The first major change is that as of 2023, Baltimore Civic Fund serves as fiscal administrator of this program. The Civic Fund will manage the grant application submission portal and disburse payment to awardees. The Department of Planning will be responsible for oversight of grantees and their projects to ensure compliance.

The second major change is that the application is 100% electronic this year. Finally, all projects must be able to be completed within two years.

The organization MUST be located in the city and provide proof of their operating address AND the project MUST be located in the One-Mile Radius (Map on page 9 of the RFA).

To be eligible, applicants MUST be one of the following:

o A non-profit organization with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status recognized by the IRS.

o A mission-based organization without 501(c)3 tax-exempt status but with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor.

o A faith-based organization proposing a non-religious project that benefits the public.

o A public school proposing a community-based project that benefits its students.

Projects must be located in the One-Mile Radius. This geography includes the Northwest Community Planning Forum; the Liberty-Wabash area; and the Coldspring-Newtown area, defined as follows:

o Northwest Community Planning Forum Boundaries: Northern Parkway (S), County line (W/N), Jones Falls Expressway (E)

o Coldspring-Newtown Boundaries: Northern Parkway (N), Greenspring Avenue (W), West Cold Spring Lane (S), Jones Falls Expressway (E)

o Liberty-Wabash Boundaries: Liberty Heights Avenue (S), Northern Parkway (W), Wabash (N/E)

There is a map on page 9 of the RFA (the colored areas are eligible, while the white is ineligible). You can also enter your address on the map at this link to determine if the project is in the eligible area.

Audits should be no older than calendar year 2022.

Priority will be given to organizations based in eligible areas or who are partnering with an organization based in those neighborhoods. All activities and services must take place in eligible areas.

Grants are available for a wide variety of community development projects, including physical improvements or operating funds. Grants are available to help neighbors and community organizations invest in their communities and implement community priorities that benefit residents of all ages. Examples of suitable projects include, but are not limited to:

o Public art projects (community sculptures, murals)

o Local arts initiatives (painting or drawing workshops, culinary arts classes, dance or music classes and performances)

o Community signage

o Bicycle amenities (bicycle racks, rentals)

o Streetscaping/block projects (painted crosswalks, trees and flowers, artistic planters)

o Marketing efforts (website development, promotional activities)

o Education opportunities (speaker series, academic enrichment, podcasting/recording series)

o Other community events (neighborhood festivals, recreation)

o Technical assistance for community associations in need of expert help for a particular issue, such as professional design, financial, or legal services to address specific community challenges or opportunities, assistance to secure 501c3 nonprofit status, or development of a strategic plan for a community organization

The age of your organization is not relevant to eligibility for the grant. However, there is organizational documentation required as a part of the application. If your organization does not have these required documents, you would still be able to apply using a fiscal sponsor.

Yes. Your project does not have a history or be annual event. We welcome new ideas and projects.

State legislation. In 2007, the State legislature passed the Maryland Education Trust Fund – Video Lottery Terminals legislation (2007 SB 3), which provides slots revenue funding in the form of Local Impact Aid to jurisdictions that have casino facilities (Central Park Heights). The legislation also provides that a portion of the impact aid is directed to the area around the Pimlico Racetrack (One-Mile Radius).

There are examples of past projects on page 12 of the Applicant Information Session presentation slide deck. Additionally, there are suitable projects listed on page 4 of the RFA.

While using vendors, consultants, contractors, etc. from within Baltimore City is desired, it is not required.

No. A fiscal sponsor can be any non-profit organization that has and can provide proof of tax-exempt status.

Organizations can submit more than one application, provided that each application is for a different project. The maximum amount of Northwest Neighborhood Grant funding per project is $30,000; awards cannot be combined.

Follow the link provided in the application. Once the document opens, you will see it is in a Read-Only format which means you will not be able to edit the document directly. In the top left corner choose File> click the three dots> click “Save As”> click “Download a Copy.”