Baltimore Community Lending Inc
Baltimore Community Lending Inc (BCL) is a public charity and mission-based Community Development Financial Institution based in Baltimore, Maryland. It provides flexible financing to support community development in underserved communities in the Baltimore metro area, including lending to real estate developers and small business owners.
Baltimore Community Lending Inc at a glance
In short: Baltimore Community Lending Inc gave $1.8M across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,755,500
- +2416.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- Average grant
- $40,826
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $44,380,351
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Baltimore Community Lending Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 875 Hollins Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 727-8590
Website: https://bclending.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Baltimore Community Lending Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cureate ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 73 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
BCL states that it serves the Baltimore metro area. Its small-business program identifies Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County as its service area. In 2025, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 28% to recipients in DC, and 3% to recipients in Delaware.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2024) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $1.8M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cureate Washington, DC | Operations | $500,000 |
| Westport Cedc Baltimore, MD | Appraisal Gap | $172,000 |
| PBI Holdings LLC Baltimore, MD | Appraisal Gap | $130,000 |
| A-1 Escort Service LLC Wilmington, DE | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
| Beacon Stevedoring Baltimore, MD | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
| Guilford Brewing LLC Baltimore, MD | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
| Hammer Head Trucking LLC Baltimore, MD | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
| Itas LLC Ellicott City, MD | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
| Piraeus International Inc Baltimore, MD | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
| RHB Trucking Inc Baltimore, MD | Operations - Key Bridge Collapse | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,380,351 | $8,804,597 | $10,024,988 | $1,755,500 | 43 | $156,956 |
| 2024 | $40,362,956 | $6,394,581 | $5,248,201 | $69,750 | Total only | $178,351 |
| 2023 | $37,305,565 | $4,865,383 | $3,975,555 | $546,150 | Total only | $81,849 |
| 2022 | $32,545,900 | $4,977,119 | $2,590,915 | — | — | $15,967 |
| 2021 | $27,611,134 | $4,188,946 | $3,499,320 | $300,000 | 30 | $5,031 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
BCL’s mission is to support the revitalization and strengthening of underserved communities through innovative and flexible financial assistance designed to promote community development. Its work includes real estate lending and small business financing. BCL describes its small business loans as serving startups and entrepreneurs with strong business models who face barriers to traditional financing, such as insufficient collateral.
BCL’s 2025 filing lists grants to businesses and organizations, with stated purposes including operations, appraisal gaps, and support for businesses affected by the Key Bridge collapse.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, BCL reported 43 grants totaling $1,755,500. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed award was $500,000 to CUREATE in Washington, DC, for operations. Other notable awards were $172,000 to Westport CEDC and $130,000 to PBI Holdings LLC, both in Baltimore, for appraisal gaps. BCL also made seven listed $50,000 awards for “Operations - Key Bridge Collapse” to businesses in Maryland and Delaware.
The organization’s website describes a separate program offering $10,000 investment grants to selected entrepreneurs, alongside business advisory services and support from a bank advocate. Applicants to that program must complete BCL small-business training requirements and submit a business plan with accurate financials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Watchen Harris Bruce as President and CEO. Listed board officers are Michael Tagg, chair; Alex Aaron, vice chair; Antony Gross, treasurer; and Linda Harrington, secretary. Other listed board members are Alice Kennedy, Gerard Joab, Jeffrey C. Wilke, Paul T. Graziano, and Michael F. Allen.
Baltimore Community Lending Inc is led by Watchen Harris Bruce, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 5 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Watchen Harris Bruce
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$137K (2021) → $199K (2025)
Michael Tagg
Board Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie J. Crockett
Director of Small Business
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$112K (2025)
Sean E. L. Russell
Chief Lending Officer
Vice President & Chief Lending Officer → Chief Lending Officer, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$111K (2022) → $126K (2025)
Clarence J. Snuggs
Chief Operating Officer
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$131K (2023) → $145K (2025)
Susan E. Kelly
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$131K (2025)
Alex Aaron
Board Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Antony Gross
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerard Joab
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey C. Wilke
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Harrington
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul T. Graziano
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Kennedy
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael F. Allen
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Antony Gates (2024) — Treasurer
- Former: George Von Zedlitz (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Christopher Rockey (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Nichole Doye Battle (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Eduardo Hayden (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Colleen Kline (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Amber Mohr (2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Dean S. Harrison (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Eric Jones (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Monica Mitchell (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $199K, to Watchen Harris Bruce (President and CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Baltimore Community Lending Inc
How much does Baltimore Community Lending Inc give each year?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc gave $1.8M across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it reported $70K in grants paid.
What is Baltimore Community Lending Inc's typical grant size?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $40,826, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Baltimore Community Lending Inc give grants?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (28%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (31 grants) and Parkville, MD (2 grants).
Does Baltimore Community Lending Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Baltimore Community Lending Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (24 grants) and "Operations - Key Bridge Collapse" (17 grants).
Who are Baltimore Community Lending Inc's largest grantees?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cureate ($500,000), Westport Cedc ($172,000) and PBI Holdings LLC ($130,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Baltimore Community Lending Inc?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc reported $44.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.8M.
What does Baltimore Community Lending Inc fund?
BCL’s mission is to support the revitalization and strengthening of underserved communities through innovative and flexible financial assistance designed to promote community development. Its work includes real estate lending and small business financing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Baltimore Community Lending Inc?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bclending.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Baltimore Community Lending Inc's EIN?
Baltimore Community Lending Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1632468. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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