Support Baltimore City Public School Principals through the Heart of the School Fund

Baltimore City Public School principals make the most of limited resources every day on behalf of Baltimore’s students, families, and communities. This Giving Tuesday, support them and their work by donating to the Heart of the School Fund – the year-round grant program that creates opportunities for students through school and program enhancements.

Heart of the School Fund grants support pressing needs that schools do not have sufficient public funding to address. We fund a wide range of principal-identified projects, such as:

• targeted educator professional development
• staff recognition and appreciation events
• community engagement projects
• critical technology
• musical instruments and other enrichment activities

Over the course of the pandemic, the types of projects we funded varied to meet the changing needs at schools. This is highlighted by the four grants below; you can read more about each at the included links.

• The design and creation of an Outdoor Learning Space at Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle School as students returned to school after virtual learning
• The provision of Learning in a Box kits at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School at the height of the pandemic
• The formation of a bike club at Joseph C. Briscoe Academy as schools sought safe outdoor activities for students
• The creation of a Black Girl Joy Mural at Lillie May Carrol Jackson Charter School to welcome students back to school

Currently, many of our grants are focused on staff appreciation, thanking them for their hard work throughout the pandemic, and community re-engagement, including a recent grant to the Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE), for a Taste of ACCE cultural celebration.