Since 1983, members of Friends of Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park (FOGFLP) have served the public as volunteer caretakers and protectors of Baltimore City’s largest park and most important natural area. As the proud successor to the group that fought to keep an eight-lane highway from devastating the park, FOGFLP has a long history of advocating for GFLP, at times standing up to powerful forces and suing when necessary to challenge destructive or unwise projects. FOGFLP helps preserve, maintain, promote, and defend the park by sponsoring or supporting events, cheerleading, and responding to environmental and political developments. It partners with those who share its goals of preserving and enhancing this unique resource. Its members donate over 1,000 hours of volunteer labor annually. This grant provided core operating support.

The Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (BDEC) was formed in 2020 during the pandemic as a way to bring nonprofits in the city together to address Internet connectivity gaps in low-income neighborhoods. The Foundation provided initial start-up support, and BDEC gained early recognition for standing up wifi hotspots throughout the city and supporting City Schools with distributing laptops to all students. Now, a few years out from the acute moment of the pandemic, BDEC has grown to a coalition of nearly 100 member organizations. BDEC works with state and local offices to influence policy and legislation to address persisting inequity in digital access. This grant provided funds to engage a consultant in a strategic planning process.

Formerly known as Urban Teachers, City Teaching Alliance (CTA) is dedicated to providing students in urban communities with highly effective educators. CTA participants receive a master’s degree from American University and become dually certified to teach in either elementary education, secondary English or secondary math, and special education. Launched in 2020 as an extension of CTA’s flagship teacher development program, the Black Educator Initiative provides financial and programmatic support grant funds for current and aspiring Black educators. This grant provided core operating support.