Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Baltimore Summer Funding Collaborative is a group of dedicated organizations that fund high-quality summer programs serving children and young adults from low-income families in Baltimore City. While funders make grant awards in response to their foundation’s specific funding priorities, SFC funders share a commitment to expanding access to high-quality summer opportunities and streamlining the process by which providers can access private grant dollars.
The SFC uses an online application that allows providers to apply for grants from all SFC funders with just one submission.
You can read the full RFP here.
Applications for SFC 2025 funding must be completed via the online portal. Training for the online portal will be provided at our online and in-person information sessions on October 21 and October 25 (see our upcoming events page for a full list of events and details). In addition, we will upload a training video for anyone who is unable to attend an information session.
In advance of the information sessions, we encourage you to read through the full SFC 2025 Request for Proposals.
The RFP contains all the information you need to learn how to apply for SFC 2025 funding, including a full list of the application questions that will be asked on the online portal.
Technical assistance will also be available throughout the application period for applicants who have questions about completing the portal and online application. Further, office hours with SFC staff will be held through the application period. Visit Capacity Building to learn more on these opportunities.
Please direct specific questions to [email protected] or follow our Instagram for more information as it is released.
The SFC uses an online application that allows providers to apply for grants from all SFC funders with just one submission.
You can read the full RFP here.
Applications for SFC 2025 funding must be completed via the online portal. Training for the online portal will be provided at our online and in-person information sessions on October 21 and October 25 (see our upcoming events page for a full list of events and details). In addition, we will upload a training video for anyone who is unable to attend an information session.
In advance of the information sessions, we encourage you to read through the full SFC 2025 Request for Proposals.
The RFP contains all the information you need to learn how to apply for SFC 2025 funding, including a full list of the application questions that will be asked on the online portal.
Technical assistance will also be available throughout the application period for applicants who have questions about completing the portal and online application. Further, office hours with SFC staff will be held through the application period. Visit Capacity Building to learn more on these opportunities.
Please direct specific questions to [email protected] or follow our Instagram for more information as it is released.
who may apply for sfc funding?
The SFC funds summer programs that:
1. Are operated by organizations with 501(c)(3) or 509(a) status, or a current fiscal sponsor.
2. Serve children and youth (ages 0-24) from families with low-incomes living in Baltimore City.
3. Are accessible to participants:
4. Embody the seven priority areas identified by youth and families as essential for quality summer programs:
1. Are operated by organizations with 501(c)(3) or 509(a) status, or a current fiscal sponsor.
2. Serve children and youth (ages 0-24) from families with low-incomes living in Baltimore City.
- Programs may take place outside of Baltimore City as long as SFC funding supports program participants that are Baltimore City residents
- Programs may include participants that are not Baltimore City residents and/or do not come from families with low-incomes, as long as SFC funding is used to support program participants that are Baltimore City residents and who come from families with low-incomes
3. Are accessible to participants:
- The SFC funds programs that primarily serve youth from families with low incomes in Baltimore City to increase access to quality summer opportunities for all young people. Most SFC programs do not charge any fees to participants. If your program charges a fee, you MUST provide an accommodation for participants who cannot pay the fee.
- Programs should provide healthy meals and snacks to participants. Programs that run in-person for four or more hours each day must serve meals. The SFC encourages all programs to provide participants with healthy meals and snacks throughout the summer.
- Programs must have a plan in place to ensure that participants are able to arrive and leave from the program safely.
- Where applicable, programs should welcome and include students of all abilities.
4. Embody the seven priority areas identified by youth and families as essential for quality summer programs:
- Provide relevant knowledge and skill-building
- Are accessible
- Are youth-centered
- Provide exposure and diverse experiences
- Have engaged and professional staff
- Provide safe mental spaces
- Provide safe physical spaces
How do i apply?
The online application allows programs to apply for grants from all the SFC funders at once. Training for the online application portal will be provided through recorded videos and live at the SFC 2025 Application Information Sessions.
Baltimore’s Promise will also provide assistance in completing the application through open office hours. For 2025 applicants, office hours will be held every Monday (11am-12pm), and every Friday (2pm-3pm). This will start on Friday, October 17 and will end on Friday, November 15 (Office Hours will be 11am-12pm on this day). Click HERE during one of those times to receive real time assistance from the SFC Team.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance sessions will also be available for summer program staff. In addition, BCYF and the WBRF grantees will get 1:1 technical assistance throughout the summer to help complete data reports required by their funders.
If you have questions about completing this online application that are not covered on this website, please e-mail [email protected].
When in the portal, all questions with an asterisk (*) next to them must be answered to submit the application. If you do not answer these required questions, our online system, Salesforce, will not allow you to submit the application.
You should review the full list of questions before you begin the online application in the RFP document.
Baltimore’s Promise will also provide assistance in completing the application through open office hours. For 2025 applicants, office hours will be held every Monday (11am-12pm), and every Friday (2pm-3pm). This will start on Friday, October 17 and will end on Friday, November 15 (Office Hours will be 11am-12pm on this day). Click HERE during one of those times to receive real time assistance from the SFC Team.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance sessions will also be available for summer program staff. In addition, BCYF and the WBRF grantees will get 1:1 technical assistance throughout the summer to help complete data reports required by their funders.
If you have questions about completing this online application that are not covered on this website, please e-mail [email protected].
When in the portal, all questions with an asterisk (*) next to them must be answered to submit the application. If you do not answer these required questions, our online system, Salesforce, will not allow you to submit the application.
You should review the full list of questions before you begin the online application in the RFP document.
How do i submit my application?
You must submit your proposal and supporting documents through our online portal. Training for the online application portal will be provided through recorded videos and live at the SFC 2025 Application Information Sessions. Please see Upcoming Events for more details about the trainings.
Funders have the right to not consider incomplete proposals. Please closely follow the guidance on this website to make sure that your proposal meets the RFP’s requirements and is eligible for review. After you submit your application, you may be asked to provide additional information.
Funders have the right to not consider incomplete proposals. Please closely follow the guidance on this website to make sure that your proposal meets the RFP’s requirements and is eligible for review. After you submit your application, you may be asked to provide additional information.
How will the sfc decide whether they will fund my program's proposal?
Technical Review
After you submit your application by November 15, 2024, Baltimore’s Promise staff will review your application materials. We will check that your required documents are correct and up to date. Baltimore’s Promise staff will email you by Friday, December 6, 2024, to let you know about any missing or incorrect materials. You will have until 5:00 PM on Friday, December 13, 2024, to resubmit any necessary materials. Funders may choose to not consider incomplete applications. We strongly encourage you to read through the section on required documents (page 8) before submitting your application to avoid needing to resubmit materials.
Community Review Process
We may select your application for community reviewers to read. Reviewers will include youth ages 14-24 and parents/caregivers of youth ages 0-13. Community Reviewers will be chosen through an open call on social media and through our partnerships with community-based organizations. Community reviewers will review up to 200 applications. The SFC will align 100% of funding decisions with the community review process.
If we choose your application for review, the community review committee will evaluate your Program Description from your application. We will then incorporate community review feedback into final decision-making. ALL SFC applicants that undergo the Community Review Process will receive feedback about their applications from community reviewers. View a video about our Community Review Process here.
Funder Review and Decision-Making:
At the same time that community reviewers evaluate SFC applications, SFC funders complete a funder review process. SFC funders will receive all application materials and evaluate applications based on a standardized rubric.
Funder evaluations will be combined with community review feedback to produce a funding recommendation for each application. In addition to funder and community review feedback, the final slate of SFC 2025 grantees will be determined based on the SFC’s eligibility requirements and shared funding priority areas, including ages served and programs from BIPOC-led organizations. We will announce funding decisions by the end of February 2025. We will email a decision letter to the proposal contact listed on the online application.
The SFC is an aligned fund. This means that, while the SFC decides the slate of 2025 grantees together, grants will still be awarded by individual funders. The SFC strives to coordinate funding decisions and fund whole program budgets as much as possible. Before finalizing their decisions, SFC funders meet to align final decisions with the goal of fully funding as many high-quality summer programs as possible. SFC funders also strive to blend public and private sources of funding so that grantees have more flexibility in how they can spend their funds.
For summer 2025, the SFC will provide more than $3 million to programs. Of this amount:
You are welcome to apply for the full funding needed to run a high-quality summer program. The SFC will prioritize funding full program budgets for grantees with organizational budgets that are less than $300,000. For grantees with organizational budgets greater than $300,000, grant awards will be capped at $75,000 per program.
After you submit your application by November 15, 2024, Baltimore’s Promise staff will review your application materials. We will check that your required documents are correct and up to date. Baltimore’s Promise staff will email you by Friday, December 6, 2024, to let you know about any missing or incorrect materials. You will have until 5:00 PM on Friday, December 13, 2024, to resubmit any necessary materials. Funders may choose to not consider incomplete applications. We strongly encourage you to read through the section on required documents (page 8) before submitting your application to avoid needing to resubmit materials.
Community Review Process
We may select your application for community reviewers to read. Reviewers will include youth ages 14-24 and parents/caregivers of youth ages 0-13. Community Reviewers will be chosen through an open call on social media and through our partnerships with community-based organizations. Community reviewers will review up to 200 applications. The SFC will align 100% of funding decisions with the community review process.
If we choose your application for review, the community review committee will evaluate your Program Description from your application. We will then incorporate community review feedback into final decision-making. ALL SFC applicants that undergo the Community Review Process will receive feedback about their applications from community reviewers. View a video about our Community Review Process here.
Funder Review and Decision-Making:
At the same time that community reviewers evaluate SFC applications, SFC funders complete a funder review process. SFC funders will receive all application materials and evaluate applications based on a standardized rubric.
Funder evaluations will be combined with community review feedback to produce a funding recommendation for each application. In addition to funder and community review feedback, the final slate of SFC 2025 grantees will be determined based on the SFC’s eligibility requirements and shared funding priority areas, including ages served and programs from BIPOC-led organizations. We will announce funding decisions by the end of February 2025. We will email a decision letter to the proposal contact listed on the online application.
The SFC is an aligned fund. This means that, while the SFC decides the slate of 2025 grantees together, grants will still be awarded by individual funders. The SFC strives to coordinate funding decisions and fund whole program budgets as much as possible. Before finalizing their decisions, SFC funders meet to align final decisions with the goal of fully funding as many high-quality summer programs as possible. SFC funders also strive to blend public and private sources of funding so that grantees have more flexibility in how they can spend their funds.
For summer 2025, the SFC will provide more than $3 million to programs. Of this amount:
- 50% will fund summer programs focused on early-childhood, elementary, and middle school-aged youth
- 50% will fund summer programs focused on older youth ages 14-24
- At least 75% will fund organizations led by Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian leaders
- 100% will be aligned with feedback from community reviewers
You are welcome to apply for the full funding needed to run a high-quality summer program. The SFC will prioritize funding full program budgets for grantees with organizational budgets that are less than $300,000. For grantees with organizational budgets greater than $300,000, grant awards will be capped at $75,000 per program.
DEADLINE: The deadline for submission was
November 20 at 5:00 p.m.
November 20 at 5:00 p.m.
Please note that the SFC will not accept late applications or applications by email or postal mail. Plan to submit your application a few days ahead of time in case you need help of have problems submitting your application.
SFC |