Baltimore Children & Youth Fund Hosts Boardlight Event to Strengthen Youth Organizations
TL;DR
BCYF's PATA training increases grant success fivefold, giving organizations a significant advantage in securing funding from the upcoming $2 million summer round.
BCYF employs a dual investment model combining direct funding with technical assistance, including PATA sessions that prepare applicants for grant applications.
BCYF's community investment builds lasting organizational strength and expands equity across Baltimore's youth ecosystem, creating better opportunities for young people.
BCYF's Boardlight event offers hands-on learning about youth funding while connecting community organizations with resources and professional development opportunities.
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The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund will host its upcoming Boardlight event on Thursday, October 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET at Baltimore Unity Hall, inviting Baltimore's grantees, partners, and community members to learn more about BCYF's mission, available resources, and the city's ongoing investment in youth-serving organizations. This initiative represents a critical approach to community development that combines financial support with capacity building, addressing systemic challenges faced by grassroots organizations.
Designed as a learning and connection opportunity, the Boardlight event will help organizations, particularly those operating with budgets under $750,000, better understand BCYF's dual investment model. This targeted approach is significant because smaller organizations often lack the administrative capacity and technical expertise to compete effectively for funding, despite their deep community connections and understanding of local needs. By focusing on these organizations, BCYF ensures that resources reach the communities most in need of support.
Later in the event, BCYF will host a Pre-Application Technical Assistance session—professional development sessions preparing grantee applicants for BCYF's upcoming $2 million summer funding round. The impact of this technical support is substantial: participants are five times more likely to receive a grant than those who do not engage in the training. This statistic underscores the importance of moving beyond simple grant distribution to include comprehensive support systems that build organizational capacity.
"This event is a great opportunity for Baltimore residents to see how public funding is transforming the lives of young people across our city," said Alysia Lee, President of BCYF. "Along with professional development and grant application support, it's a hands-on way to experience how BCYF empowers and uplifts grassroots organizations." This approach reflects a broader shift in philanthropic and municipal funding strategies that recognize the importance of building sustainable organizational infrastructure rather than simply providing temporary financial support.
Boardlight emphasizes community learning, skill-building, and connection, showing how BCYF's support extends beyond funding to build lasting organizational strength. The combination of financial resources with technical assistance represents a comprehensive approach to community investment that expands equity and sustainability across Baltimore's youth ecosystem. This model has implications for other cities seeking to maximize the impact of public funding for youth development, demonstrating that strategic support systems can significantly enhance the effectiveness of financial investments. To learn more about BCYF, visit https://www.bcyfund.org.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
