We are pleased to share that during our June grant cycle, the Foundation awarded over $1 million in General Fund grants to twenty-eight organizations serving in Catholic activities, education, health care, and human services. Additionally, through the inaugural round of our new Strategic Catholic Schools initiative, three organizations were awarded a combined total of $532,282 in multi-year funding (payable over three years).

General Fund Awards

Catholic Activities

Carmelite Sisters of Baltimore: $50,000 to support the replacement of the HVAC system in the archives of this religious order, founded in 1790, which houses records from 17th- and 18th-century Maryland and documents from the early Catholic Church in America.

Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House: $80,000 to support the hiring of a development director to advance the organization’s efforts to serve individuals across the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond, who use its Sparks-based facility for programs ranging from summer camps to faith-based retreats.

Education

10:12 Sports: $18,000 to support their Football Mentoring program, an ongoing initiative that integrates high-quality sports, mentorship, and workforce development to empower young men in West Baltimore.

Associated Catholic Charities: $45,000 to support the Career Exploration program at Villa Maria, a nonpublic special education school serving K–8 students with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges who require individualized support to succeed academically and explore future career pathways.

Goucher Prison Education Partnership: $41,751 to support the general operations of this unique college-in-prison program, offering a rigorous liberal arts education to individuals incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women and the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup.

Jeremiah Program – Baltimore: $45,000 to support the operations of this program working to help single mothers and their children rise above poverty by combining college education with wraparound supports including coaching, emergency childcare, and housing assistance, ensuring mothers don’t have to choose between investing in themselves and their families.

St. Elizabeth School: $42,000 to support the purchase of a van to provide transportation for students in the Work-Based Learning program at this co-educational, nonpublic school serving students in grades 1–12 with a range of disabilities.

St. John Westminster: $35,000 to support the modernization of the technology infrastructure in this Pre-K-8 Catholic school in Carroll County.

St. Joseph School (Cockeysville): $50,000 to support the construction of a new playground, a vital component of this Pre-K-grade 8 Catholic school’s Grounds for Greatness capital campaign.

Stocks in the Future: $11,000 to support the delivery of this nonprofit’s financial literacy and investing curriculum for middle school students at Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Health Care

Alzheimer’s Association: $30,000 to support the delivery of the ALZ CARES (Community Alliances for Risk Reduction, Education, and Support) program in Western Maryland, providing care and guidance to individuals in rural communities navigating their own or a loved one’s dementia journey.

Gilchrist Hospice Care: $35,000 to support charity hospice services at Gilchrist Center Baltimore in the Waverly neighborhood which provides around-the-clock care and support to more than 150 patients each year who are uninsured or underinsured.

Mission of Mercy: $50,000 to support this mobile health clinic’s Frederick County operations, providing free medical, dental, and prescription medications to over a thousand patients annually.

Human Services

Anne Arundel Food Bank: $40,000 to support enhanced food access in North Anne Arundel County, with a focus on underserved communities such as Brookly Park, Ferndale, Riviera Beach, and Pasadena.

Blessings in a Backpack: $30,000 to support the general operations of this food-insecurity focused nonprofit, ensuring more than 3,400 food-insecure kids in Frederick County schools grades K-12 have access to healthy food over the weekend – providing a total of 7,600 hunger-free weekends.

Dwyer Workforce Development: $25,000 to support the “Breaking Barriers: Nursing Pathways and Support Program” in Baltimore which provides individuals from underserved communities with CNA training, wraparound services, and job placement support to launch careers in healthcare.

The Family Tree: $60,000 to support Growing Opportunities for Family Child Care (GOFCC) program, designed to address Baltimore’s growing childcare crisis by expanding the number of licensed, home-based childcare providers in underserved communities.

Friendly Loving Opportunities: $45,000 to support the operations of this Baltimore City–based organization which provides essentials such as food, clothing, and furniture to individuals facing hardship, along with an apprenticeship program for people experiencing homelessness and those recently released from incarceration.

Govans Ecumenical Development Corp (GEDCO): $50,000 to support the operations of this Northeast Baltimore-based organization, providing affordable housing, supportive services, and emergency assistance to low-income Baltimore City residents.

Pathfinders for Autism: $40,000 to support Phase 2 of the Safe Encounters Program, which promotes safer interactions between individuals with autism and law enforcement; funding will support the creation of ready-to-use training tools including lesson plans and videos.

Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuser Recovery Center (SARC): $45,000 to support the Donor & Community Engagement Department of this Harford County organization which provides shelter and support services for survivors of sexual violence.

St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center: $50,000 to support the Journey of Hope Homesharing Program which matches Baltimore youth ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness with homeowners who have available bedrooms, helping them transition to stable, long-term housing.

Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership of Frederick (SHIP): $24,000 to support the Thrive program which provides immediate housing and support services for young adults ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness in Frederick County.

TruNorth Company: $21,000 to support the hiring of a driver to assist residents of this Hagerstown-based sober living home, serving low- to moderate-income individuals, including those who are unhoused, in recovery, or reentering the community after incarceration, in accessing essential services on their path to stability.

United Way of Frederick County: $40,000 to support the Ride United program, connecting Frederick County residents with the transportation needed to access education, employment, food, health care, and legal services.

Washington County Commission on Aging: $32,000 to support the general operations of the Emergency Food Program, which provides shelf-stable food to older adults in Washington County with the goal of mitigating food insecurity during emergencies or when meal deliveries are suspended due to weather or public health crises.

Weekend Backpacks: $45,000 to support the expansion of this organization’s efforts to provide food to vulnerable youth in the Baltimore metro area and to help cover costs related to their facility growth.

Women’s Housing Coalition: $50,000 to support the general operations of this Baltimore City–based housing organization, covering critical costs such as housing, counseling, food, insurance, maintenance, and utilities for women and families experiencing homelessness.

Catholic Schools Awards

Calvert Hall College High School: $120,000 grant over three years ($40,000/year) to support the creation and implementation of a Leadership Cohort at this Catholic college preparatory high school for boys, located in Towson, Maryland. This program will develop future leaders from among the faculty and staff, ensuring a strong succession pipeline for key school leadership roles. The program aims to strengthen leadership capacity within the school, support succession planning, and foster professional and personal growth among mid-career educators and administrators.

Ed Lally Foundation: $225,000 grant over three years ($75,000/year) to support the expansion of their “Power of Expression” program to Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This program addresses the escalating youth mental health crisis, particularly anxiety, depression, and suicide, by providing proactive, faith-aligned programming that fosters resilience, reduces stigma, and supports student emotional well-being.

Friendzy: $187,282 grant over three years ($54,893 year one, $64,580 year two, $67,809 year three) to support the implementation of their Character Development Program across the 34 Archdiocesan Catholic elementary and middle schools, specifically targeting grades K-2 and 6-8. This program addresses the critical need for consistent, faith-aligned character education to support student well-being, foster emotional resilience, reduce bullying, and create a culture of belonging.