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Overview
Keeping Households Connected is not just what we say. It is who we have been since the beginning.
The Fuel Fund of Maryland was founded in 1981 in response to the energy crisis of the late 1970s, when rising costs left too many families at risk. After a Baltimore couple froze to death in their home, Councilwoman and civil rights leader Victorine Q. Adams took action. She made a promise that no one should lose their life because they could not afford energy. That promise still guides our work today.
While the Fuel Fund was born out of BGE, we have grown into an independent nonprofit with a singular focus on Maryland households in need. Our 45 year partnership with BGE remains at the heart of our impact.
For every dollar you give, BGE can add fifty cents more.
Through this partnership, matching credits can total up to two million dollars each year. It is what allows us to stretch every contribution, reach more families, and restore service when it matters most. It is the difference between helping one household and helping many.
We focus on BGE customers facing disconnection or already without service. Every household contributes toward their balance, and the Fuel Fund provides the support needed to restore service and bring accounts back to zero. It is not just assistance. It is a fresh start.
We also work closely with the Office of Home Energy Programs, the state of Maryland utility assistance program, to ensure households access every available resource. When those programs are not enough, the Fuel Fund steps in to close the gap.
From our founding to today, we have never wavered. Keeping Households Connected remains our mission, our roots, and our promise to the communities we serve.
Mission
Our focus has remained clear for 45 years: helping BGE households stay connected with utility assistance grants when they have been disconnected or face an imminent shutoff.
Performance
The Fuel Fund prides itself on its ability to deliver its crisis intervention programs efficiently with accountability and sustainability. In 2025, the Fuel Fund of Maryland has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator as well as the Platinum Transparency rating from Charity Navigator.
It started in Baltimore, thanks to the vision of Victorine Adams.
Learn more about Ms. Victorine Adams – Baltimore Civil Rights Leader Victorine Q. Adams: The Power of the Ballot – by author Ida E. Jones which reveals the story of this civic leader and her crusade for equity for all people in Baltimore.
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