Baltimore Community Lending, Inc.
Baltimore Community Lending (BCL) is an intermediary lender under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Microloan Programs. The foundation will provide the balance of matching funding to create a 15 percent loan loss reserve to launch the program. In supporting the small business assistance infrastructure in Baltimore City, the first year’s SBA Microloan fund of $750,000 is expected to fund loan amounts between $10,000 and $50,000 to between 15 to 75 small businesses, with special outreach to Black-owned businesses and businesses owned by people of color in Baltimore City.
Venture For America
Venture for America strengthens entrepreneurship, business formation, and economic growth by attracting top talent students to work in start-up and early-stage companies. Since 2013, VFA has placed 127 Fellows in Baltimore City for two-year followships with more than 60 high-growth companies and startups, and they have supported the launch of nine Fellow-founded companies. Of 15 participating cities, Baltimore is the second largest program and boasts the second highest post-Fellowship retention rate.
University of Maryland Medical System Foundation
In 1998, Dr. Carnell Cooper created the Violence Prevention Program (VPP), after repeatedly treating victims and perpetrators of violence admitted into the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The VPP is a hospital-based violence-intervention program that assists victims of violent injuries to reduce recidivism and hospital costs. Victims receive immediate assessment at the bedside from a social worker and/or caseworker, who assists with linkage to necessary resources and social support. Funding from the Abell Foundation will support the on-going expansion of the VPP program to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Emergency Departments at the Downtown and Midtown campuses.
TurnAround, Inc.
TurnAround provides comprehensive, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual abuse and assault, harassment, and human trafficking in Baltimore City and County. This grant supports TurnAround’s anti-trafficking program, which provides emergency and supportive services to survivors of sex trafficking. The program offers safety planning, emergency shelter, intensive advocacy, case management, group and individual counseling, and connection to basic human needs like food and clothing.
Shepherd’s Clinic
Shepherd’s Clinic provides free medical, behavioral health, and wellness care to 800-900 clients annually, largely through volunteer clinicians and staff. Every year, volunteers contribute approximately 10,500 hours of service. Shepherd’s Clinic’s clients are adults who do not qualify for Medical Assistance and yet cannot afford private insurance (most of Shepherd’s Clinic’s clients live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line). This grant supported Shepherd’s Clinic’s general operating costs.