The grants are distributed across three distinct tiers: the Grassroots Fund, the Community Accountable Fund, and the President's Fund. Each tier targets organizations with varying budget sizes, ensuring that smaller, neighborhood-rooted groups receive long-term financial stability. Recipients range from the Global Air Drone Academy and Muse 360 to the Baltimore Algebra Project and MissionFit, all of which maintain a majority of Baltimore-resident staff.
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund Allocates $4.76 Million to Grassroots
With a total investment of nearly $4.76 million, the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund has selected 30 local organizations for its 2026 grant cycle. These funds, drawn from tax dollars and directed toward youth mentorship, STEM, and arts, represent a broader $8 million annual effort to bolster community-led programming.
Alysia Lee, President and CEO of the BCYF, emphasized that the selection process is designed to put voter-approved resources directly into the hands of those with existing trust within their neighborhoods. This year’s selections were guided by priorities established by the People’s Assembly, including youth voice and culturally sustaining programming. Residents themselves served on grant review panels, an inclusion strategy intended to ensure that funding reflects the lived realities of Baltimore’s youth. Beyond this current slate, the organization has already opened applications for its 2027 Summer of Possibility program, which aims to distribute an additional $2 million in support.
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