Research
By studying patterns and listening to community experiences, the Middendorf Foundation works with scholars to conduct research on projects related to facilities, with an aim to empower Marylanders to build safe, equitable, and inclusive communities. Drawing on both data and lived experience, the Foundation makes informed decisions that maximize impact and advance opportunity in Baltimore.
This project studied Baltimore’s permitting and grantmaking systems. Through stakeholder interviews and analysis, the team identified key challenges and developed recommendations to improve efficiency and collaboration among nonprofits, foundations, and city government.
Authors: Morehead-Cain Scholars(William Dahl, Layah Clinton, Willow Taylor Chiang Yang, Margaret Kern, and Liam Furlong) with guidance from the Middendorf Foundation and Maryland Philanthropy Network
Capital grantmaking—support for buildings, renovations, and major equipment—is a foundational yet underexplored pillar of philanthropy. Drawing on 45 interviews and more than two decades of nonprofit and philanthropic experience, this report explores recurring challenges surfaced: the disproportionate burden capital projects place on smaller nonprofits; the absence of shared infrastructure for funder collaboration; the risks of volatile construction costs; and the overlooked need for long-term maintenance planning. The report also highlights innovative strategies that can strengthen outcomes, helping nonprofits build not only structures but resilience and sustainability for the communities they serve.
Authors: Morehead-Cain Scholars (Alexander Yevchenko, Caroline Hoyt, Abby Adeshina, Alyssa Schoof, and Michael Agu), with guidance from the Middendorf Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and Abell Foundation