The Baltimore City Health Department is providing city grants to support development of local communities and public health initiatives.

Community Catalyst Grants are competitive grants for community-driven revitalization efforts. Eligible organizations include community development corporations, neighborhood-based development organizations, umbrella organizations and other neighborhood-based organizations.

Community Development Block Grants are part of a HUD program designed to support affordable housing initiatives. These funds can be used to provide benefits to low- or middle-income residents; eliminate slums and blight; or meet an urgent community need (such as for a natural disaster).

The Baltimore Community Foundation provides funding and grant opportunities for non-profits in Baltimore City. In 2020 alone they awarded over $30 million in funding to over 1500 organizations.

You can find current grants online. For example, the Stronger Neighborhoods Grant can provide funding for projects ranging from community welcome signs to community gardens and cafe lighting.

The Baltimore Development Corporation runs a Façade Improvement Grant program, which funds to make exterior improvements to commercial and industrial properties. Both Businesses and property owners are eligible. The grant funds a maximum of $7500 for one property.

BGE offers competitive grants to non-profit organizations which support community emergency preparedness or environmental stewardship.

Green Grants support non-profit organizations with $500-$10,000 to support improvement in environmental efforts of the community. These projects can include conservation efforts, education, pollution prevention, park cleanups, and others.

In 2021, BGE awarded 61 non-profit organizations grants totaling $215,750 through its Green Grants.

The Baltimore National Heritage Area is offering several grants to support investments in Baltimore City.

The Small Capital Grant Program supports investments in heritage tourism in Baltimore. More than $1.5 million in funds have been awarded to more than 140 projects since 2004. Non-profit, non-governmental organizations are eligible to apply.

Neighborhood Placemaking Grants are available to support non-profit and community organizations cultural heritage / non-capital investment projects. These projects can include festivals, performances, pedestrian signage, or educational programs. This highly competitive grant program awards $25,000 a year and grant amounts range from $1,500 - $5,000 with a required match.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts is offering several grants for young artists, performers, and community organizations.

The 2022 Free Fall Baltimore grant provides $250-$1000 in funding to Baltimore City-based organizations and local venues/event spaces, with operating budgets under $300,000 to produce a free cultural event in Baltimore City during the month of October. Individual artists/creatives are allowed to apply for this grant if their event is also free and open to the public and located in a public space or Baltimore City based venue.

The Creative Baltimore Fund supports established non-profit and community organizations in additional to local artists.

The Baltimore City Artist Recovery Grant supports individual artists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Communities Thrive Organizational Project Grant supports small and mid-sized arts organizations in the production and presentation of artistic works accessible to the general public.

The Community Arts Grant supports community-artist collaborative design & implementation of new, exterior wall mural projects sited in underserved communities of Baltimore City. Grant applicants may request up to $17,000 in mural project funding support.

The Arts In Action Arts Education Grant support arts education projects/classes/workshops that take place in-school, after school, or in local community settings.

Fusion Partnerships operates the Infusion Community Grants Program which supports East Baltimore community projects. This program provides $500-$2500 for projects and initiatives in the C.A.R.E., McElderry Park, and Middle East communities.

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services is offering several grants related to public safety, violence prevention, and community development.

These opportunities include the Project Safe Neighborhoods program; Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program; Baltimore City Police & Youth Positive Engagement Grant; and Community Grant Program Fund.

Project Safe Neighborhoods offers grant funding to support anti-gang prevention and violent crime enforcement strategies. Faith-based organizations, institutes of higher learning, local government agencies, non-profit organizations, state government agencies, state law enforcement, and State’s Attorney’s Offices are eligible to apply.

If you live within Highlandtown you can request funding for block projects, such as porch lights, planters, or tree plantings. You can find additional information on the program and its application online.

Block projects or parties can request up to $250; large community events or projects up to $1000; and individual achievements can be recognized by up to $200 rewards.

The Highlandtown Community Association is offering partial funding for residents that wish to install cafe lighting. Funding is determined by a formula, which includes how many residents are involved in the project. On average, lighting costs between $150-$175 per home. The grant will cover up to 50% of the installation cost of the lighting.

To start this process, you should first reach out to your neighbors. You will need their support and buy-in to the project, such as for maintenance costs. You should also reach out to the Highlandtown Community Association (HCA) at HighLandTown21224@gmail.com.

You can view a template for a block agreement online. HCA will be able to provide guidance on materials, installation, and forming an agreement for your block.

You can apply for the lighting grant and find additional information online.

If you live outside of Highlandtown but would like to see cafe lighting installed we encourage you to reach out to your local community association. For example, Canton Community Association and Butchers Hill Association have information for residents to install cafe lighting.

Johns Hopkins University operates several grant programs to support nonprofit organizations in Baltimore City.

The Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund is available for non-profit organizations which are engaged in community revitalization, education, employment, health, or public safety. The organization must be associated with Johns Hopkins (institutional, employee, retiree, or student involvement). Funding requests can be up to $15,000.

The Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute also operates several funding programs. These include the Baltimore Health Equity Impact Grant and Strategic Consulting Grants. The former supports community-university collaborations around research and program development. In addition to grants, the institute runs the Bunting Neighborhood Leadership Program. This is a year-long fellowship that offers training and development opportunities for Baltimore’s community activists.

The MSAC provides funding and grants to schools, artists, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and arts districts to support the arts and entertainment initiatives.

MONSE funding prioritizes community violence intervention, victim services, youth justice, community healing, and reentry.

The Monumental City Bar Foundation is offering funding for non-profit organizations which provide programs and events that are educational, cultural, community-based, community enhancing, legal and/or youth-oriented. Major grants range from $500-$1500.

The NNED is operating a Baltimore City Community Grants Program. This funding is available for small non-profit organizations that provide direct services to low-income individuals and families in Baltimore City. These grants are up to $10,000 a year. This program is also called the Mayor’s Community Grants Program.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Ring has supported local community, neighborhood associations, and law enforcement across the country. For example, they have provided neighborhoods with grants or supplied them with home cameras in the past.

For more information on partnering with Ring you can go online or contact communityaffairs@ring.com.

United Way of Central Maryland offers grants to non-profits and other community organizations.

United Way of Central Maryland’s 2022 Neighborhood Grant is an opportunity for neighborhood-centered organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less to receive between $2,500 and $10,000 in funding to carry out neighborhood-centered projects.

In 2022, several community organizations in Baltimore City were recipients of this funding, including Highlandtown Community Association. They received funding for a “Project improving and protecting the community garden, creates a space for gatherings, and employs neighbors to maintain the common areas of the garden.”

To find more information and apply you can go to United Way’s website.