Community Events Grants

The grant provides a maximum amount of $10,000 per applicant without requiring any matching funds. The Community Event Grant funds are usually awarded as a partial contribution and may only cover part of the event budget. However, applicants can utilize additional grants, donations, in-kind contributions and volunteer services to enhance their projects.  

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through May 1, 2024 in order to provide enough time for events taking place during FY24 which begins July 1, 2023 and ends June 30, 2024. Applicants must apply at least two months before the scheduled event date. 

Notification

Applicants will be notified of the results of their submission approximately 3-4 weeks after application submission. 

Eligibility

• The event must occur in Baltimore City. 
• The event must take place over multiple days (no single-day events). 
• The event website must help promote hotel bookings for overnight stays, through collaborations and partnerships with Baltimore city hotels. 
• The event must have all appropriate permitting and insurance coverage as required by the city of Baltimore. 
• Non-profit organizations, community groups, businesses, and event organizers based in Baltimore City are eligible to apply. 
• Applicants must apply at least eight weeks before the scheduled first event date to be considered. 
• Requested funds must be for the purposes of advertising and marketing only.
• The event must be submitted for posting to the Visit Baltimore events calendar on Baltimore.org at least two weeks prior to the first event date. Event submissions do not have to be live before the grant application is submitted.
• Applications must be completed in full to be considered. 
• Applicants may apply for more than one grant per year.

Event Criteria

• The event should provide opportunities for hotel room nights, tourism promotion, economic impact, or visitor experience enhancement. 
  • Tourism Promotion: Opportunities to showcase the city’s unique attractions, cultural offerings, historical sites, entertainment options and diverse neighborhoods to attract leisure travelers, business travelers and convention delegates. 
  • Economic Impact: Opportunities include attendees spending on accommodations, dining, shopping, entertainment, museums, attractions and other tourism-related activities, increasing revenue for local businesses and job creation. 
  • Visitor Experience Enhancement: Opportunities include collaborating with local partners to enhance the quality of hospitality services and ensure visitors have a positive and memorable stay in Baltimore.
    
• Preference will be given to events highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion (such as ​​diverse vendors, accessibility options, collaboration with traditionally marginalized communities, diverse representation, etc.). 
• Events will be rated on alignment with grant objectives, event sustainability and planning, community engagement and inclusion, event impact and reach and budget and resource management. 
• Event plans must include proper permitting and incorporate safety/security protocols in collaboration with the Baltimore Police Department.

Application Requirements

The grant application must include the following: 

• Completed online grant application
• IRS W-9 Form (upload into grant application) 
• Event Budget Summary (upload into grant application)
  

Please submit any questions or concerns to [email protected]. 

Please note: the DMC reserves the right to modify the eligibility criteria as appropriate.

Required Evaluation and Reporting

All grant recipients must submit a post-event report, including attendance figures, economic impact data, and an evaluation of the event’s success in meeting its objectives no more than one month after the completed event.