Baltimore Youth Fund Faces Questions Over Grant Awards

The fund allocated over $420,000 to an organization that currently lacks updated tax filings.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stark brick facade, evoking the gravity of institutional financial oversight and transparency concerns. — The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund faces scrutiny over $421,500 in grant awards to an organization with missing public tax documentation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should all nonprofits receiving taxpayer funds be required to provide up-to-date public financial disclosures?

Since 2024, the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund has awarded $421,500 to the Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association. The nonprofit organization currently has no publicly available tax forms dated after 2023.

Why it matters

The disbursements raise concerns about financial transparency, as the recipient group is missing from the state charity database. These funds are part of a larger $16 million budget allocated to the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund for fiscal year 2026.

The Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association received $250,000 in 2026 alone from the total $421,500 awarded since 2024. Meanwhile, Let's Thrive Baltimore has received over $270,000 in city funding since 2023, including a $105,000 payout in 2025.

The players

Lisa Molock

She serves as the board chair for the Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association and the executive director of Let's Thrive Baltimore.

Baltimore Children and Youth Fund

This local entity distributes taxpayer money to organizations that provide youth services in Baltimore.

Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association

This is a local nonprofit organization that has received significant taxpayer funding since 2024.

Let's Thrive Baltimore

This local organization received over $270,000 in funding from the city government since 2023.

The details

Lisa Molock, who serves as the board chair for the Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association and executive director of Let's Thrive Baltimore, previously held a seat on the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund board from 2022 to 2024. Let's Thrive Baltimore currently lists her salary at $109,787.

Lisa Molock served on the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund board from 2022 to 2024.
The Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association filed its most recent public tax form in 2023.
The Pennsylvania Avenue Neighborhood Association began receiving funding in 2024.
Let's Thrive Baltimore received $105,000 in taxpayer funds in 2025.
The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund received $16 million in taxpayer funding for fiscal year 2026.

Market Landscape

The distribution of public funds must adhere to Baltimore City performance audit legislation, which mandates reviews every three years. This oversight framework is designed to ensure accountability within the city's broader landscape of youth service funding.

Taxpayers may see changes in how the city manages and approves future grant distributions to local nonprofits. These oversight issues could lead to stricter documentation requirements for any organization seeking public funding in the future.

The takeaway

Transparency remains a critical component for any organization handling public tax dollars. Residents should monitor future city reports to see if audit findings lead to changes in how youth funding is administered.