Baltimore Community Foundation fundraising effort tops $100 million
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The Baltimore Community Foundation raised nearly $104 million over the past three years to help build strong neighborhoods and schools and establish an endowment fund, the charity announced Thursday.
Thomas E. Wilcox, the foundation's president, said $30 million is being immediately spent in communities around the city, and the rest is being set aside for future needs. The announcement caps the nearly 45-year-old charity's largest fundraising effort.
Gifts from more than 250 donors ranged from $10,000 to $16 million. Donations came from a mix of individuals, business owners and private foundations.
Wilcox said the foundation's goal is to build a “strong community fabric” by supporting children and families in underserved neighborhoods, attracting and retaining the middle class, and improving school leadership.
The foundation is focused on preparing children for school and has helped establish early learning programs at city schools, known as Judy Centers.
Another objective is making neighborhoods “safe, clean, green and vibrant.” They foundation has specifically targeted Reservoir Hill and Greater Highlandtown in recent years.
The Southeast Community Development Corporation will receive $500,000 from the foundation over five years, said Chris Ryer, the organization's director. The money will support work such as community organizing, block parties with free food and programs for children to discuss race, gender and equality.
Marsha Reeves of Roland Park donated $500,000 to the campaign after relocating to Baltimore and researching causes she believed could bring change to the community.
Now a foundation board member, Reeves said she feels “very confident” about the charity's vision, especially its focus on improving public schools.
“We can provide to every child in Baltimore a foundation to enable them to be prepared and successful in life,” she said.
Wilcox said the administrative cost of raising the money was about $1 million.
“The donors in Baltimore have said we're not going to be defined by what happened” during last year's unrest, he said. “We're going to be defined by the promise and creating opportunity. This is a great city.”
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