Join Maryland Philanthropy Network, the Abell Foundation, and the Middendorf Foundation for a joint program examining recent research on Baltimore City’s contracting, payment, and permitting processes and how delays in those processes negatively affect non-profits and the high-need communities they serve. At this briefing, you will hear from authors of the newly released Abell Report on the City’s contracting process and learn about the findings from a joint Middendorf/MPN study on the City’s permitting and grantmaking systems. The goals of the briefing are to share the scale and scope of the challenges, recommend changes, and discuss how funders can support the implementation of these changes in an effort to strengthen and support Baltimore’s non-profit sector.

All grantmakers are invited to participate in this four-part professional development series taught by our region's experienced practitioners, presented by Maryland Philanthropy Network. Session Two will cover funding recommendations and due diligence and legal and ethical issues. Participants will learn the art of grantmaking, balancing organizational values and goals, trustees’ interests, applicant relationships, and best practices in due diligence to better review and recommend grant proposals. Participants will also be introduced to key legal and ethical issues in grantmaking through scenarios and MPN’s Guiding Principles.