities

Henry and Marion Knott, our founders, believed that education was the key to success. They sought to support both students who were excelling academically and students who had limited access to opportunity. They believed that hard work combined with access to a quality education was the foundation from which all people could succeed in life.

Mr. and Mrs. Knott prioritized Catholic education both because of their personal faith and because they valued both the character development it nurtured in students and the moral stability it provided to the community. And though they primarily supported Catholic education, their interests were not exclusive. They sought to support the greater Baltimore community by providing opportunity to motivated students in and outside the Catholic faith.

When investing in education, Mr. Knott had high standards for schools and students alike. He supported schools that were producing leaders, and that were well-run institutions. He expected that schools would be financially sound, have excellent academics, and show successful outcomes for students. His expectation was that students, after benefitting from educational opportunity, would emerge as active citizens, ready to give back and become leaders in their communities.

Today, the Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Foundation continues our founders’ commitment to education by prioritizing Catholic education. We also support special needs schools, private colleges and universities, out-of-school-time programs, and other education-related activities that provide opportunity for students and produce lasting outcomes within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Health Care

Our founders raised a family during an era where good medical care was hard to come by. Hospitals were just beginning to be built as pillars within communities and were not as accessible as they are today. Mr. and Mrs. Knott saw the potential that accessible, quality care had for strengthening the community, and they were also empathetic towards the strife that illness and death causes in a family.

During his lifetime, Mr. Knott used his business acumen and builders experience to purchase and then donate land to Johns Hopkins for their west campus expansion, as well as to other institutions. He knew that having world class medical facilities would bring recognition and strength to the Baltimore community.

Today the Foundation continues our founders’ commitment in health care by supporting compassionate care needs of families and their caregivers. We concentrate on programs that provide curative, preventative, rehabilitative, and palliative care, as well as patient support services.

Human Services

Mr. and Mrs. Knott both came from humble beginnings and did not grow up wealthy. As a result, they had sincere compassion for others in need. Mrs. Knott, whose parents died when she was a young teen, had incredible compassion for people undergoing hardships in life. Mr. Knott started out driving a tomato truck, then spent time learning about construction, and eventually launched his own building business. He was given opportunities that changed the trajectory of his own life, and he wanted to do the same for others. They both believed in supporting people who wanted to help themselves and get ahead, and they hoped it would engender in them a spirit of giving and opportunity to pass on to others. 

While they prioritized creating opportunity for people, our founders weren’t above meeting basic needs. While living on their family farm and after having achieved success, they worked the land and donated the fruits of their labor to those in need. At another time, Mr. Knott’s children recalled their father being particularly happy. Reportedly he had just gone to a coat manufacturer to buy out the remaining inventory at the end of season, and was on his way to donate the hundred or so coats to Catholic Charities to give to the homeless.

Compelled by their own life experiences and their faith, our founders had sincere compassion for the poor, the hungry, the sick, and in particular for women, children and families in crisis.

The Foundation continues this support by meeting many human service needs within the community. Our grants touch numerous areas -- from helping to meet people’s basic needs, to housing and homelessness, to workforce development, to family and children’s services.

Projects

Within these Program Areas, we currently fund the following projects:

• Capital expenses
• Development
• New and/or ongoing programs
• Operating expenses
• Technology

Funding

Our work in these areas includes distinct funding opportunities: 

Grants

We generally award grants under $100,000 but remain open to opportunities for greater impact with larger sums. 

Discretionary Grants

We provide a limited number of discretionary grants on a rolling basis throughout the year. These grants, most often ranging in amounts from $500 to $2,500, are designed to diversify our grantmaking options as well as enhance our responsiveness to community needs.  

Our History

Since an original bequest of $11 million from the estate of Morris Goldseker in 1975, the Goldseker Foundation has granted $130 million to approximately 650 nonprofit organizations and projects in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Though the focus of the Foundation’s grantmaking has evolved over time, in all of our grantmaking we have sought to honor Mr. Goldseker’s wish that the Foundation serve the Baltimore community by investing in its institutions and people.

Today, the Goldseker Foundation works in partnership with the city’s civic leadership, a well-established nonprofit sector, and a growing community of entrepreneurs to serve the Baltimore community, through grantmaking primarily in the areas of community development, education, and nonprofit organizational development. Looking forward, the foundation is exploring opportunities to grow our portfolio of program related investments. Members of the Goldseker family continue to serve on the board of directors, along with independent directors and the input of an advisory committee comprised of the presidents of three of Baltimore’s leading institutions.

Our Grant

Management Assistance Grants provide funds for nonprofit organizations to engage the consulting expertise needed to facilitate initiatives such as strategic planning, program evaluation, merger exploration, and fund development and sustainability. 

About the Baltimore Community Foundation

For nearly 50 years, the Baltimore Community Foundation has connected people who are passionate about their city and purposeful in their philanthropy. This is giving by and for the people of Baltimore.

Black Philanthropy Giving Circle Fund

The Black Philanthropy Giving Circle (the “Fund”) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 donor-advised fund focused on charitable giving to nonprofit organizations committed to providing services for the betterment of African-Americans within the Baltimore metropolitan area (the “Area”).

Operating Assistance Grant

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is committed to assisting Maryland’s local governments and nonprofit organizations build capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals. The Department has​ consolidated two operating assistance programs: Technical Assistance Grant and Main Street Improvement Program into one Operating Assistance Grant application to request funding.

Operating Assistance Grants offer funding to support operating and technical assistance costs associated with local housing and community and economic revitalization projects and/or initiatives that are located in or serve designated Sustainable Community areas.

Eligible Activities

Eligible Activities include, but are not limited to, costs associated with consultants or services, a portion of general operating expenses and other costs directly associated with community development projects. Costs associated with consulting expertise/technical assistance or training for organizational development or community assessment and goal setting resulting in the expansion of an existing program or deployment of a new initiative, such as a revenue producing social enterprise are also eligible.

LISC and Foot Locker, Inc., through the Foot Locker Foundation, are launching a third round of grants for the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program, a multi-city initiative to support nonprofit community organizations that empower youth in underserved communities. The program aims to bridge gaps driven by racial inequity and promote youth empowerment and community wellness—all while supporting community-based organizations led by people of color. 

What we’re offering 

The Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program offers two types of grants: 

• Grants to support current youth programming, create new programming or extend existing programming. These grants will range from $25,000 to $75,000 over one year. 
• Grants to support capital improvement projects that enhance the impact of youth programming. These grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000 over one year. 

The Small Grants Program (SGP)

Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under this program — operating, program, or capital — must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, or Aging. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 over two years.

Housing

Stable housing provides a foundation for individuals, children, and families to lead healthy and productive lives. Without a place to call home, individuals and families cannot put themselves on a path to a healthy, stronger future.

Priorities

• Housing With Supportive Services: The Foundation supports nonprofit housing development to accelerate the production of affordable housing that integrates into the broader community and includes services to help people achieve and maintain stability.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Permanent supportive housing developments or units serving people who are exiting homelessness.
    • Working capital for predevelopment of supportive housing or to build nonprofit developers’ capacity to create more housing, such as expanding their real estate development teams.
• Community-Led Development: The Foundation supports innovative, community-driven efforts that preserve affordable housing for generations. Projects should have the potential for replication or expansion and enable residents to live and thrive in their home communities.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Community land trusts primarily in Baltimore and Hawaiʻi that prioritize people experiencing housing instability.
    • Models for community ownership or community wealth building to prevent resident displacement.
    • Mixed-income housing integrated into the community that is designed by and for individuals who are often marginalized, such as people with disabilities, youth, and residents of rural areas.
• Coordinated Responses to Homelessness: The Foundation supports projects to improve collaboration across public systems and organizations that serve people without housing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Projects should involve individuals who have been homeless to inform planning and implementation.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Partnerships to coordinate services across organizations that address homelessness. Projects should demonstrate how the work improves the lives of people served.
    • Leadership development and other opportunities for people who have experienced homelessness to participate in planning and decision making about programs designed to serve them.
    • Models for sustainable funding of supportive services that help people maintain housing.

Operating Grants

Operating grants fund the overall operating costs of an organization.

Baltimore City Community Grants Program

This program was created to provide support to small nonprofits with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less that provide direct services to low-income individuals and families in Baltimore City. Eligible organizations may apply for up to $20,000 to assist with general operating expenses, program, or capital costs, including equipment purchases, capacity building (e.g., evaluation and audit costs), and other eligible expenses.

Health

Good health is essential to help people move and remain out of poverty. Poor physical or mental health can prevent or complicate the pursuit of education, employment, and other opportunities for economic mobility.

Priorities

• Health Care Access: The Foundation supports organizations that provide access to health care, as well as those striving to improve patient health.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Capital projects that expand access to primary care. Grantees are typically federally qualified health centers and other community health centers that provide a range of services in one place. Please note that the Foundation does not fund hospitals or free clinics.
    • Oral and behavioral health programs that increase access to care through the construction of new facilities as well as operating support that leverages billing revenue.
    • Health care transition programs that ensure young adults with developmental disabilities have access to qualified primary care providers as they move into adulthood.
• Veteran Mental Wellness: The Foundation supports programs that enhance the mental wellness of veterans who are reintegrating into civilian life.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Retreat programs, including an intensive on-site experience with a minimum of one year of follow-up. Programs must use a proven curriculum.
    • Post-traumatic mental health therapy that is evidence-based and proven to reduce symptoms.
    • Coordinated resource networks that facilitate access to a range of supportive services. These networks have a single access point that evaluates veterans and connects them with the most appropriate service providers.
• Nutrition and Food Access: The Foundation supports organizations and programs that increase food security and access to nutritious food.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Meal service programs that ensure people who are homebound and living with severe, chronic illnesses have access to nutritious food.
    • Food delivery programs, including nonprofit grocery stores, which increase access to healthy foods in food deserts.
    • Food bank expansions and other capital projects that increase warehouse space, add cold storage and handling, and make other modifications necessary to serve more people. Please note that the Foundation focuses on regional food banks and not on food pantries or feeding programs.
• Trauma, Abuse, and Safety: The Foundation supports programs that promote family safety and that reduce the long-term traumatic effects of abuse and neglect, sexual assault, intimate partner or family violence, and exposure to community violence.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Domestic violence programs that provide safe shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services.
    • Prevention and treatment programs that strive to reduce and alleviate the effects of child sexual and physical abuse, child trafficking, and child neglect.

More information is found here.

Capital Grants

Capital grants fund the purchase, construction, and/or renovation of a building; the purchase of major equipment; home modifications for low-income homeowners; and select technology projects.

To qualify for capital grant consideration, the proposed project must meet the following criteria:

• Specific, confirmed plans, including value-engineered drawings and confirmed total project costs.
• At least 50% of project costs have been raised (either pledged or received).
• Direct services provided as a result of the project should align with the Foundation’s funding priorities in its focus areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Aging.

The Foundation’s charter also sets a threshold for the total funding that it can provide to any one capital project at a maximum of 30%. However, grants are often approved for lower amounts.

Small Grants Program

Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under this program — operating, program, or capital — must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, or Aging. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 over two years.

Health

Good health is essential to help people move and remain out of poverty. Poor physical or mental health can prevent or complicate the pursuit of education, employment, and other opportunities for economic mobility.

Priorities

• Health Care Access: The Foundation supports organizations that provide access to health care, as well as those striving to improve patient health.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Capital projects that expand access to primary care. Grantees are typically federally qualified health centers and other community health centers that provide a range of services in one place. Please note that the Foundation does not fund hospitals or free clinics.
    • Oral and behavioral health programs that increase access to care through the construction of new facilities as well as operating support that leverages billing revenue.
    • Health care transition programs that ensure young adults with developmental disabilities have access to qualified primary care providers as they move into adulthood.
• Veteran Mental Wellness: The Foundation supports programs that enhance the mental wellness of veterans who are reintegrating into civilian life.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Retreat programs, including an intensive on-site experience with a minimum of one year of follow-up. Programs must use a proven curriculum.
    • Post-traumatic mental health therapy that is evidence-based and proven to reduce symptoms.
    • Coordinated resource networks that facilitate access to a range of supportive services. These networks have a single access point that evaluates veterans and connects them with the most appropriate service providers.
• Nutrition and Food Access: The Foundation supports organizations and programs that increase food security and access to nutritious food.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Meal service programs that ensure people who are homebound and living with severe, chronic illnesses have access to nutritious food.
    • Food delivery programs, including nonprofit grocery stores, which increase access to healthy foods in food deserts.
    • Food bank expansions and other capital projects that increase warehouse space, add cold storage and handling, and make other modifications necessary to serve more people. Please note that the Foundation focuses on regional food banks and not on food pantries or feeding programs.
• Trauma, Abuse, and Safety: The Foundation supports programs that promote family safety and that reduce the long-term traumatic effects of abuse and neglect, sexual assault, intimate partner or family violence, and exposure to community violence.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Domestic violence programs that provide safe shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services.
    • Prevention and treatment programs that strive to reduce and alleviate the effects of child sexual and physical abuse, child trafficking, and child neglect.

Operating Grants

Operating grants fund the overall operating costs of an organization.

How We Give

The Weinberg Foundation fulfills its mission of meeting the basic needs of people experiencing poverty by providing grants across five focus areas that serve a range of populations, primarily within the Foundation’s priority communities. Grant requests should align with one of these areas:

• Housing,
• Health,
• Jobs,
• Education, or
• Aging.

Health

Good health is essential to help people move and remain out of poverty. Poor physical or mental health can prevent or complicate the pursuit of education, employment, and other opportunities for economic mobility.

Priorities

• Health Care Access: The Foundation supports organizations that provide access to health care, as well as those striving to improve patient health.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Capital projects that expand access to primary care. Grantees are typically federally qualified health centers and other community health centers that provide a range of services in one place. Please note that the Foundation does not fund hospitals or free clinics.
    • Oral and behavioral health programs that increase access to care through the construction of new facilities as well as operating support that leverages billing revenue.
    • Health care transition programs that ensure young adults with developmental disabilities have access to qualified primary care providers as they move into adulthood.
• Nutrition and Food Access: The Foundation supports organizations and programs that increase food security and access to nutritious food.
• • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Meal service programs that ensure people who are homebound and living with severe, chronic illnesses have access to nutritious food.
    • Food delivery programs, including nonprofit grocery stores, which increase access to healthy foods in food deserts.
    • Food bank expansions and other capital projects that increase warehouse space, add cold storage and handling, and make other modifications necessary to serve more people. Please note that the Foundation focuses on regional food banks and not on food pantries or feeding programs.
• Trauma, Abuse, and Safety: The Foundation supports programs that promote family safety and that reduce the long-term traumatic effects of abuse and neglect, sexual assault, intimate partner or family violence, and exposure to community violence.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Domestic violence programs that provide safe shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services.
    • Prevention and treatment programs that strive to reduce and alleviate the effects of child sexual and physical abuse, child trafficking, and child neglect.

Program Grants

Program grants fund specific programs within an organization.

Small Grants Program

Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under this program — operating, program, or capital — must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, or Aging. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 over two years.

Health

Good health is essential to help people move and remain out of poverty. Poor physical or mental health can prevent or complicate the pursuit of education, employment, and other opportunities for economic mobility.

Priorities

• Health Care Access: The Foundation supports organizations that provide access to health care, as well as those striving to improve patient health.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Capital projects that expand access to primary care. Grantees are typically federally qualified health centers and other community health centers that provide a range of services in one place. Please note that the Foundation does not fund hospitals or free clinics.
    • Oral and behavioral health programs that increase access to care through the construction of new facilities as well as operating support that leverages billing revenue.
    • Health care transition programs that ensure young adults with developmental disabilities have access to qualified primary care providers as they move into adulthood.
• Nutrition and Food Access: The Foundation supports organizations and programs that increase food security and access to nutritious food.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Meal service programs that ensure people who are homebound and living with severe, chronic illnesses have access to nutritious food.
    • Food delivery programs, including nonprofit grocery stores, which increase access to healthy foods in food deserts.
    • Food bank expansions and other capital projects that increase warehouse space, add cold storage and handling, and make other modifications necessary to serve more people. Please note that the Foundation focuses on regional food banks and not on food pantries or feeding programs.
• Trauma, Abuse, and Safety: The Foundation supports programs that promote family safety and that reduce the long-term traumatic effects of abuse and neglect, sexual assault, intimate partner or family violence, and exposure to community violence.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Domestic violence programs that provide safe shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services.
    • Prevention and treatment programs that strive to reduce and alleviate the effects of child sexual and physical abuse, child trafficking, and child neglect.

Capital Grants

Capital grants fund the purchase, construction, and/or renovation of a building; the purchase of major equipment; home modifications for low-income homeowners; and select technology projects.

To qualify for capital grant consideration, the proposed project must meet the following criteria:

• Specific, confirmed plans, including value-engineered drawings and confirmed total project costs.
• At least 50% of project costs have been raised (either pledged or received).
• Direct services provided as a result of the project should align with the Foundation’s funding priorities in its focus areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Aging.

The Foundation’s charter also sets a threshold for the total funding that it can provide to any one capital project at a maximum of 30%. However, grants are often approved for lower amounts.

Small Grants Program

Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under this program — operating, program, or capital — must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, or Aging. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 over two years.

Education

Education can help break the cycle of poverty. Providing high-quality academic and developmental opportunities helps young people build the skills they need to succeed in school and life.

Priorities

• College and Career Pathways: The Foundation supports programs that help youth (ages 11–21) meet key milestones and develop skills and introduce them to a wide variety of academic areas and careers, equipping them to graduate high school, complete postsecondary education or training, and build a career. Projects should have a proven record of fostering academic and postsecondary success, focus on creating paths to college completion or well-paying jobs, and prioritize young people in planning and decision-making.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Science, technology, engineering, art, and math programs in or outside of school that engage students in project-based learning, build technical skills, and provide real-world work experiences that result in college credit or come with stipends.
    • College access and completion programs that help students — in partnership with their families — identify aspirations, navigate the application and admissions process, and persist through graduation.
    • Programs that enable youth who are not in school or working to reengage in their education and community, develop skills, and get on a path to enter and complete postsecondary education or training.
    • Capital for labs, studios, and other facilities that provide the space and technology for young people to develop their skills and passions and support them on the path to college or careers.
• Academic Success and Opportunity: The Foundation supports programs that help middle and high school students stay on track to graduate with the skills they need to be successful, such as reading and math proficiency, and that provide advanced learning and enrichment opportunities for youth with limited access to such experiences. Projects must have an evidence-based academic component with demonstrated results.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Proven models that help students master core academic subjects (e.g., algebra) and foster successful transitions from middle to high school and to postsecondary education.
    • After-school, weekend, or summer programs that work with students for a minimum of six weeks over the summer and one year during the school year and blend academic learning with enriching activities to increase educational achievement, school attendance, and positive social behavior.
    • Programs that increase access to advanced learning opportunities that promote higher achievement and future success.
• Adolescent Health and Well-Being: The Foundation supports programs that bolster the physical and mental well-being of adolescents so they can fully engage in school and life.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Youth development programs grounded in sports that provide mentorship, academic support, and athletic competition.
    • Innovative programs that support the mental health and well-being of young people who face significant challenges, including LGBTQ+ youth and young people experiencing homelessness or who are not in school or working.
    • Capital for facilities to provide high-quality sports-based youth development programs.

Operating Grants

Operating grants fund the overall operating costs of an organization.

Small Grants Program

Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under this program — operating, program, or capital — must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, or Aging. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 over two years.

Education

Education can help break the cycle of poverty. Providing high-quality academic and developmental opportunities helps young people build the skills they need to succeed in school and life.

Priorities

• College and Career Pathways: The Foundation supports programs that help youth (ages 11–21) meet key milestones and develop skills and introduce them to a wide variety of academic areas and careers, equipping them to graduate high school, complete postsecondary education or training, and build a career. Projects should have a proven record of fostering academic and postsecondary success, focus on creating paths to college completion or well-paying jobs, and prioritize young people in planning and decision-making.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Science, technology, engineering, art, and math programs in or outside of school that engage students in project-based learning, build technical skills, and provide real-world work experiences that result in college credit or come with stipends.
    • College access and completion programs that help students — in partnership with their families — identify aspirations, navigate the application and admissions process, and persist through graduation.
    • Programs that enable youth who are not in school or working to reengage in their education and community, develop skills, and get on a path to enter and complete postsecondary education or training.
    • Capital for labs, studios, and other facilities that provide the space and technology for young people to develop their skills and passions and support them on the path to college or careers.
• Academic Success and Opportunity: The Foundation supports programs that help middle and high school students stay on track to graduate with the skills they need to be successful, such as reading and math proficiency, and that provide advanced learning and enrichment opportunities for youth with limited access to such experiences. Projects must have an evidence-based academic component with demonstrated results.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Proven models that help students master core academic subjects (e.g., algebra) and foster successful transitions from middle to high school and to postsecondary education.
    • After-school, weekend, or summer programs that work with students for a minimum of six weeks over the summer and one year during the school year and blend academic learning with enriching activities to increase educational achievement, school attendance, and positive social behavior.
    • Programs that increase access to advanced learning opportunities that promote higher achievement and future success.
• Adolescent Health and Well-Being: The Foundation supports programs that bolster the physical and mental well-being of adolescents so they can fully engage in school and life.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Youth development programs grounded in sports that provide mentorship, academic support, and athletic competition.
    • Innovative programs that support the mental health and well-being of young people who face significant challenges, including LGBTQ+ youth and young people experiencing homelessness or who are not in school or working.
    • Capital for facilities to provide high-quality sports-based youth development programs.

Program Grants

Program grants fund specific programs within an organization.

Grants

The Weinberg Foundation’s grantmaking reflects the wishes of Harry and Jeanette Weinberg, as outlined in the Foundation’s charter, as well as the laws and public policy that govern private philanthropy in the United States and Israel.

Capital Grants

Capital grants fund the purchase, construction, and/or renovation of a building; the purchase of major equipment; home modifications for low-income homeowners; and select technology projects. To qualify for capital grant consideration, the proposed project must meet the following criteria:

• Specific, confirmed plans, including value-engineered drawings and confirmed total project costs.
• At least 50% of project costs have been raised (either pledged or received).
• Direct services provided as a result of the project should align with the Foundation’s funding priorities in its focus areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Aging (detailed within each focus area page).
  • The Foundation’s charter also sets a threshold for the total funding that it can provide to any one capital project at a maximum of 30%.
  • However, grants are often approved for lower amounts.

Education

Education can help break the cycle of poverty. Providing high-quality academic and developmental opportunities helps young people build the skills they need to succeed in school and life.

Priorities

• College and Career Pathways: The Foundation supports programs that help youth (ages 11–21) meet key milestones and develop skills and introduce them to a wide variety of academic areas and careers, equipping them to graduate high school, complete postsecondary education or training, and build a career. Projects should have a proven record of fostering academic and postsecondary success, focus on creating paths to college completion or well-paying jobs, and prioritize young people in planning and decision-making.
• • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Science, technology, engineering, art, and math programs in or outside of school that engage students in project-based learning, build technical skills, and provide real-world work experiences that result in college credit or come with stipends.
    • College access and completion programs that help students — in partnership with their families — identify aspirations, navigate the application and admissions process, and persist through graduation.
    • Programs that enable youth who are not in school or working to reengage in their education and community, develop skills, and get on a path to enter and complete postsecondary education or training.
    • Capital for labs, studios, and other facilities that provide the space and technology for young people to develop their skills and passions and support them on the path to college or careers.
• Academic Success and Opportunity: The Foundation supports programs that help middle and high school students stay on track to graduate with the skills they need to be successful, such as reading and math proficiency, and that provide advanced learning and enrichment opportunities for youth with limited access to such experiences. Projects must have an evidence-based academic component with demonstrated results.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Proven models that help students master core academic subjects (e.g., algebra) and foster successful transitions from middle to high school and to postsecondary education.
    • After-school, weekend, or summer programs that work with students for a minimum of six weeks over the summer and one year during the school year and blend academic learning with enriching activities to increase educational achievement, school attendance, and positive social behavior.
    • Programs that increase access to advanced learning opportunities that promote higher achievement and future success.
• Adolescent Health and Well-Being: The Foundation supports programs that bolster the physical and mental well-being of adolescents so they can fully engage in school and life.
  • Examples of appropriate projects:
    • Youth development programs grounded in sports that provide mentorship, academic support, and athletic competition.
    • Innovative programs that support the mental health and well-being of young people who face significant challenges, including LGBTQ+ youth and young people experiencing homelessness or who are not in school or working.
    • Capital for facilities to provide high-quality sports-based youth development programs.