Summer Funding Collaborative: 2026 RFP Now Open!
The Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative solicits applications to fund high-quality summer programming
New funders and updated RFP process aim to make Summer 2026 great for Baltimore’s young people
It’s getting colder but plans for Summer 2026 are heating up: The Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative (SFC) is seeking applications from innovative, holistic summer programs that offer free programming to city youth ages 0-24.
Through the SFC’s effort, more than 3,400 youth attended 75 programs across the city—from sports and STEM to job training and the arts—in summer 2025. This year, the SFC is growing. The SFC anticipates providing more than $4.2 million in grants in 2026, enabling hundreds more children to access high-quality opportunities this summer despite a challenging funding climate.
Private funders step up to align with public systems
The SFC’s efforts are critical now as pandemic-era public funds have expired and budgets everywhere are tightening. Stepping up to address this challenge were new and returning funders. This year’s cohort of SFC members includes its highest number of private funders in the SFC’s history.
“We’re excited to be working together to make Summer 2026 amazing,” said Julia Baez, CEO of Baltimore’s Promise, which administers the work of the SFC. “At a time when the systems that support families are under real strain, the SFC continues to be a powerful way to strengthen the safety net for Baltimore’s children. We’re grateful to all the funders—both those taking part for the first time and those who are returning again—who understand how important it is to give our young people the great summer experiences they deserve. Baltimore is stepping up to the challenge and putting its young people first.”
By generating significant private funding for next summer while aligning its grantmaking with public systems, including YouthWorks, the SFC ensures a more efficient, focused, and unified approach to supporting summer programming—and the children and families who rely on it.
Summer programs are shown to improve academic performance, reduce burden on working families, and are important for emotional and physical well-being.
“Our hope is that all children can use summer as an opportunity to gain experiences that will ultimately lead them to better long-term outcomes, whether it's being exposed to new opportunities, improving math and reading skills, or getting more motivated for school,” said MR Macgill of the Nam-Macgill Family Fund, a first-time SFC funder.
They asked, the SFC listened — changes to the grantmaking process
“At a time when the systems that support families are under real strain, the SFC continues to be a powerful way to strengthen the safety net for Baltimore’s children.”
Based on feedback from previous-year applicants, the SFC has made the application process easier for applicants, and faster, too—awards will be announced in February 2026. This is several weeks earlier than in previous years, meaning program providers can get a jumpstart on planning for their summer.
Other aspects of the SFC will remain the same, such as a key goal to fund an array of programs that help reduce learning loss—or the “summer slide”—that can occur when youth are disengaged from learning and skills development over the summer months.
Data from last summer showed a sharp decline in the number of comprehensive summer programs in Baltimore. These programs offer longer engagement and more robust enrichment for participants, making them vital for combatting the summer slide, improving outcomes for young people, providing food security, supporting working families, and keeping youth safe. They tend to have higher operating costs and, as a result, have been especially hit by tightening budgetary constraints. Baltimore’s Promise is encouraging providers to apply for the amount truly needed to make their summer program a success.
“This year, we can better meet the needs of the hardworking nonprofits that are creating fun and engaging opportunities for young people to learn new skills and access new experiences,” said Joe Manko, Education Program Officer at The Abell Foundation—a longtime member of the SFC. “Together, we can help address the issue of summer learning loss and provide rich, educational opportunities for Baltimore City children over the summer.”
To be eligible for SFC funding, programs must be operated by organizations with nonprofit status or have 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 are due Wednesday, Dec. 3. Both in-person and virtual information sessions will be available. To learn more, visit the Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative webpage, www.baltimorespromise.org/summer-funding-collaborative.
This Year’s Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative
For more than a decade, the SFC has brought together public, private, and nonprofit organizations committed to giving every Baltimore child access to programs that help them reach their full potential. Among this year’s collaborative funders are:
The Hackerman Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Hinkey-Benson Family Fund
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation
Nam-Macgill Family Fund
The Richman Foundation
Sherman Family Foundation
Abell Foundation
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
BGE
Blanket Fort Foundation
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Constellation
Family League of Baltimore
Goldseker Foundation
Funders can still join this citywide effort to ensure all Baltimore youth have access to enriching summer experiences. Learn more by contacting 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.