Robin Godwin: South Baltimore Gateway Partnership Announces $346,735 in New Community Grants

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership press release:

The South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) announces $346,735 in new Community Grants to support 11 projects across South and Southwest Baltimore. This round of funding attracted proposals totaling more than $1.5 million. Since its establishment in 2016, SBGP has committed approximately $25.4 million of core and supplemental funds to projects across the District, ranging from small community grants to large capital projects. Community Grants are awarded based on previously determined criteria, including alignment with strategic goals. SBGP Community Grants funding is provided by the Local Impact Grants generated by video lottery terminals, including at the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.

Elev8 Baltimore, Inc. was awarded funding this cycle that will support existing operations and expand programming offered outside of the evening hours. Elev8 provides out-of-school time opportunities and coordinates school-based health services, resources, support, and outreach at the South Baltimore Adult High School, located in the Cherry Hill community. “We’re excited to become a new Grantee with SBGP! This grant award will support us in providing important services to adults in South Baltimore. The South Baltimore Adult High School is the only operating high school in the state of Maryland for students 21 and older that provides a traditional high school diploma, so it is very important that we are able to expand our services,” says CEO Alexandria Warrick Adams.

SBGP offers smaller grant funding as well. The “Spark” and “Small” grant tiers support programs up to $2,000 and $5,000, respectively. The Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA) received a small grant to provide neighborhood tours. FHNA Social Committee Chairman Sheri Hunt says, “This grant will help us partner with Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage to plan and lead a house tour featuring 8 – 10 architecturally and/or historically significant Federal Hill homes and gardens. We’re excited to offer this program to encourage people to come downtown and see what makes Federal Hill unique.”

Business Volunteers Maryland also received a grant this cycle and will use it to build upon its unique positioning in Baltimore and vast corporate network to combat inequity in a new program. “We’re looking forward to expanding our capacity building support through SBGP. Our new, grant-funded Capacity Accelerator Program will provide wrap-around, capacity building support to a cohort of high-potential Black- and Brown-led nonprofit organizations in their mission to advance racial equity in the Baltimore region,” says Chief Service Officer Alissa Ganser.

In addition to the projects described above, other funding will support a variety of programs:

Marketing support to expand community reach, build relationships, and build up Solo Gibbs park and the surrounding area. Marketing goals include sharing the core values of neighborhood pride and supportive families to help break through barriers historically separating the two communities of Sharp-Leadenhall and Otterbein. (Neighbors Meeting Neighbors)
“Bird Ambassadors” provides educational programs and projects related to the local environment, habitat restoration, and specific engagement with Spanish-speaking families. Trained program leaders engage participants to tackle projects including planting and maintaining a pollinator garden at the Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary School in Pigtown and other greening opportunities in the community. (National Audubon Society dba Patterson Park Audubon Center/Audubon Mid-Atlantic)
“LET’S GO STEM” will expand STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education services to include the following Title 1 schools: Westport Academy, Lakeland Elementary/Middle School and Community STEAM Center, Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School, and St. Ignatius Loyola Academy (Federal Hill South) to serve approximately 310 youth. (LET’S GO Boys & Girls)
“Climate Changemakers” program for 3rd graders (Westport Elementary School, Lakeland Elementary/Middle School, and The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School) will educate students about local climate change impacts and engage them in stewardship action projects that reduce the heat emitted in their communities and increase climate resiliency. (Living Classrooms Foundation, Inc.)

A full list of project awards can be found here.

In addition to grant funding, SBGP offers a variety of free workshops supporting current and potential grantees, local nonprofits, and community organizations. SBGP’s “Keys to Capacity” programming aims to build capacity through professional skills development and strategic partnership opportunities. This year SBGP introduced a new hybrid program, “Nonprofit Boot Camp”: a six-session series focused on a robust variety of learning topics benefitting those involved with nonprofits. Now three-quarters through the program, there have been 24 unique participants with 12 participants attending two or more sessions. Participants include current SBGP grantees as well as other organizations within the SBGP District and beyond. Learn more about upcoming opportunities here: https://sbgpartnership.org/workshops/

A new round of SBGP Community Grants funding will be available this coming winter in 2023. Visit https://sbgpartnership.org/community-grants/ to learn more and apply.