Community Grants

The next deadline for Community Grants is coming: Summer 2024

Apply

In order to be eligible to apply, your project must serve or otherwise benefit the residents, businesses, institutions or organizations of the District. Click here for a list of the neighborhoods where we work. All grants fall into one of four categories:

Spark

Up to $2,000

Small

Up to $5,000

Medium

Below $50,000

Large

Up to $100,000

The project must serve or otherwise benefit the residents, businesses, institutions, or organizations of the District. Individual residents and businesses may not apply, and you can't use funds for your own personal benefit. But any non-profit organization, faith-based organization, community group, PTO, or government agency can apply. For our Spark and Small grants, this even includes unincorporated community organizations, or groups of active community residents, so long as you can find a fiscal sponsor to help.

NOTE: Projects awarded $50,000 and above are subject to meet minority and women's business enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation goals as required by the City of Baltimore Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office (MWBOO).

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The following charts help organize what groups may qualify for what grants.

Spark (Up to $2,000) and Small (Up to $5,000)

  • Non-profit organization with 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status.
  • Mission-based organization (e.g. a neighborhood association) without 501(c) (3) tax exempt status but with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
  • Faith-based organization with a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt
  • School or government agency.
  • Unincorporated community organization or group of active community residents with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

Medium (Below $50,000) and Large $5,000) (Up to $100,000)

  • Non-profit organization with 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status.
  • Mission-based organization (e.g. a neighborhood association) without 501(c) (3) tax exempt status but with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
  • Faith-based organization with a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt
  • School or government agency.

How are Applications Evaluated?

To ensure fairness, applications are scored by a committee of volunteers, most of whom live or work in the District, using pre-established criteria to evaluate applications.

Spark: Baseline Criteria

Quality of the plan and timeline.

Realistic budget.

Applicant is capable of accomplishing the project.

Small: Additional Criteria

Quality of partnerships.

Quality of outcomes.

Medium: Additional Criteria

Quality of implementation methods.

Alignment with the Strategic Plan criteria and priority funding areas.

Large: Additional Criteria

Additional funding leveraged.

Sustainability of the project:

does it build capacity or create a durable capital project?

How to Apply

The Winter 2024 Community Grants application is now closed. Funding announcements will be made in May 2024.

Community Grants general information:

See the Community Grants Frequently Asked Questions here.

All grant applications (for spark, small, medium, and large grants) must be submitted electronically through SBGP’s web portal. (Paper based or emailed applications will NOT be accepted.)

Grant Guidance: Applicants are strongly encouraged to download and review the appropriate grant guidance before submitting an application online.  Medium and Large grant applications are encouraged to use their own budget templates.

Project Budget & Narrative Guidance and Templates

Need help?

For general questions, please contact our Community Grants Director, Acacia Asbell.

Check out our upcoming Keys to Capacity workshops—all free and open to the public.

For more updates, please sign up for our mailing list and follow us on social media.

See below for the full Community Grants Resources list.

Community Grant Resources

Check out the video versions of the Community Grants Guidance!

Communicating with SBGP

Download

Community Grants FAQs

Download

Community Grants Winter 2024 Information Session Video

Download

Community Grants Winter 2024 Information Session Presentation

Download

Spark Grant Guidance Winter 2024

Download

Spark Grant Sample Application Winter 2024

Download

Small Grant Guidance Winter 2024

Download

Small Grant Sample Application Winter 2024

Download

Medium Grant Guidance Winter 2024

Download

Medium Grant Sample Application Winter 2024

Download

Large Grant Guidance Winter 2024

Download

Large Grant Sample Application Winter 2024

Download

Grant Budget & Narrative Guidance

Download

Grant Budget Template (Microsoft Word)

Download

Grant Budget & Narrative Template (Microsoft Word)

Download

Grant Budget & Narrative Template (Excel)

Download

Draw Request Form

Download

Draw Request Guide

Download

Draw Request Tutorial Video

Download

Safety Plan Guidance

Download

Sample Draw Schedule

Download

Checklist for Reimbursement Documentation

Download

Vendor Form

Download

Quarterly and Final Reporting

Download