Selected Grants Made : 2020

Below is a sampling of grants awarded in 2020. Grantmaking for the year was significantly impacted by COVID-19; the foundation maintained & extended all existing multi-year grant commitments, made additional grant payments to multi-year partners, increased its overall grants budget, and allocated remaining resources to meet emergency human needs in the wake of the pandemic.

Additional grantmaking activities may be reflected on the foundation's form 990-PF. This list, however, is representative of the grants approved by the board as a whole (exclusive of discretionary gifts) and is an accurate depiction of our (pandemic-impacted) priorities for the year.

While the impacts of the pandemic will be felt for months and years to come, the foundation plans to return to its strategic giving priorities for 2021 and beyond, which focus on addressing the inequities that the pandemic laid bare; more information about our grants process, what we’re looking for, and how to apply is available on our Grants Page.

General Grants

  • Adoptions Together (Maryland) - $10,000, Multiyear General Operating Support: Adoptions Together is a child and family health and welfare agency that provides therapeutic support and education for children and their families, works to build healthy, lifelong connections between children and families, and provides advocacy for best practices in child welfare systems. Their programs strive to ensure that children of all ages have the opportunity to grow up in healthy, supportive and permanent families by addressing the issues of abuse, neglect and family stability. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Baltimore Community ToolBank (Baltimore City and surrounding areas, MD) - $12,000, Multiyear General Operating Support: The Baltimore Community ToolBank serves hundreds of community-based organizations annually with a wealth of tools and resources. In addition to their tool lending program, the ToolBank intentionally connects partners to each other in order to share knowledge, skills and resources to make our communities vibrant. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition, fiscally sponsored by Digital Harbor Foundation(Baltimore, MD) - $3,750: Unrestricted support for the start-up costs of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition, a collaboration of over 60 community organizations working to close the digital divide in Baltimore through device distribution, increased access to affordable internet, and advocacy.

  • Banner Neighborhoods Community Corporation (Baltimore, MD) - $7,500, Multiyear General Operating Support: Banner Neighborhoods promotes resident-based leadership, neighborhood pride and stability, and provides direct services that contribute to the overall viability of parts of East and Southeast communities in Baltimore City. Second installment of a two-year, $15,000 commitment. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Banner Neighborhoods Community Corporation (Baltimore, MD) -$3,500, Racial Equity Board Training: Funding supported the hiring of consultant trainers for the Banner Neighborhoods Board of Directors around topics of racial equity, specifically as it relates to Baltimore City.

  • CASH Campaign of Maryland (Maryland) - $10,000, General Operating Support: CASH Campaign of Maryland provides the financial capability of low-to-moderate income families through direct service, advocacy, and systems change

  • CLLCTIVLY (Baltimore, MD) - $2,500, General Operating Support: CLLCTIVLY is a place-based social change organization centering Black Genius, Narrative Power, Social Networks, and Resource Mobilization. CLLCTIVLY works to end the fragmentation and duplication of programs, to learn from and about each other, and to be a resource for the Greater Baltimore community that seeks to find, fund and partner with Black social change organizations.

  • Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (Anne Arundel County, MD) - $5,000, General Operating Support: The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) inspires and promotes giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care to causes that matter.

  • Digital Harbor Foundation (Baltimore, MD) - $3,750, General Operating Support: General operating funds to support Digital Harbor Foundation’s technology and computer science education programs for Baltimore youth and educators, including building out online computer science courses for youth and fiscal sponsorship of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition.

  • Exponent Philanthropy (National) - $6,800, General Operating Support: General operating funds to support Exponent Philanthropy’s work to amplify and increase the impact of lean funders by building an inclusive community where they can learn, connect, and collaborate.

  • FreeState Justice (Maryland) - $10,000, Multiyear General Operating Support: FreeState Justice seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ youth through legal services to represent LGBTQ youth in court; training service providers and government agencies in effectively serving LGBTQ youth; and policy advocacy.

  • Life Asset, Inc (Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland) - $10,000, Multiyear Program Specific-Support for Maryland Programs: Life Asset's mission is to help alleviate poverty in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia by empowering people through affordable financial products, services, and education, thereby promoting self-help and self-respect and expanding social and economic opportunities for low-income individuals. Funding supported the expansion of Life Assets’ Microloan and Financial Training Program to more low-income individuals in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Frederick County, creating financial self-sufficiency through small business ownership.

  • The Light House (Annapolis, Maryland) - $10,000, Multiyear General Operating Support: The Light House is both a facility and a program. Their mission is to help rebuild lives with compassion by providing shelter and services to prevent homelessness and empower people as they transition toward employment, housing and self-sufficiency. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Literacy Council of Frederick County (Frederick, MD) - $10,000, Multiyear General Operating Support: The Literacy Council of Frederick County teaches adults the reading and other English language skills they need to provide for their families and contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the community. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Maryland Center on Economic Policy (Maryland) - $10,000, Multiyear General Operating Support: The Maryland Center on Economic Policy advances innovative policy ideas to foster broad prosperity and help our state be the standard-bearer for responsible public policy. MDCEP engages in research, analysis, strategic communications, public education, and grassroots alliances promoting robust debate and greater public awareness of the policy choices Maryland residents face. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Maryland Hunger Solutions (Maryland) - $10,000, General Operating Support: Through outreach, advocacy, technical assistance, research, public education, and collaboration, Maryland Hunger Solutions seeks to end hunger, improve nutrition, and promote the well-being of Marylanders in need by ensuring that federal nutrition programs are used the greatest extent possible, and that schools and program providers have access to federal funds to serve food that mets high nutrition standards. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below).

  • Maryland New Directions (Baltimore, MD) - $7,500, General Operating Support: Maryland New Directions offers job seekers in Baltimore City intensive employment training, industry recognized skill certification opportunities, and holistic supportive services.

  • Mental Health Association of Frederick County (Frederick, MD) - $10,000, General Operating Support: Through education, advocacy, empowerment, and treatment, the Mental Health Association of Frederick County helps everyone face their challenges and make lasting positive changes. General operating support in 2020 helped maintain all MHA programs through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the operation of the area’s 2-1-1 and systems navigation for families in crisis.

  • Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation (Maryland) - $10,000, NAF Grooming Project: Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation supports projects that improve the grooming, hygiene and well-being of individuals lacking access to regular hygienic care. Funding supported the installation of a full-service barber/beauty salon within the National Academy Foundation.

  • United Way of Frederick County (Frederick County, MD) - $5,000, Project-Specific Support for Census 2020 Community Outreach: United Way of Frederick County improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of the Frederick County community to advance the common good. Match funding supported the purchase of a Census 2020 billboard to promote participation in rural areas in the northern part of Frederick county.

  • Youth Empowered Society, fiscally sponsored by Strong City Baltimore (Baltimore, MD) - $7,500, Multiyear General Operating Support: YES Drop-In Center is Baltimore City’s first and only opportunities. and allies that them make and sustain connections to long-term resources and drop-in center for homeless youth. YES Drop-In Center is a safe space for youth who are homeless and between the ages of 14-25, to get basic needs met and establish supportive relationships with peer staff. In 2020, one additional one-time $5,000 payment was made to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19 (see below). A $1,600 grant was also awarded to provide support for staff working through the height of the pandemic to meet client needs.
     

Leadership Development Grants

The Leadership Development Grants Program was suspended in 2020, as partners prioritized both time and resources to emergency response and financial health. More information about the program’s history, as well as any updates and announcements for future years of funding, can be found here.

COVId-19 Emergency Response Grants

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation allocated additional dollars to meet emergency human needs and offset financial impacts of the pandemic for partner organizations. The majority of these grants were made through collaborative co-funding processes, as with other Frederick funders, or without any application process at all, as in the case of additional payments made to multi-year grant partners. All COVID-19 emergency relief funds were distributed as unrestricted grants, to allow maximum flexibility in response to the ongoing and rapidly shifting public health crisis.

The Helen J. Serini Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Determination letter.

EIN# 46-1353961