The Baltimore Community Foundation

The Baltimore Community Foundation

The Baltimore Community Foundation was established in 1972. Shanaysha Sauls serves as President and CEO. The foundation receives gifts from individuals and institutions and deploys them through grants and program-related investments focused on Baltimore. BCF allocates capital across affordable housing, community solar and small-business lending. It holds positions in Enolia Apartments and Mayflower Apartments through direct loans. It also participates in the Climate Access Fund solar project at Henderson-Hopkins School and the Key's Pointe mixed-income redevelopment. Geographic focus remains Baltimore and surrounding Maryland counties. Investments occur via direct loans, SPVs and limited-partner commitments to local funds. The foundation employs 35 professionals and maintains its headquarters at 11 East Mount Royal Avenue. It operates the Baltimore Women's Giving Circle and the Black Philanthropy Giving Circle. In June 2024 it presented its annual update and the strategic plan titled Inspire. Additional vehicles include the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund created in 2024. BCF maintains a hybrid structure that combines traditional grantmaking with an active impact-investment program called Invest for More. This program commits capital to housing developers and community lenders while retaining oversight of specific projects. The model allows the foundation to recycle returns into new Baltimore initiatives rather than distributing all assets as grants.