Preparing Baltimore’s Youth for Thriving Careers Through Impact Investing

Ensuring Baltimore’s young people have the skills, experience, and opportunities to succeed in the workforce is essential not only for the city’s long-term economic growth but also for advancing individual economic mobility. Employment is a critical milestone in the cradle-to-career continuum, linking education and opportunity to financial stability, health, and well-being. Data from the Baltimore’s Promise Youth Data Scorecard highlights persistent gaps in workforce readiness among Baltimore City youth, particularly affecting Black and Latino youth, reinforcing the importance of programs that equip young people with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. At the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF), we know that building pathways to opportunity requires strategic partnerships and investments. In 2024, BCF made a $500,000 impact investment in Baltimore’s Promise, a city-wide collaborative of public, business, higher education, nonprofit, community, and philanthropic leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for Baltimore’s youth and their families.

Through our Invest for More impact investing program, BCF provides flexible capital that generates financial returns and creates measurable social impact. The one-year $500,000 revolving line of credit from BCF enables Baltimore’s Promise to access $2 million in reimbursement-based public grants, supporting their newly launched CareerBound program, a comprehensive career readiness initiative in collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development.

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Source: Baltimore Community Foundation