Past Grants

Job Opportunities Task Force

For continued support of the Baltimore CASH Campaign, an initiative designed to increase the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Baltimore CASH plans to serve 10,000 tax filers by operating 15 to 17 free tax-preparation sites and training 200 volunteers. As the internal capacity of high-volume sites continues to grow, the quality of services and customer satisfaction will be monitored. Plans call for strengthening and expanding financial education/asset development activities for low-wage tax filers.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

To develop and disseminate a briefing paper on the economic, health, and safety effects of an alcohol tax increase in Maryland. The paper will include analyses of the impact of an increase in Maryland’s alcohol taxes on worker productivity, job creation and loss, and the likelihood of crossing state borders to purchase alcohol.

Johns Hopkins University/Center for Social Organization of Schools

For first-year support of a Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) research study on the record of Baltimore City public school students’ rate of graduation from high school and college. The College On Track report will use data from the classes of 2003-2004 to analyze factors predictive of students’ applying, enrolling, and remaining in college.

KIPP Baltimore, Inc.

Toward operating support of the KIPP Harmony Academy, an elementary school enrolling 250 kindergarten and first-grade students. KIPP programming calls for high standards of academic achievement and conduct, along with a commitment to a longer school day, including Saturdays and summer school sessions.

Learning Is For Tomorrow, Inc. (LIFT)

Toward general support, and for securing additional space for expansion of adult literacy and job-training programs for residents of Southeast Baltimore. LIFT specializes in providing educational services to adults with a variety of learning disabilities and then connects the literacy instruction to employment, and it helps students compose resumes, apply for jobs online, and improve interviewing skills. Moving into a larger space means more classrooms and computers, which will allow the facility to serve more students, many of whom are being referred to other low-literacy programs.