BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) has decided against sending financial support to Mayor Brandon Scott's office for the upcoming fiscal year, following significant pushback from city leaders regarding a previous $6 million partnership.
BCYF, a nonprofit that operates with taxpayer dollars from Baltimore City’s General Fund, is anticipated to receive approximately $17 million in the next budget cycle to enhance local youth programs. In the previous year, BCYF allocated $6 million to the Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED) to support the YouthWorks summer job initiative and the Mayor's “Summer Youth Engagement Strategy.”
However, Mayor Scott's preliminary budget indicates that YouthWorks will now receive $1.9 million from the General Fund and an additional $5 million from Special Funds to sustain 8,500 summer job slots for young people, particularly in light of potential funding losses from BCYF, the American Rescue Plan Act, and private donations.
When asked if BCYF would provide funding to the mayor's office in the new fiscal year, a spokesperson for Scott confirmed, “Not at this time.”
Documents obtained through a public information request revealed that BCYF had coordinated with Scott’s office since December 2024, allowing the administration to bypass the typical grant application process for local charities seeking BCYF funds. This arrangement has drawn criticism from several members of the Baltimore City Council.
Councilman Zack Blanchard expressed support for the decision to cease funding city-led programs, stating, “I'm glad to see all of BCYF's grants this year going to the grassroots organizations that do such critical work with our young people.”
Concerns over the management of BCYF have also been raised by former Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young, who indicated dissatisfaction with how the funds have been allocated, suggesting that many deserving organizations have not received support.
Additionally, the Baltimore City Inspector General is currently investigating BCYF's operations amid growing scrutiny regarding its financial practices, including significant expenditures on consulting services and out-of-state trips for staff.
The City Council is scheduled to discuss a bill aimed at enhancing oversight of BCYF, which may include a mandatory performance audit.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).
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