The Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative (BWFC) at Maryland Philanthropy Network is thrilled to launch its new strategic and operating framework. This document sets forth a new vision, mission, and set of values. It recognizes the rich history of the BWFC dating back to 2006 and then sets forth a new set of strategic principles, pillars, and tactics for the future. This framework also lays out a plan for how the Collaborative is structured to operate.
Maryland has an opportunity to build a statewide, multi-racial coalition of organizations comprised of parents and providers designed to build awareness and unite around a plan to educate policymakers and other key stakeholders on Prenatal to 3 priorities for parents, families and communities. The Maryland Family Network (MFN) currently has a planning grant from the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Foundation (Pritzker) with an opportunity to receive an implementation grant. The Prenatal-to-Five (PN-5) and Education Funders Affinity Groups are invited to learn more about the focus of the planning grant, the importance of stakeholder engagement toward achieving policies and systems goals in the state, and how MFN, Strong Schools Maryland and other organizations are working together to prepare a strong case for continued support from Pritzker.
Maryland Philanthropy Network members interested in attending for the first time are encouraged to reach out to Marlo Nash prior to attending a meeting.
Join the Prenatal-to-Five (PN5) Affinity Group to learn about a strategic new partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education that is relevant to the successful implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Martha Holleman of Strategic Thinking for Social Change will share a draft scope of work for a child care supply and demand study and Laura Weeldreyer of Maryland Family Network will provide a broader contextual lens, which helps illustrate how the supply and demand study is an integral component of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
Youth Grantmakers (YG) is a permanent, youth-led grantmaking body through which private and public youth-serving resources can flow. Baltimore’s Promise serves as the organizational home for this initiative working with local Funders and youth themselves to create a pooled grantmaking model. This intergenerational, grantmaking model has been developed in partnership with older youth from Baltimore City ages 16-24 as the inaugural cohort of YGs.
According to the Baltimore City Youth Opportunities Landscape, only 9% of youth opportunities are available to youth ages 16-24 who have graduated high school or are not in school or working. Therefore, in response to the overwhelming need for more opportunities, this first cycle of grantmaking distributed $525,000 in resources to support 10 youth-serving organizations providing economic opportunity and mobility programming for Baltimore City older youth ages 16-24.
The Seniors & Housing Collaborative Emergency Response Workgroup is committed to creating connections and partnerships between both Baltimore City / State agencies and community-based organizations to respond more effectively
More funders are providing general operating support to BIPOC-led organizations. But is it enough? Our research suggests that acting in true alignment and solidarity with BIPOC communities requires more: that funders begin to fundamentally shift the way they think about and use their resources, power, and privilege
The Prenatal-to-Five (PN-5) Affinity Group was created to help funders who are interested in supporting expectant parents, and children from birth through age five and their families improve their grantmaking by learning more about initiatives, educational research, and best practices. More details about the agenda and speakers will be available soon!
Maryland Philanthropy Network members interested in attending for the first time are encouraged to reach out to Marlo Nash prior to attending a meeting.
This program and the wait list are at capacity and we are no longer accepting registrations.
Join your peers in the region for a jointly sponsored program between philanthropy-serving organizations about the role private and public foundations can play in advocacy as individual foundations or with your grantees.
Join us for a meeting of the State of the Sector Workgroup featuring the State of the Sector Report with Dr. John Brothers, President of T. Rowe Price Foundation. At this second meeting of the workgroup, participants will learn the top priorities that will become the focal points for collective work, develop a common language around key concepts, and determine starting points for taking action.
The Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) is continuing to expand access to effective civil legal assistance to low-income Maryland residents and will do so under new leadership.
Join us for our next State of the Sector Workgroup meeting featuring the State of the Sector Report with Dr. John Brothers, President of T. Rowe Price Foundation where we will continue our rich field building discussions and follow up on key ideas generated at the September meeting related to top priorities that are emerging as focal points for the collective work of the group. In addition, we will further explore the development of a common language around key concepts and dig deeper into starting points for taking action.
This program is at capacity and is no longer accepting registrations. Please add your name to the waitlist and we will contact you if space opens up.
Maryland Philanthropy Network knows philanthropy cannot be successful without our partners in government and the nonprofit community. Therefore, we strive to take some of the mystery out of philanthropy and promote best practices in resource development and funder relationships and contribute to building a stronger nonprofit sector.
On November 21st, the Greater Washington Community Foundation announced the launch of Thrive Prince George’s, a two-year, $4 million guaranteed-income pilot that seeks to provide greater economic stability and mobility for familie
All MPN members are invited to join the Prenatal-to-Five (PN-5) Affinity Group for a conversation featuring the Bainum Family Foundation's WeVision EarlyEd Initiative, which is a catalyst for making the ideal child care real — as defined by those closest to the system: families, educators and administrators. WeVision EarlyEd is designed to guide necessary conversations and test ideal solutions, beginning with the District of Columbia and then influencing other communities across the nation. Attendees will learn details about the initiative, insights and ideas captured thus far, the Foundation’s investments to begin to test ideal solutions, as well as future plans.
Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative (BWFC) meets each month. The Collaborative is a group of private and public funders committed to advancing equity, job quality and systems change efforts that lead to family-sustaining wages, strengthened communities and a vibrant local economy. BWFC members actively fund workforce development, are willing to co-invest, are committed to tracking outcomes and sharing investment data, and work together to improve workforce systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 80% of all maternal deaths are preventable. In Maryland, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts.
