By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
The Baltimore Community Foundation’s (BCF) Black Philanthropy Circle (BPC) has reached a significant milestone in 2025, making $1 million in investments to several Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations throughout the Charm City area.
“We received over 250 applications and read every one and scored them,” said Alicia Wilson, co-founder of the BPC and vice president for civic engagement and opportunity at Johns Hopkins University. “We came up with a top 30, and then put that out to the entire body of the circle to vote upon the top 10 that ultimately was awarded.”
BPC was founded in 2022 with a goal of awarding $250,000 in grants annually. Over four years, BPC has granted $25,000 to 10 chosen applicants each year. Voting members commit $10,000 annually, but Wilson stresses that no donation is too small.
“You can give when you have abundance,” said Wilson. “You can give when you also are on your own financial journey, like many of us. It’s nice to give together.”
Through this giving circle, anyone can contribute. BPC supports organizations in areas such as arts and culture, education, health and wellness and community organization.
The AFRO spoke with leaders from several of this year’s grantees to discuss how the funding has supported their initiatives.
“The funding we received was catalytic,” said Arnetta Shelton, founder of Eastside Uplift and chief of Community Violence Intervention for the City of Baltimore. “It is the foundation that will help us through this whole fiscal year. The grant strengthened our educational and empowerment efforts through our community fun day, bi-monthly workshops for community members, as well as the Pull Up and Rize programs that we have through the nonprofit.”
Through the Pull Up program, Eastside Uplift goes to the homes of two families each month with hands-on support such as groceries, utility assistance and transportation. Their community days host resource fairs with entertainment and food for residents. Quarterly workshops, held virtually and in-person, address topics like financial literacy, homeownership and parenting support.
Founded in September 2024, Eastside Uplift has already supported over 200 people through its annual community fun day and around 22 families through the Pull Up program. Shelton said the nonprofit hopes to expand nationally.
“It is our duty and responsibility to pull people forward, to reach back and make sure that we are investing,” said Shelton.
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake also received support.
“The grant that was received was for a mortgage buy down,” said Paul Erbes, chief development and marketing officer. “We offer each homeowner a zero percent mortgage, because it helps the family stabilize and remain in their homes for a longer period of time.”
Erbes said the grant directly provided one family with a new home and a zero percent loan, compared to a typical mortgage rate between 6 percent and 8 percent. The program also makes housing more affordable by basing payments not on the home’s value, but on the family’s income.
“More than 80 percent of our homeowners are African American,” Erbes said, noting that this investment directly impacts African American neighborhoods where they’re building homes.
Crystal Lee, deputy director for Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (B.E.S.T.), said the grant has helped them support 75 students in grades K-5 with financial need.
“That’s changing 75 lives,” said Lee. “This level of support covers a gap for them while enabling their students to have a wonderful, fun summer experience that they can then go back and share with their peers and classmates at their independent school.”
B.E.S.T. partners with 17 independent schools, including Gilman, to recruit and support academically ambitious African-American students who may lack financial resources.
The program offers leadership opportunities, a parent online learning center, a summer transition program for rising middle schoolers and college-bound support.
BPC’s $1 million milestone shows the power of collective giving. By funding local Black nonprofits each year, the circle strengthens community-led solutions to the challenges Baltimore residents face daily.