Baltimore Nonprofits Take Center Stage at Inaugural “Ask a Fundraiser” Cohort

BALTIMORE — A new wave of community-driven impact took the spotlight as Times Community Services, the nonprofit arm of The Baltimore Times, hosted its inaugural “Ask a Fundraiser” cohort, presented by Wells Fargo. The culminating pitch event was held Wednesday, April 15, inside the historic mansion of the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, bringing together nonprofit leaders, funders, and community stakeholders for an evening focused on sustainability and growth.

The cohort featured a diverse group of organizations committed to serving Baltimore and beyond, including NCIA, Cornerstone Community Housing, Inc., Divine Inspiration Meditation Garden, the Greater Baltimore Urban League, Light of Truth Center, Inc., the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, One God One Thought Center for Better Living, The Fly Girl Network, and Coach G Academy, Inc.

Opening the evening, Paris Brown, publisher of The Baltimore Times, emphasized the importance of investing in the infrastructure of community-based organizations. He highlighted capacity building as a critical step toward long-term impact, noting that nonprofits must be equipped not only with passion, but also with the tools, strategy, and financial clarity needed to thrive.

Each organization delivered a five-minute pitch to a panel of funders after completing a four-month intensive cohort designed to strengthen their fundraising approach. Participants refined their mission and vision statements, sharpened how they communicate program impact, developed clearer budgets, and learned how to confidently make direct funding requests.

The funder panel included Alicia Wilson of the Black Philanthropy Circle at Johns Hopkins University and Timothy Moore, AVP and Senior Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo. Their feedback to participants was both affirming and instructive: be bold in the ask. Funders encouraged organizations to fully articulate their needs and to place greater value on volunteer contributions and in-kind support—resources often underrepresented in funding conversations.

“The work is there, the impact is clear,” one funder noted during feedback. “Now it’s about not underselling what it truly takes to sustain and scale that impact.”

The evening concluded with a reception and guided tour of the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, led by co-founder Dr. Joanne Martin, offering attendees a moment to reflect on legacy, storytelling, and the power of preserving history while building the future.

As its first cohort wraps, the “Ask a Fundraiser” initiative signals a promising new model for strengthening Baltimore’s nonprofit ecosystem—one that centers preparation, confidence, and community connection as key drivers of sustainable change.