Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation Grant Program

The Brown Family Foundation, established in 1994 by Eddie and Sylvia Brown at the Baltimore Community Foundation, supports charitable organizations serving the Baltimore metropolitan area, with a specific focus on the African American community. As part of their long-standing philanthropic commitment to the city, the Browns created this fund to address systemic disparities in health, education, and access to the arts. The Foundation provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations with a proven track record of service delivery and clear programmatic outcomes. For the 2025 grant cycle, applications will be accepted from March 31 through September 30, 2025. Submissions must be made via BCF’s new online application platform, GOapply. All applicants, including previous grantees, are required to create an account in the system. Awards are typically $5,000, and funding decisions are made annually. Requests are evaluated for program quality, measurable impact, alignment with the Foundation’s core focus areas, and benefit to the African American community in Baltimore. Grants will be considered for organizations offering direct services or programs that fall under one of four priority areas: mental health, cancer prevention and treatment, the arts, and K–12 education. For mental health, the Foundation supports interventions including counseling, testing, case management, and access to treatment specifically within the African American community. For cancer-related programs, eligible efforts include prevention education, local screenings, and treatment services. Arts programs should focus on long-term youth engagement through meaningful experiences that promote development, academic enrichment, and leadership. In education, the Foundation welcomes applications that support public K–12 students in Baltimore City through mentoring, afterschool activities, scholarship assistance, or classroom support. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations—or have a fiscal sponsor—that serve the Baltimore region and uphold inclusive non-discrimination policies. The Foundation does not fund start-up organizations, individuals, capital projects, higher education institutions, or programs outside of the region. Multi-year funding is not available, and receiving a grant in one cycle does not guarantee future awards. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate a long-term commitment to youth and community development through sustained, impactful programming. The Brown Family Foundation emphasizes sustainability and community trust, making it especially receptive to organizations that serve a consistent group of youth or families over time rather than those delivering short-term or high-volume programming. All applicants must ensure that their proposals are well-developed and supported by documentation showing clear goals, expected outcomes, and previous impact.

Show direct service to African American communities. Prioritize long-term engagement. Provide data or past outcomes if available.