By Baltimore Community Foundation
Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) just announced that the Black Philanthropy Circle (BPC) has reached $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that directly support Black people and communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
The announcement coincides with Black Philanthropy Month, a global initiative dedicated to celebrating, elevating, and investing in Black-led philanthropic efforts and leadership. Established in 2022, BPC is a donor-advised fund of BCF that supports Black-led or Black-centered nonprofits in areas like arts and culture, economic welfare, education, community organizing, the environment, human services and health and wellness.
BPC stands out among giving circles for its unusually large gift commitments. Most giving circles in the U.S. have a large number of members contributing under $500 each, but BPC voting members commit $10,000 annually to the BPC Fund with the goal of awarding $250,000 in grants each year. Also, the majority of BPC’s donor base was under 45 years old when BPC was founded, whereas the average charitable donor in the U.S. is 64 years old.
“Baltimore has a rich history of Black philanthropy by individual men and women,” said attorney Alicia Wilson, co-founder of the Black Philanthropy Circle and vice president for civic engagement and opportunity at Johns Hopkins University. “The power of the Black Philanthropy Circle is the pooling of our funds together to support Black-led nonprofits and those that impact the Black community.”
The following Baltimore-based nonprofits have been awarded BPC funding in 2025:
- Arts Everyday, Inc.
- Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust, Inc.
- Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women
- Black Women Build – Baltimore
- Eastside Uplift, Inc.
- Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, Inc.
- HeartSmiles Inc.
- Innovation Works Baltimore
- Open Works, Inc.
- Parks and People Foundation
Further data finds that nearly two-thirds of African American households donate to organizations and causes, contributing a total of $11 billion annually — making them one of the largest giving groups in the nation. Black giving circles are gaining momentum as they offer members a powerful voice and greater agency to support the causes they care about most.
“The organizations that we support have a significant impact on the betterment of Black communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area,” said Savonne Ferguson, Esq., co-founder of the Black Philanthropy Circle and head of compliance – North America at T. Rowe Price. “We know that supporting Black communities is critical to strengthening and moving Baltimore forward.”
“This milestone accomplishment by Black Philanthropy Circle is an undeniable example that Black success and wealth thrive in Baltimore and enables investment in Baltimore” said Shanaysha Sauls, president and CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation. “BCF is proud to partner with this growing community of dedicated Baltimoreans whose values and culture are reflected in their collective generosity.”
At BCF, the Black Philanthropy Circle is committed to expanding its membership to amplify its impact across the Greater Baltimore region. For more information, please visit https://bcf.org/black-philanthropy-circle/
About BCF and the Black Philanthropy Circle
The Black Philanthropy Circle is a nonprofit 501(c)3 donor-advised fund focused on charitable giving to nonprofit organizations committed to providing services for the betterment of African Americans within the Baltimore metropolitan area. The Black Philanthropy Circle Fund is managed by the Baltimore Community Foundation.
For over 50 years, the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) has connected people who are passionate about their community and purposeful in their philanthropy. BCF amplifies donors’ philanthropy with strategic grants, impact investments, special initiatives, and advocacy to strengthen schools and neighborhoods. Visit www.bcf.org to discover meaningful giving, invest your funds wisely, and join a diverse community working for a better Baltimore.
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