Baltimore Children and Youth Fund

Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) is a nonprofit organization stewarding public funds to ensure our children and youth are healthy, ready to succeed in school and live in stable, safe, and supportive families and communities. The concept of the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund was launched in 2015 by then-City Council President Bernard “Jack” C. Young as a response to the unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, an event that sharply illuminated longstanding inequities in public funding in Black communities. In 2016, the Baltimore City Council and voters approved the Fund to receive an annual appropriation of the assessed value of all property in Baltimore. Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, Inc. was named the permanent intermediary of the Fund. BCYF, Inc. does more than grantmaking, we collaborate with grassroots organizations and community leaders to create new opportunities for the city’s young people to learn, thrive and succeed. BCYF, Inc. awards grants to organizations that provide programs to thousands of Baltimore's young people -- from academic support and science exploration to dance and photography. Unlike traditional philanthropic efforts in Baltimore, BCYF, Inc. is committed to authentic community engagement, and our strategy and grant decisions are shaped and led by Baltimore community members and youth leaders. Our core values of Racial Equity, Intergenerational Leadership, Community Ownership, and Collective Decision-Making direct our partnerships with organizations that share our Black liberation worldview. Through our strategic investments, we strive to resource a future where children and youth throughout the city enjoy access to high-caliber enrichment and learning opportunities, and children and youth programs have the resources they need to equitably serve all our young people.