BALTIMORE, MD – Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, Inc. (BCYF) is releasing a call for applications to its permanent Board of Directors. The current BCYF Transition board serves through December 2021, per the ordinance passed by the Baltimore City Council in July 2020. As the organization reaches the final phases of transition at the end of 2021, the development of the permanent Board of Directors is a key organizational priority.
The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was created as a dedicated fund to support programs for Baltimore’s young people. The concept of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund was launched in 2015 by then-City Council President Bernard “Jack” C. Young as a response to the unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, an event that sharply illuminated longstanding inequities in public funding in Black communities. In 2016, the Baltimore City Council and voters approved the Fund to receive an annual appropriation of assessed value of all property in Baltimore.
Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, Inc. (BCYF, Inc.) was named the permanent intermediary of the Fund. BCYF, Inc.’s budget is approximately $14 million annually, with $2 million in operating expenses and $12 million in direct grantmaking investments.
BCYF is seeking board candidates who align with BCYF’s values of racial equity, community ownership, youth-empowerment and community based grantmaking. In addition to expertise in racial equity, financial management, grantmaking and technical assistance – BCYF also desires candidates with roots and connectedness to the Baltimore community and experience in grassroots, community-based programming.
Open Call
The application will open on Monday, October 4 and close on Monday, October 25, 2021, for a three-week period.
Applicant interest meetings
BCYF will host 3 information sessions during the weeks of October 11 and October 18 for those interested in Board service to provide an orientation, set expectations, and answer questions. Applicants are required to attend one information session. The information sessions will be on the following dates:
- Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 19, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Applications
All applications will accepted through the BCYF website. Apply now.
Public Process
To facilitate public transparency and accountability, the slate of nominees and alternates then goes through the following public process (similar to Baltimore City’s executive nominations process, e.g., Civilian Review Board):
- Slate of candidates and alternates are referred to the City Council
- City Council refers the slate to the appropriate Council Committee for hearing
- Committee hearing on the slate of candidates and alternates with candidates providing testimony and answering any questions; opportunity for public to raise questions/comments
- Committee Meeting to vote on the slate of candidates and alternates; refers slate to full City Council
- City Council votes on the Committee’s recommendation of the slate of candidates and alternates
BCYF Inc. is excited to facilitate one of the most open and transparent processes of board appointments for a quasi-public agency in Baltimore City. At every step of the process, Baltimore residents will be afforded the opportunity to give their input and testimony on the final composition of BCYF Inc’s permanent board.
This is an excellent opportunity for Baltimore residents to directly participate in the development of strategic investments and world class programming for Baltimore’s youth.
If there are any questions about the application process, please email boardsearch@bcyfund.org.
