Expanded Partnership Seeks Proposals for Summer Programs Serving Baltimore Youth

BALTIMORE, Jan. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Baltimore's largest charitable funders are teaming up, for the second year, to create new summer learning opportunities for City youth. This year's Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative has grown from three funders investing $1.5 million last year to eight funders investing more than $2 million for this coming summer. Those funders are the Abell Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Clayton Baker Trust, Family League of Baltimore, France-Merrick Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, and The Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation. Last year, 77 Baltimore nonprofits received grants through this program.

The newly expanded partnership aims to fund high-quality summer programs that serve low-income Baltimore City youth. These programs should address one or more of the following areas: literacy; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); youth employment; college and career readiness; environmental education; health and overcoming stress and trauma; and enrichment such as sports and the arts.

Applicants should meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Provide a Certificate of Good Standing with the state of Maryland
• Be an organization/summer program that has been in operation for at least two years
• Provide proof of 501(c)(3) or 509(a) tax status
• Primarily serve children and youth from low-income families who live in Baltimore City
• Have a plan to promote literacy
• Have a plan to serve healthy meals

While each organization has specific criteria for funding, all eight share the same application process and goal: ensuring City youth can access educational activities that allow them to continue learning and growing during the summer months.

By supporting summer programs throughout the City, participating funders hope to reduce summer learning loss and ensure more youth have the chance to reach their full potential during the summer and beyond. Unlike their peers from higher-income families, youth in low-income families often lack access to activities—whether through camps, libraries, or even museums—that keep their minds engaged over the summer. As a result, they experience "summer slide," losing one to three months of knowledge and skills gained during the previous school year.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, 2016. To learn more about each organization's eligibility criteria, and to access the application, visit www.aecf.org/summergrants.   

Sheryl Goldstein | 443.738.1163 | [email protected]
Arin Gencer | 410.223.2823 | [email protected]

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation