What We Fund

Through strategic grant making, the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation seeks to do its part in achieving three ambitious goals for Baltimore, Maryland.

Education

Grants for Baltimore Education
Goal:

Baltimore children will have access to a quality public education in pre-K through 12th grade. The Foundation has selected certain strategies to help achieve that goal:

Strategies:
  • Support childhood literacy in the very earliest years.
  • Support efforts that promote school readiness for children 0-3.
  • Strengthen reading readiness instruction in pre-K and Kindergarten programs.
  • Support programs that challenge motivated students in public schools.
  • Promote school choice for students and parents.
  • Support the recruitment, training, and mentoring of able instructional leaders for public schools.
  • Support cost-effective, school-based after-school programs.*
  • Support summer learning opportunities.* The trustees favor programs that offer robust, high dosage learning experiences that are academically rigorous and intended to help prevent “summer slide”.  Non-profits who wish to apply for summer learning grants should submit their applications ahead of the February 20 deadline.

*For after-school and summer learning programs, the trustees favor programs that have intense and sustained contact with the same group of students with a consistent message of high expectations.

Environment

Chesapeake bay
Goal:

Baltimore residents will enjoy a greener environment and a cleaner Chesapeake Bay with healthy watersheds. The Foundation has selected certain strategies to help achieve that goal.

Strategies:
  • Support greening efforts in Baltimore that are visible to the wider community.
  • Support efforts in Baltimore to improve the Chesapeake Bay and its watersheds.
  • The Foundation also allocates approximately 15% of the grants budget for preselected organizations that are addressing climate change. That is, the trustees do not accept unsolicited grant applications regarding climate change.

Community Development

Goal:

Baltimore will be a city with vibrant neighborhoods. The Foundation has selected certain strategies to help achieve that goal.

Strategies:
  • Support community organizations that have a record of attracting financial investments for their neighborhood revitalization efforts.
  • Support organizations that provide technical assistance and enhance the capabilities of groups that are working for community development in Baltimore.

What We Do Not Fund

  • Higher education
  • Individuals (either cash or scholarships)
  • Publications
  • Research (academic, scientific, or medical)
  • Direct mail (and membership campaigns)
  • Fundraising or special events
Who Should Apply
Scroll to Top