Baltimore City Foundation Announces Comprehensive Restructuring

Baltimore, MD. – The Baltimore City Foundation is formally announcing its ground-up, comprehensive restructuring, with the goal to establish the Foundation as an accountable, transparent, and efficient steward of funds. 

In the fall of 2017, the Baltimore City Foundation embarked on a strategic planning process to evaluate and redefine its vision and mission, build internal infrastructure, and determine its role as a funder in Baltimore’s philanthropic landscape. The Foundation’s upcoming changes reflect these goals and serve to guide the organization in becoming a robust and equitable intermediary. 

Over the past year and a half, the Board Chair and City’s Chief Financial Officer Henry Raymond and the Foundation’s Deputy Director Kanav Kathuria engaged in a year-long process to develop recommendations and best practices based on the success of similar funds throughout the country. Recommendations ranged from a systematic redevelopment of accounting policies and procedures to updated operating systems and procedures for agency partners. The Foundation hired a full-time President, HyeSook Chung, to further build out a long-term strategic plan and drive implementation. 

The scope of work of the restructuring will focus on on three key themes: (1) creating the infrastructure and internal processes necessary to be an exemplary steward of funds, (2) creating a portfolio of services for agency partners to ensure successful implementation of programs, and (3) creating or supporting existing grantmaking programs that align with the Foundation’s goals and theory of change. 

Mission and Vision

While the mission of the Foundation will remain through it’s restructuring – to improve the quality of life for all residents of Baltimore – the Foundation will assume a significantly more proactive role in its relationship with city agencies. The Foundation will actively build capacity and leverage public-private partnerships to support agencies in successfully implementing strong programs and services. 

The Foundation is also rebuilding its independent grantmaking program in order to best serve the citizens of Baltimore. The Foundation will resume grantmaking in the fall of 2019 or spring of 2020.

Accountability and Transparency

The Foundation is developing robust internal and external policies and procedures in order to hold itself in alignment with its values of accountability and transparency. The Foundation is also working with partners to institute new policies that enhance and improve the ways agencies can be successful in their development efforts.

“I’m thrilled to join the team at the Foundation. The Foundation has been a critical resource for many agencies for nearly four decades, and we look forward to expanding our portfolio to ensure all residents benefit from our collective work. I look forward to working alongside our public and private partners to best impact the lives of our residents,” states Chung. 

The Baltimore City Foundation is excited to begin its new stage of growth and greatly increase its capacity as a partner for the City of Baltimore and the city’s nonprofit community. Please reach out to HyeSook Chung at hyesook@baltimorecityfoundation.org for any additional questions or concerns. Stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates.