Guidelines
Education and Youth Development
The Open Society Institute–Baltimore’s Education and Youth Development Program aims to increase the knowledge and skills of Baltimore’s children and youth through improved public education and enhanced after-school and summer programs, so that they can become successful citizens, workers, and parents.
To begin to address these needs, the Education and Youth Development Program has the following funding priorities:
- Keep children connected to school: pre-k through graduation. Public education is the only opportunity program offered to all American youth and is critical to the futures of city children. OSI supports advocacy, technical assistance and systemic reforms that ensure that all children can attend and benefit from public education. Its current attendance effort brings public agencies, City Schools, community organizations, parents, teachers and students together to reform policies and practices that impede regular school attendance and to make schools engaging and welcoming.
- Support school reform efforts to create new schools. Baltimore’s drop-out rate is testimony to the fact that its schools do not meet the needs of more than 40% of its students. To change this reality, OSI’s Education Program focuses on efforts to create new, innovative schools–especially for students who are likely to leave without graduating. It is currently working to develop and fund school models that will “accelerate” both on-track and off-track students’ progress through high school.
- Expand opportunities for learning when school is not in session. The hours after school, on weekends, and during the summer are crucial to healthy youth development. As it has over the past ten years, the Program will provide advocacy, technical support and grants to increase the quality, quantity and sustainability of out-of-school time programs in Baltimore and Maryland.
Application Process
Step 1: Letter of Inquiry
Please carefully read the education program overview. If you feel your program is a match*, submit a two to three page letter of inquiry which includes: a description of the program to be funded; the qualifications of the organization to carry out the program; the ways in which the program reflects the priorities of the Education and Youth Development Program; the amount of the budget and the funds requested; and a copy of the IRS letter stating the organization's tax-exempt status.
We will work to get you an initial response to your letter within four weeks. If you do not hear from us within that time frame please feel free to contact Kiera Edwards at kedwards@sorosny.org.
*Please note that OSI-Baltimore generally does not fund individual after-school programs, but concentrates its out-of-school time funding on city wide efforts to improve the quality and quantity of programs. Below are links to organizations where you may be able to find information about possible funding opportunities.
Baltimore’s Safe and Sound Campaign
The Family League of Baltimore City
Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers
National Center for Summer Learning
The After School Institute
Maryland Out of School Time Network
Step 2: Proposal Submission
If we determine that the proposal is of interest, we will invite the applicant to submit a full proposal. Applicants submitting a grant proposal should use the following format: on institutional letterhead, the cover page should state: a one-sentence description of the proposed initiative; the amount requested from OSI-Baltimore; the total organizational budget; the name of the organization that would serve as the grantee or fiscal sponsor for the grant if awarded; and a contact name, address, and telephone number.
The proposal should include: a description of the organization; a description of the program or project for which funding is requested, the need or issue it addresses, its objectives, activities and methodology; the program's expected outcomes; the financial sustainability of the program; and the organization's plans to assess the program's impact. Appendices to the proposal should include:
- A list of current and proposed funders of the project or program.
- A one-page program implementation timeline for year one of the proposed project or program.
- Resumes of the organization's director, project director and other key staff.
- A copy of the IRS letter stating the organization's tax-exempt status, if not submitted with the letter of inquiry.
- An annotated budget for the project or program for every year funding is requested.
- A copy of the organization's overall budget.
- A copy of the most recent annual report and audit (or financial statement).
To learn more about the program, please contact Jane Sundius at jsundius@sorosny.org or 1-410-234-1091, ext. 209.
