The Fuel Fund of Maryland was founded on a simple idea that still drives our work today: no one should lose heat or power because they cannot afford it.
In the late 1970s, an energy crisis drove prices sharply higher, putting basic utilities out of reach for many households. Those hardest hit were families and older adults living on limited incomes. In Baltimore, tragedy struck when an older couple froze to death in their home. That loss moved City Councilwoman and civil rights leader Victorine Q. Adams to act. She made a promise that no one in her community should face that fate again. From that promise, the Fuel Fund was born.
Incorporated in 1981 as the Fuel Fund of Central Maryland, the organization has grown into the Fuel Fund of Maryland, serving communities across the region while remaining focused on one clear mission: keeping households connected. Today, fuel funds across the country continue to carry forward Mrs. Adams’ vision.
From the beginning, the model has been built on partnership and shared responsibility. Every household we help contributes toward their balance. The Fuel Fund then provides the support needed to bring that balance to zero, restoring service and creating a true fresh start. For donors, that means your gift does not stand alone. It works alongside the commitment of the household to create lasting impact.
We also ensure that every household is connected to available state resources through the Office of Home Energy Programs. When those programs are not enough, donor support allows us to step in and close the gap for qualifying BGE customers who are at risk of losing service or already without it.
For more than four decades, the Fuel Fund has delivered this work with a focus on accountability, efficiency, and results. That commitment continues to be recognized. In 2025, the Fuel Fund of Maryland earned a four star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.
It all comes back to one thing: keeping households connected, today and for generations to come.
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Victorine Adams did not crave attention but solutions to problems. An exemplary public servant, inspirational leader, and outstanding role model, she was a woman of great competence and compassion.
“I have paid my dues to Baltimore. I feel I should be regarded not only as (a) wife but as a woman who has used her influence and affluence to better the community in which she lives.“
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.
