All Maryland Philanthropy Network members are invited to join Julia Baez and Janelle Gendrano of Baltimore’s Promise, Sara Cooper of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Youth Advisors Cesia Calero and J’Naya Harris to hear about and discuss the Youth and Young Adult Grantmaking Initiative, a new participatory and collaborative funding opportunity. This youth-led grantmaking structure enables young people to allocate resources that directly impact themselves and their peers. It also incorporates capacity building, coaching, technical assistance, and compensation for Youth Grantmakers.

Join Maryland Philanthropy Network for an expanded opportunity for all MPN members to convene in our State Capitol. Members will receive updates from state policy makers and sector leaders on the 2025 legislative session including key issues and priorities that affect Maryland communities as well as state budget impacts on philanthropy. An opportunity will be provided for affinity groups and collaboratives across the MPN network to delve deeper into policies specific to their issue areas with facilitated discuss with issue experts.

In 2023, Mayor Brandon Scott, BUILD, and the Greater Baltimore Committee formed an agreement to end the crisis of vacant and abandoned properties in Baltimore City over the next 15 years. This partnership is committed to a “whole blocks” approach that will leverage an estimated $3 billion in public investment — including $300 million in private and philanthropic contributions — to bring an additional $5 billion in private investments to neighborhoods across Baltimore. We invite business and philanthropic leaders to a briefing about this strategy. The session will highlight specific areas where expertise and resources from the business and philanthropic communities can support a historic public-private partnership to eliminate vacant housing and build safe, stable neighborhoods where all city residents can thrive.