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?

As Maryland Philanthropy Network continues to explore strategies to support the field in incorporating equity in our practices, we are excited to announce that we are partnering with several other Philanthropy Serving Organizations (PSOs) from across the country to advance the learning and practice of equitable evaluation among our members.