The Black Women and Girls Fund (BWGF) is a fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation ¹ that gives small grants to organizations that support Black women and LGBT people such as Out for Justice, the Black Mental Health Alliance, Black Girls Vote, and Baltimore Safe Haven. ² It was founded in 2018 by philanthropist and activist Maria Johnson. ³

Founder and Chair

The Black Women and Girls Fund was founded and is run by Maria Johnson. In addition to her work at the Black Women and Girls Fund, Johnson is a scholar, researcher, and owner of a consulting firm. ³

She previously worked at the University of Delaware where she taught classes on racial inequality and at the University of Michigan where she researched issues relating to diversity and family policy. Johnson’s research is based on critical race theory and how it impacts Black daughter-father relationships and Black family dynamics. Her consulting firm, Equity Thought, works with, “philanthropic, governmental, and academic organizations…to foster racial equity and inclusion.” ⁴

She has published work in the Du Bois Review: Social Science on Research and Race and is writing a book titled Black Daughters, Black Fathers: Understanding Complex Family Relationships. ⁵

Grantees

Out for Justice

Out for Justice is a criminal justice nonprofit that promotes policies that lower barriers to employment and increase the political participation of formerly incarcerated individuals. ⁶  Out for Justice has helped pass the Maryland Fair Access to Education Act which allows individuals not to disclose their criminal records when applying to college. It also helped pass a law about jury participation which allows formerly incarcerated individuals to sit on juries. ⁷ The Black Women and Girls Fund lists Out for Justice as a grantee partner. ²

Black Mental Health Alliance

The Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) is a mental health institute that connects individuals in the Black community with culturally competent therapists and Black psychiatrists, and offers education programs for Black youth. ⁸ The Black Women and Girls Fund lists BMHA as a grantee partner. ²

Black Girls Vote

Black Girls Vote (BGV) is a voter registration and education nonprofit ⁹ that works to increase the number of Black women who “use the political process to improve the quality of life for their families and the collective community.” ¹⁰ Black Girls Vote claims to be non-partisan but states that former U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) was the inspiration for founding the organization. ¹⁰ The Black Women and Girls Fund lists BGV as a grantee partner. ²

Baltimore Safe Haven

Baltimore Safe Haven is a nonprofit that advocates for LGBT individuals. It offers mobile outreach centers that offer hygiene products, food, transportation, and education programs. Baltimore Safe Haven states its objectives are to support transitions and gender affirmation, advocate for LGBT interests, and prevent violence against LGBT individuals. ¹¹ Black Women and Girls Fund lists Baltimore Safe Haven as a grantee partner. ²

1. “Black Women and Girls Fund.” Baltimore Community Foundation. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://bcf.org/fund/bwome/.
2. “Grantee Partners.” Black Women and Girls Fund. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://bwgfund.org/grantee-partners.
3. “About.” Black Women and Girls Fund. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://bwgfund.org/about.
4. “Providing Evidence-Based Solutions on Race, Gender, Equity, and Inclusion.” Equity Thought. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://equitythought.com/about.
5. “Maria S. Johnson, Ph.D.” DrMariaJohnson. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://drmariajohnson.com/.
6. “About.” Outforjustice. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://www.out4justice.org/about.
7. “Legislative Advocacy.” Outforjustice. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://www.out4justice.org/legislative-advocacy.
8. “About Us.” Black Mental Health Alliance. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://blackmentalhealth.com/about-us/.
9. Black Girls Vote. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://blackgirlsvote.com/.
10.  “Our Story.” Black Girls Vote. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://blackgirlsvote.com/campaign-groups-our-story/.
11. Baltimore Safe Haven. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://www.baltimoresafehaven.org/.