Foundation Disburses Funds to Rebuild and Restore

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The Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) raised $16 million for relief efforts following the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster in March 2024. However, none of the funds have been allocated to survivors or families of the six construction workers who died in the collapse.

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The foundation initially launched the Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong Fund to assist survivors and families but later shifted its focus to other areas after the mayor’s office launched a separate fund. “When it was very clear [the mayor’s office was] handling this and their sole responsibility was for the families and for taking care of the families, we were like, ‘Great, we will not try to do things for the families,’ because we are also respecting them for taking the lead’,” said Becky Eisen, BCF associate vice president of marketing and public affairs

Eisen added that the mayor’s office did not make a grant request, but if they had, the foundation would have “entertained that proposal”. However, a Scott administration official disputed this, saying the foundation did not tell the city it needed to apply.

The $16 million has been allocated to various grants, including $4.4 million for port workers, $1 million to Associated Catholic Charities, and $570,000 to the Baltimore Museum of Industry. After criticism, BCF CEO Shanaysha Sauls issued a statement, saying, “At the heart of this is the question of whether the families are getting what they need and whether the city has the resources to extend its support to them for two more years as requested. This issue now has my full attention.

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