Nonprofit Relocation Project of the Baltimore Development Corporation

Over the past year World Relief, American Field Service and the Association of Academic Physiatrists have relocated to Baltimore City, joining Lutheran World Relief/Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and other national and international nonprofit organizations that have chosen Baltimore City for their institutional headquarters. Chief among reasons for the relocations are the low cost of living, the proximity to an international airport, northeast corridor train station and Washington, D.C., and an opportunity to collaborate with other nonprofit organizations concentrated in the area with similar national or international focus. Add to this list a powerful incentive offered by The Abell Foundation: grants for relocation expenses. Each of the organizations was awarded $5,000 in Foundation funds for every employee relocated to, or hired in, Baltimore.

New York, Chicago and other metropolitan markets, though they may be attractive corporate locations, come with the high rents, operating costs and high cost of living that the average nonprofit employee cannot easily afford. Nonprofit organizations do not necessarily offer the same pay scales that many for-profit companies do, yet they want to reward and retain their employees. Consequently, as their office leases come up for renewal, many nonprofits consider the costs and benefits of relocation. Since there is a fiduciary obligation to use each dollar raised by the nonprofit in support of its mission, organizations have limited funds to underwrite relocation expenses, even if a move will reduce operating expenses over the long term.

Two economic development agencies, the Baltimore Development Corporation, and the Greater Baltimore Alliance, work with the organizations to ensure successful relocations. Through these moves, Baltimore City has received an economic boost from the more than 170 new jobs created in the City, gained stature and prominence as a headquarters destination for national and international nonprofit organizations, and benefited from a concentration of new construction, renovation and occupancy of downtown office space.

Lutheran World Relief and its sister organization, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, were founded during World War II to provide humanitarian aid internationally and domestically. Originally seeking Class B office space in downtown Baltimore City, Lutheran World Relief hired Marks Thomas Associates to design a signature headquarters building overlooking the Inner Harbor. Completed in 1999, the Lutheran Center houses 87 relocated and newly hired staff of the two organizations.

World Relief, an international disaster relief and refugee assistance placement organization, purchased the vacant Savings Bank of Baltimore building in the heart of Baltimore's central business district. By consolidating their New York, Chicago and Georgia offices and creating a single world headquarters, 70 jobs were either relocated to, or created at, World Relief in Baltimore.

American Field Service (AFS-USA), a foreign cultural exchange program operating in 56 countries, eliminated two regional offices in Pennsylvania and Annapolis and consolidated its regional operations, moving 25 new jobs to Baltimore City.

In addition, the Foundation has assisted in the relocation to Baltimore City of the Association of Academic Physiatrists from Indianapolis and Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity from Los Angeles.