Now in its fifth year, the Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative continues to work to expand summer enrichment opportunities for young people in Baltimore City. Collaborative members include the Abell Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Clayton Baker Trust, Constellation, Family League of Baltimore, France-Merrick Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, The Hinkey-Benson Family Fund, Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, Under Armour, and United Way of Central Maryland.
These 13 funders have committed more than $3 million to help fight summer learning loss. When children are disengaged from learning and enrichment over the summer months, they can lose up to three months of knowledge and skills gained during the previous school year. High-quality summer programming has been proven to help reduce this learning loss or “summer slide.” By expanding learning, recreation, and college and career-readiness opportunities, the Collaborative members hope that Baltimore City youth can access programs that allow them to learn and grow during the summer months.
The members of the Collaborative share a common goal to fund high-quality summer programs that serve youth from families with low incomes in Baltimore City. Using a common application and review process, member organizations make their own funding decisions. Since 2015, the Collaborative has awarded $12.7 million in support of summer enrichment opportunities in the City.
To be considered for funding, summer programs must promote academic, social, and emotional growth in children and youth and be inclusive of students of all abilities. Applicants must primarily serve children and youth from low-income families who live in Baltimore City and, if operating for four or more hours per day, must have a plan to serve healthy meals to program participants.
The deadline for applications is 5 p.m., Friday, February 1, 2019. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an optional pre-proposal conference to ask questions about the RFP and its requirements:
- Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Southeast Anchor Branch Library
- Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 6 – 7:30 p.m. in NW Baltimore (Location TBD)
- Thursday, January 17, 2019, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Family League of Baltimore
To learn more about the Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative and to access the application, visit bmoresfc.org.
