The Abell Foundation provides grant funding to organizations that:
Have 501c3 or 509a nonprofit tax status, or are a government agency or a fiscally sponsored project;
All applicants must submit a copy of their IRS determination letter, federal tax identification number (EIN), or proof of fiscal sponsorship
Operate programs or projects that fall into one of Abell’s program areas; and
Focus on Baltimore City.
The Foundation awards small grants (of $10,000 or less) and regular grants (of more than$10,000). We typically award the following types of grants:
Seed funding for start-ups, pilots, and research initiatives aimed at finding innovative solutions
Support for ongoing projects that provide much-needed services and/or show evidence of strong outcomes
Capital grants that support new construction, renovation, purchase of property, and/or capital equipment
General operating support
Outreach and advocacy efforts to develop, promote, and advance policies that address systemic challenges and/or create new opportunities
The Abell Foundation can not provide grant funding to individuals or for-profit businesses. The Foundation also typically does not fund individual scholarships, fellowships, sponsorships, deficit financing, endowments, or travel.
Review Criteria
The Foundation considers the following criteria in its review of grant requests:
Focus on addressing racial and economic inequities in Baltimore communities most affected by structural racism and disinvestment
Demonstration of need and clearly defined goals and objectives
Potential to take innovative approaches to persistent challenges
Ability to demonstrate impact through measurable results
Capacity to advance knowledge base in field
Evidence of community involvement in program design and delivery
Understanding of how the initiative fits into the broader landscape
Demonstration of meaningful partnership and collaboration with other organizations
Organizational capacity to achieve expected goals
Evidence of strong financial stability and ability to leverage other sources of funding
Interested in Applying?
Learn more about our small and regular grant processes.