What I learned from giving away millions of dollars

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In my time stewarding millions in philanthropic investments across Baltimore, I’ve discovered something counterintuitive: the most important part of giving away grant dollars isn’t about determining where the money should go; it’s listening to the communities that need it. The most valuable currency we trade isn’t dollars — it’s trust.

When I began my career in philanthropy, I thought my job was to solve problems. Armed with resources and good intentions, I believed we could identify what communities needed and deliver solutions. But I was wrong. Effective philanthropy doesn’t solve problems; it shifts power. It listens first, partners deeply, and follows the leadership of those most affected by inequity.

The Turner Station revelation

This truth crystallized during our work in Turner Station, the historic Baltimore County neighborhood where Henrietta Lacks once lived. The community approached us because their aging population was becoming increasingly isolated: no local grocery store, limited medical transportation, and a community center without senior programming.

What we heard from residents was that seniors didn’t just need transportation or food — they wanted a connection. They wanted connection with neighbors they’d known for decades and to rekindle a sense of belonging in their community.

So we supported their Second Sunday Suppers initiative, communal dinners with healing circles and bingo, and connected residents with Maryland Transportation Authority’s mobility program to access existing resources. We also helped to facilitate intergenerational conversations about sharing community spaces.

What we learned was that listening to the organization applying for a grant isn’t enough; you have to listen to the community itself. Residents of Turner Station didn’t just describe the challenges; they imagined the solutions.

Beyond the transaction

Communities don’t need saviors; they need partners. Our role at Baltimore Community Foundation isn’t to lead but to empower those who know their communities best.

This means approaching communities as learners, not experts. Requiring community association support letters. Attending resident-led advisory groups. Maintaining feedback loops even when grants don’t immediately result. We’re not just funding projects; we’re investing in relationships and ideas that shift entire systems.

Take our café lighting projects. For a community to receive a grant for street lighting installation, we require signatures from every household and business on the block — a standard that originated with neighborhood leaders who wanted to ensure the whole community supported the effort. What began as a practical requirement has become a way for residents to collaborate and strengthen local ties.

What communities teach us

Every community partnership teaches us something new. The greatest success often lies in what we learn along the way.

At the Baltimore Community Foundation, we see our role not just as funders but as facilitators, helping communities access tools, resources, and relationships that help them thrive.

Sometimes, our smallest grants can create the most profound transformation. A grassroots organization, using storytelling and healing circles, might receive a fraction of the funding of larger initiatives, but significance isn’t in scale. It’s in the agency, belonging, and momentum created.

That ongoing learning shows up in initiatives like the Judy Center Bootcamps, which help public schools seeking state certification for early childhood centers. By responding to the needs of local school leaders, we helped Baltimore establish three new Judy Centers. That’s 90 more children accessing comprehensive early education. Each one represents a family, a future, and a chance to break the poverty cycle through education.

Everyone has something to give

Philanthropy isn’t reserved for the wealthy. It’s using whatever you have — time, influence, creativity, or dollars — to help empower those closest to the impact. The grocery clerk who knows and greets every senior customer is practicing philanthropy. The neighbor organizing block cleanups is, too. When individuals act together, small contributions become transformative, bridging those who have resources with those who have resolve. This shifts power as much as dollars.

Want to make a difference? Start where you are. Volunteer, mentor, advocate, and connect. Share your community’s story, because collective strength starts with stories we share.

The real lesson

Right now, as so many Baltimore families feel the strain of the federal shutdown and growing gaps in basic needs, we’re reminded that philanthropy is not about waiting for the perfect plan. It’s about showing up with empathy, listening deeply, and acting with intention. It’s how our communities rise for one another when times are toughest. And trust is built in these moments.

That trust — community in itself, philanthropy in partnership—is how we build a better Baltimore, together.

Crystal Harden-Lindsey is Vice President of Community Impact for the Baltimore Community Foundation. You can reach her at [email protected].