Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative Opens 2027 Applications
Applications due November 9; Collaborative builds on a
2026 summer that reached an estimated 6,500 young people
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative (SFC) is now accepting applications from organizations offering high-quality, in-person youth programs in summer 2027. Through a single application, organizations can be considered for funding from multiple Collaborative's philanthropic partners.
For 2027, the SFC is prioritizing comprehensive programs that give families consistent summer options and give young people a safe space to learn, grow, and have fun. Funded programs will span academic enrichment, arts, sports, workforce exposure, and social-emotional supports, with many combining them into full-day programming as research links them to stronger summer outcomes.
“Over the past decade, the Summer Funding Collaborative has invested more than $50 million to create over 70,000 opportunities for Baltimore's young people, with more than 20 funding partners coming together around a shared vision for what summer can be,” said Julia Baez, CEO of Baltimore's Promise, which convenes the Collaborative and leads its grantmaking. “Together, we're building a summer system where every young person can experience learning, connection, joy, and possibility.”
In summer 2026, the SFC awarded $4.9 million to 57 programs across 54 organizations, reaching an estimated 6,500 Baltimore youth, up from $4.2 million and roughly 3,400 young people in 2025.
Young people rated their summer experiences highly: 88% of 2026 participants said they enjoyed their programs, based on more than 2,000 survey responses. Across funded programs, including those working with the CareerBound initiative, 210 participants earned industry-recognized credentials during the summer, giving them a head start toward future jobs.
Program leaders see those possibilities take shape every summer.
“We're not just creating a space where every young person belongs; we're cultivating the confidence, creativity, and real-world skills that empower them to pursue new opportunities, build brighter futures, and imagine possibilities for themselves they may have never thought possible,” said Kammeran Giggers of R.I.S.E. Arts Center of Baltimore.
“Summer programming exposes youth to more possibilities,” said Candace Allmond of Art with a Heart. “It shows them that there's so much more out here to learn, do, and experience.”
SFC partners align their grantmaking with public funding streams such as YouthWorks, so that public and philanthropic summer investments reinforce one another citywide.
“Each summer, we see what is possible when Baltimore's funders come together around our young people,” said Adrian McLemore, a program officer with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “The Casey Foundation remains committed to the SFC because it helps more children and youth access the safe, enriching experiences they deserve.”
How to Apply
To be eligible for SFC funding, programs must be operated by organizations with nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor; provide in-person programming; and serve children and youth up to age 24 from families with low incomes living in Baltimore City.
Grant applications for Summer 2027 are due November 9, 2026 at noon. Information sessions will be available in-person and virtually. To learn more or to apply, visit www.baltimorespromise.org/summer-funding-collaborative or contact the SFC at summer@baltimorespromise.org.
About the Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative
The Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative (SFC) is a group of private and nonprofit partners that work in alignment with public systems to fund high-quality summer programs for Baltimore City youth. While each partner has unique priorities, they share a common goal: to fund diverse programs that keep youth engaged and help prevent summer learning loss so more youth can reach their full potential. Baltimore’s Promise serves as convener of the Collaborative and provides backbone support for coordination, grantmaking, and shared processes among participating funders.