The Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative (SFC) is now accepting applications for summer 2022 programs. Now in its eighth year, the SFC works to expand summer enrichment opportunities for young people in Baltimore City. Collaborative members currently include: the Abell Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clayton Baker Trust, Constellation, Family League of Baltimore, France-Merrick Foundation, Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, The Hinkey-Benson Family Fund, Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, the Richman Family Foundation, and United Way of Central Maryland.
For the past seven years, the SFC has committed over $3 million annually to expand learning, recreation, and college and career readiness opportunities in the City, awarding a total of $20.3 million since 2015. This year, the SFC has leveraged a significant new funding source and is excited to welcome the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) to the Collaborative in the 2022 funding cycle. With a $2 million funding commitment for summer programs run by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led organizations and for programs serving older youth ages 14-24, BCYF will play an essential role in expanding the SFC’s funding pool to over $5 million while employing an explicit equity lens in their decision making.
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.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the learning disruptions that have occurred as a result, the need for engaging, enriching, and supportive summer programming is even more important. SFC members are committed to ensuring that Baltimore City youth can access programs that allow them to learn and grow during the summer months and prepare them for success throughout the year.
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. Applicants can learn more about funder priorities at the SFC website below.
To be considered for funding, summer programs must promote academic, social, and emotional growth in children and youth and, where applicable, strive to be inclusive of students of all abilities. Applicants must primarily serve children and youth families with low incomes who live in Baltimore City and have a plan to serve healthy meals to program participants, if operating for four or more hours per day with in-person programming. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m., Friday, December 3, 2021. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an optional virtual info session to ask questions about the application, requirements, and expectations for summer 2022:
To learn more about the Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative, access the application, and register for an info session, visit bmoresfc.org.
