Baltimore City depends on nonprofits to provide services, particularly in Black and low-income communities. A reliable contract with the city can allow a nonprofit to expand, serve more residents, and build the employment base of the city. However, longstanding delays in contracting and payment of city partners leave some non­profits asking if the barriers to accessing city funding are worth the effort. This Abell Report asks what causes the delays in the City's contracting process with nonprofits and how can those delays be fixed?

The Board of Directors of Maryland Philanthropy Network is pleased to announce the appointment of Danista E. Hunte as its next President and CEO, effective October 11, 2023. Danista brings with her a wealth of experience spanning over three decades in the philanthropic and non-profit sector. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Child First Authority in Baltimore and prior to that was Vice President of Community Investment for the Baltimore Community Foundation.

The success of family philanthropy is dependent on the willingness of the family to embrace an ecosystem of partners. A terrific example of a family philanthropy that uses an ecosystem approach in its work is the Bainum Family Foundation. By understanding and embracing the roles each stakeholder must play to achieve meaningful societal change, families, staff members, grantees, and community members can better experience stronger relationships, establish clear lines of accountability, employ equitable practices, and learn from each other, making for lasting impact.