South Baltimore Gateway Partnership

What South Baltimore Gateway Partnership does

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development organization established in 2016 and headquartered at 101 W. Dickman Street, Suite 1000 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was created by state legislation and local ordinance to receive and deploy Local Impact Grants generated by video lottery terminals at Maryland casinos (Maryland Live! at Arundel Mills, MGM National Harbor, and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore), splitting Baltimore's share of those funds with the City. The organization directs approximately $8 million per year toward improving quality of life across 15+ South Baltimore neighborhoods including Cherry Hill, Federal Hill, Pigtown, Riverside, Westport, and Barre Circle (excluding the Baltimore Peninsula). Governance rests with a Board of Directors comprised of district residents and business owners meeting at least six times annually.

SBGP's operating model is built around four programmatic pillars. The Community Grants Program distributes tiered grants — Spark (up to $2,000), Small (up to $5,000), Medium (below $50,000), and Large (up to $100,000) — to community groups, nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations, and government agencies through twice-yearly application cycles via a Submittable-powered web portal, with MBE/WBE participation goals applied to awards of $50,000 and above. The Community Development Fund separately supports nonprofit-led community real estate projects on a rolling basis. Enhanced Services delivers capital, maintenance, and programming investments in parks and public spaces (including waste management across a 3-square-mile service area, Main Street commercial corridor improvements, and youth sports) above baseline City services, in partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and Department of Public Works. Transformational Projects drive large catalytic capital initiatives such as the multi-year Reimagine Middle Branch effort (an 11-mile shoreline system of parks, trails, and restored landscapes, awarded a Planning Excellence Award by the American Planning Association), the $23 million Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center (completed 2022), the $30 million Westport Waterfront Park at One Westport (construction began June 2026 in partnership with Stonewall Capital and Parks & People, phased through 2029), the $3 million BGE Field at Reedbird Park, Gwynnda the Good Wheel of the West trash interceptor, Carroll Park Recreation Center renovation, and $1 million toward the B&O Railroad Museum's South Car Works Building.

Since inception SBGP has committed approximately $50.6 million in core Local Impact Grant funding with an additional $5.6 million in projects in development, mobilizing approximately $56.2 million total, of which 76 percent has flowed to historically underserved communities and communities of color within the District. Strategic focus is organized around three priorities: Environmental Sustainability, Health and Wellness, and Community Development and Revitalization. Revenue is derived almost entirely from the statutory Maryland Local Impact Grant allocation; donations are directed to the affiliated South Baltimore Gateway Foundation, including a separate capital campaign for the Baltimore Black Sox Memorial. Staffing stands at 11-50 personnel, led by Executive Director Brad Rogers, with Deputy Directors for Institutional Advancement (Acacia Asbell), Programs (Liz Cornish), and Operations (Erica Pitkow), and functional directors across Community Grants, Enhanced Services, Restoration, and Development.

Name

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership

Legal name

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership

Website

https://sbgpartnership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership is a Baltimore 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2016 that deploys approximately $8 million annually in Maryland casino Local Impact Grants across South Baltimore neighborhoods via community grants, parks investment, and catalytic capital projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Community development grants
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Local impact grants
• Community revitalization
• Park and public space investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Local Impact Grants from Maryland Casinos: SBGP receives funding from Local Impact Grants generated by video lottery terminals at Maryland casinos including Maryland Live! Casino in Arundel Mills, MGM National Harbor Casino, and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. The organization splits Baltimore's share of these grants with the City.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) is a nonprofit community development organization that distributes Community Grants to community groups, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations across South Baltimore. The organization also invests in Enhanced Services (parks and public spaces) and Transformational Projects (large-scale catalytic developments such as Reimagine Middle Branch and the Westport Waterfront Park), funded primarily by Local Impact Grants from Maryland casino video lottery terminals.

Product overview

South Baltimore Gateway Partnership operates as a nonprofit grant-making organization offering a portfolio of programs funded by Local Impact Grants from Maryland casino video lottery terminals. The core offerings consist of the Community Grants Program (with Spark, Small, Medium, and Large tiers ranging from $2,000 to $100,000), the Community Development Fund for real estate projects, Enhanced Services for parks and public spaces improvements, and Transformational Projects including the Reimagine Middle Branch initiative. Additional programs include Keys to Capacity professional development workshops. These programs work together to improve quality of life in South Baltimore neighborhoods through community empowerment, infrastructure investment, and major catalytic projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Grants Program Grant program offering funding to community groups, nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations, and neighborhood anchors. Grants come in four levels: Spark (up to $2,000), Small (up to $5,000), Medium (below $50,000), and Large (up to $100,000), with applications accepted twice per year.
• Community Development Fund (CDF) Separate program from Community Grants that equitably sponsors community-led real estate projects for nonprofit organizations. Accepts applications on a rolling basis for real estate projects only.
• Enhanced Services Capital, maintenance, and programming investments in parks and public spaces above and beyond baseline City services, including park renovations, waste management, youth sports programming, and Main Street partnerships.
• Transformational Projects Major catalytic projects that dramatically improve the District, including Reimagine Middle Branch, B&O Railroad Museum support, Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center, and Baltimore Black Sox Memorial.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76 percent of core program funding distributed to historically underserved communities and communities of color within the District
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Stonewall CapitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead developer of One Westport development partnering with SBGP on the $30 million Westport Waterfront Park. Stonewall Capital is laser-focused on creating waterfront access through 14 acres of new parkland as part of the development project that will ultimately include more than 500 townhomes.
• Parks & People FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Baltimore Black Sox Memorial capital campaign and Westport Waterfront Park. Parks & People is working with local artists to design Black Sox sculptures and with Coppin State University students to research the team. Also founding partner in Reimagine Middle Branch initiative.
• Waterfront Partnership of BaltimorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to bring Gwynnda the Good Wheel of the West trash interceptor to collect trash at the mouth of the Gwynns Falls. Waterfront Partnership manages the Healthy Harbor Initiative and trash wheel program, receiving annual funding from Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
• Cal Ripken Sr. FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BGE Field at Reedbird Park ($3 million, 83,000 square foot turf field) and the broader Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center sport complex. Foundation focused on building youth baseball fields and supporting communities.
• Baltimore City Department of Recreation and ParkscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOngoing partnership for Enhanced Services including waste management, park improvements, and transformational projects. Collaborates on maintenance standards for parks and public spaces. Partner on Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center and Carroll Park Recreation Center renovation.
• Baltimore City Department of Recreation and ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBGP supported the department in building the $23 million Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center in Cherry Hill, bringing world-class recreational facility and public health programming to the neighborhood.
• Weller DevelopmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddle Branch property owner and project backer for Reimagine Middle Branch and trash wheel projects. As developer of Port Covington, committed to preserving and improving South Baltimore's greatest natural asset - the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.
• Wheelabrator TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssumed cost of personnel and equipment to offload trash from Gwynnda trash wheel directly to waste-to-energy facility, converting it into electricity for Maryland homes and businesses. Adjacent property owner supporting the project.
• Business Volunteers MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Keys to Capacity professional development workshops for SBGP grantees and Baltimore-based nonprofits. Business Volunteers connects organizations to time, talent, and support of the business community through facilitated volunteer and consultant connections.
• Mount Clare MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBGP sponsoring Mount Clare Museum's strategic planning process led by expert team including architects, landscape architects, strategic planners, and community engagement specialists. National Historic Landmark preserving Baltimore's oldest colonial-era structure.
• Beloved Communities NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Mount Clare Museum strategic planning process along with SBGP and National Colonial Dames Society of America - Maryland Chapter.
• National Colonial Dames Society of America - Maryland ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Mount Clare Museum strategic planning process along with SBGP and Beloved Communities Network.
• Youth Resiliency InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2018 on Cherry Hill Arts & Music Festival and 4th of July on the Middle Branch Waterfront celebration. Hosts annual Juneteenth Commemoration. Annual event brings South Baltimore neighborhoods together to celebrate Cherry Hill and Middle Branch history, art, and culture.
• Negro Leagues Baseball MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for annual statue unveilings as part of Baltimore Black Sox Memorial. Will feature bronze statues with a new statue added annually at unveiling ceremonies, establishing national network of sites recognizing Negro Leagues athletes.
• Pigtown Main StreetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two Main Streets in SBGP District receiving major investments through Main Street Partnerships to make public spaces safe, attractive, and inviting. SBGP making major investments in Pigtown commercial corridor.
• Federal Hill Main StreetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two Main Streets in SBGP District receiving major investments through Main Street Partnerships to make public spaces safe, attractive, and inviting. SBGP making major investments in Federal Hill commercial area.
• Baltimore & Ohio Railroad MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBGP providing $1 million in funding for restoration of the South Car Works Building and creation of open community space. Museum's master plan includes reconfiguration to face Southwest Baltimore and improved connectivity with Pigtown neighborhood.
• CohnReznick LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoard member Karin Lundquist represents Ridgely's Delight Neighborhood Association and CohnReznick LLP on SBGP Board of Directors.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit creating parks and protecting land in cities, with active projects in Baltimore. Comparable in the parks/shoreline transformation space (e.g., Reimagine Middle Branch), though TPL is a national organization with conservation focus rather than a district-level grantmaker.

Direct peers

• Goldseker Foundation: Maryland-focused family foundation supporting Baltimore-area nonprofits through grants and capacity-building. Directly comparable as a regional grantmaker emphasizing community wealth building and nonprofit effectiveness, similar to SBGP's Keys to Capacity model.
• Baltimore Community Foundation: Baltimore-based community foundation making grants across the city for community development, equity, and capacity building. Highly comparable grantmaking model and Baltimore-area focus, though BCF operates more broadly across the city rather than being confined to a single district.
• The Abell Foundation: Baltimore-based private foundation funding health, education, employment, and community development in Baltimore. Directly comparable as a Baltimore-area place-based grantmaker with a similar mix of grants and programmatic investments.
• Maryland Philanthropy Network: Statewide network of Maryland-based foundations and funders. Comparable as a coordinating body for Maryland-focused grantmaking, though MPN is an umbrella/network rather than a direct grantmaking entity.
• Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore: Baltimore-based nonprofit partnership focused on the harbor and waterfront, including the Healthy Harbor Initiative and trash wheel program. Directly comparable as a Baltimore-area partnership operating overlapping capital projects (e.g., Gwynnda trash wheel) and waterfront revitalization initiatives.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation: Baltimore-based national foundation focused on child welfare, youth development, and community change. Comparable as a Baltimore-anchored foundation that combines place-based community development with broader grantmaking, including work near SBGP's district.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution supporting neighborhood revitalization through grants, loans, and technical assistance. Comparable as a place-based community development funder, but operates nationally with a much broader scope and CDFI balance sheet.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit combining development, policy, and grantmaking to support affordable housing and community development. Comparable in combining grantmaking with real estate and infrastructure investments, but operates at a much larger national scale.

Regional players

• The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation: Maryland-based private foundation funding housing, health, education, and community development across Maryland and other geographies. Comparable as a regional place-based foundation with substantial capital deployment, though it operates across multiple states rather than a single district.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SBGPartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Baltimore Gateway Partnership