Baltimore Children & Youth Fund Announces 2026 Grant Slate, Awarding Nearly $4.76 Million in Grants Serving Youth Across the City

Thirty Grants Across the Grassroots Fund, Community Accountable Fund, and President's Fund Are Part of More Than $8 Million Invested by BCYF in Fiscal Year 2026

BALTIMORE, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) is excited to announce its fiscal year 2026 grant slate, awarding 30 grants through the Grassroots Fund, Community Accountable Fund, and President's Fund to Baltimore-based organizations serving children and youth. The awards represent a total investment of nearly $4.76 million, comprising only one piece of BCYF's more than $8 million investment in direct grants during fiscal year 2026 alone, which is part of over $50 million invested in Baltimore youth since 2020.

The 2026 grantees provide programming spanning mentorship, cultural enrichment, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), arts, workforce development, and community leadership. All recipients are Baltimore-based, youth-serving organizations with majority of Baltimore-resident staff.

"Baltimore residents made a powerful commitment when they voted to create BCYF, and every year their tax dollars continue to open doors for young people across our city," said Alysia Lee, President and CEO of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund. "These grants put that commitment into action by supporting organizations that know their communities, build trusted relationships with young people and create opportunities for them to learn, lead and thrive. We are proud to thank Baltimore for making this work possible and to show residents where their investment is going."

BCYF exists because Baltimore voters chose to establish a dedicated fund for young people, and residents continue to sustain that investment through their tax dollars. Each grant puts that commitment into action, delivering resources directly to organizations working with young people in their own neighborhoods.

BCYF's grantmaking is guided by five priorities shaped by community members through the People's Assembly: Culturally Sustaining, Future Forward, Doing Well by Doing, Youth Voice and Networked. The Grassroots Fund awardees were selected through BCYF's community grant review process, placing residents at the center of decisions about investments in Baltimore's young people.

The Grassroots Fund invests in small, community-rooted organizations with annual budgets of $350,000 or less in support of their overall missions. Awards are structured as $50,000 per year for five years, totaling $250,000, unless otherwise indicated in the approved slate. Among the 2026 Grassroots Fund recipients are Baltimore Rites of Passage Initiative (BROPI), Expanding Boundaries International, Global Air Drone Academy, I Am A Child of God Inc., and Muse 360.

The Community Accountable Fund supports organizations with annual budgets between $350,000 and $500,000 that demonstrate accountability to young people and community. The fund prioritizes underserved youth populations and Black- and Brown-led organizations, with awards of $75,000 per year for three years, totaling $225,000. The Community Accountable Fund recipients are Baltimore Algebra Project, Baltimore Youth Arts, and Transforming Lives Community Development Corporation.

The President's Fund supports transformational opportunities, innovation, and high-impact partnerships. Award amounts vary, and eligible organizations may have annual budgets of up to $750,000. Recipients are selected through an internal BCYF review. President's Fund recipients include Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS), Baltimore American Indian Center, MissionFit, Nuestras Raíces, The Nolita Project, and The Sanctuary Collective.

"For The Nolita Project, this investment from BCYF allows us to meet young people where they are, surround them with consistent mentorship and opportunity, and expose them to pathways they may not have otherwise imagined for themselves. When Baltimore invests in its young people, we are investing in stronger families, safer communities, and the future of our entire city. We are grateful to BCYF for believing in our work and helping us expand what is possible for the youth we serve," said Wesley D. Hawkins, Executive Director of The Nolita Project Inc.

Residents who serve on BCYF's community grant review panels play a central role in shaping these investments. "As a Baltimore resident and youth from Northeast Baltimore, being a community grant reviewer has allowed me to have a voice in decisions that directly affect young people and our communities. I think it's important for residents to be included in these conversations because we experience the needs of our neighborhoods firsthand. Having community members involved in funding decisions helps make sure resources are going toward organizations and programs that are truly creating opportunities for young people to thrive," said Mi'Chael Pearson, Northeast Baltimore resident and community grant reviewer.

For the complete 2026 grant slate, including all recipients, funds, and award amounts, visit https://bcyfund.org/about/grantees/2026-grantees/. Information about BCYF grant opportunities, including application processes and deadlines, is available at https://bcyfund.org/grants/.

Applications for BCYF's next grant opportunity, Summer of Possibility 2027, opened September 1, 2026, and will award $2 million in grants to Baltimore-based organizations providing summer programming for youth. Eligible organizations can learn more at bcyfund.org/grants/summer-of-possibility.

About the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) is a nonprofit, city-funded initiative dedicated to improving the lives of young people across Baltimore. BCYF employs a dual investment strategy—pairing direct funding for youth-serving organizations with training and learning supports that promote long-term sustainability and strengthen Baltimore's youth ecosystem. Through this approach, BCYF delivers vital financial and educational resources to community-based organizations in education, health, safety, and enrichment, ensuring every young person has access to the opportunities they need to thrive. To learn more, visit http://www.bcyfund.org.

Media Contact:
Brandon Hansen
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
410-505-8459
[email protected]
https://bcyfund.org/ 

SOURCE Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF)