Bmore Empowered Nonprofit Closes Amid Controversy
A nonprofit related to the spouse of Baltimore’s mayor has come under increased scrutiny after ceasing operations despite generating substantial funds. Reports indicate that Bmore Empowered, which aimed to support Black women and girls in entrepreneurship and health, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars since its inception in 2017. The organization was under the leadership of Hannah Scott from September 2021 until the recent announcement of its hiatus.
Scott’s role ended the same day Bmore Empowered declared it was taking an “organizational hiatus.” However, issues seem to be looming; the nonprofit has not filed several tax returns, is embroiled in a lawsuit for unpaid rent, and is noted as “delinquent” in the state’s charity registry.
Interestingly, in July 2022, Scott publicly disclosed her relationship with the mayor, and shortly thereafter, Bmore Empowered received a significant boost in funding. For instance, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore allocated $80,000 to the group for an event attended by the Scott family. Under a separate agreement, the Baltimore City government committed up to $34,950 in taxpayer dollars through 2024, along with $62,500 from the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund.
In spite of these financial resources, Bmore Empowered failed to submit its tax return for fiscal year 2024, which is expected to be reported to the IRS in May 2025. When WBFF sought comments on this situation, the organization did not respond, nor did Scott or the mayor’s office address potential conflicts of interest.
On its Facebook page, Bmore Empowered confirmed in September that its activities would cease, stating: “This is not a hiatus. This is the end of a beautiful chapter.” In addition to taxpayer funds, the group also received $175,000 from the Open Society Foundation, funded by George Soros, in 2022 as part of a larger initiative to support organizations in Baltimore.
Moreover, previous investigations highlighted Bmore Empowered’s failure to deliver on promises, such as opening a store after receiving funds from the Downtown Partnership’s BOOST program. Instead of a retail space, it opened an office elsewhere, leading to legal troubles over unpaid rent, culminating in a favorable ruling for the landlord.
Despite these operational challenges, Bmore Empowered continues to sell merchandise on its website, raising further questions about its management practices.
