Grants

The Abell Foundation awards grants to nonprofit community partners working to improve the quality of life in Baltimore. We provide seed funding for innovative pilots, support for ongoing community programs and services, and funding for capital projects. In addition to providing grant funding, the Foundation supports our nonprofit partners through connection to our local and national networks, as well as our team’s deep experience in and knowledge of Baltimore as it relates to our program areas.

Learn More About Our Process

Eligibility and Review Criteria

For all nonprofit organizations seeking grant funding, regardless of the request amount. 

Small Grants Process

For grant requests of $10,000 or less.

Reviewed on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to apply.

Regular Grants Process

For grant requests greater than $10,000.

Reviewed at one of the Foundation’s five annual Board meetings.

Submit an Application

Considering Applying?

First-time applicants with grant requests greater than $10,000 should submit a short letter of inquiry prior to submitting a regular grant application. For guidance on what to include in your LOI, please reference our frequently asked questions.

Submit an LOI

Ready to Apply for a Small Grant?

For first-time or returning applicants with grant requests of $10,000 or less. We accept and review small grant applications on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to apply for a small grant.

Start a Small Grant Application

Ready to Apply for a Regular Grant?

For returning applicants and those who have a verified fit with the Foundation’s priorities for requests greater than $10,000. Regular grant applications are reviewed at one of five Board meetings each year.

Start a Regular Grant Application

Returning to a Saved Application or Submitting a Report?

Log into the grant portal below to return to your saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

New Leaders – Baltimore

$20,000 / 2021 / Education

With the help of Abell Foundation start-up funding in 2005, the New Leaders Program has trained 375 leaders and developed 126 new principals making them the leading provider of training for principals and school leaders in City Schools.  The New Leaders program seeks to train high quality principal candidates to lead schools, support teacher retention, and build teams.  There are currently 112 New Leaders alumni actively working in education in Baltimore City, including 46 principals representing 29% of all principals in the district.

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Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

$50,000 / 2021 / Community Development

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service provides legal assistance, dispute resolution, and connection to services, benefits, and tax credits for low income homeowners facing unaffordable water bills and municipal taxes. Left unpaid, these municipal liens could result in the loss of the home to tax sale foreclosure. Outreach and advocacy on water bill and property tax affordability are ideally approached jointly because for so many residents these two issues are linked. MVLS will conduct outreach to the more than 900 homeowners who were removed from 2021 tax sale due to COVID-19 forbearance by Mayor Scott. And MVLS will leverage community relationships to enroll homeowners and tenants with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty line in the Water for All Program (Water Accountability & Equity Act).

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Maryland Dental Action Coalition, Inc.

$25,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

The Maryland Dental Action Coalition (MDAC) is a statewide dental access advocacy group.  Over the past several years, MDAC has been steadily building the case for expanding access to comprehensive adult dental coverage for all Medicaid recipients.  This grant supports MDAC’s efforts to pass such legislation in the upcoming 2022 session.

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Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR)

$25,000 / 2021 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

IAHR represents people of faith who educate and advocate in Maryland, DC and Virginia for corrections systems that avoid unnecessarily punitive practices such as solitary confinement and that instead focus on rehabilitation and successful reentry.  Funding from the Abell Foundation will allow IAHR to continue working with its Maryland partners on and ending the practice of solitary confinement in Maryland.

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Intercultural Counseling Connection, Fiscally Sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.

$25,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

Intercultural Counseling Connection provides therapeutic services for asylum-seekers and forced migrants in Baltimore through a pro-bono referral network of mental health professionals, as well as high quality interpretation in any language.  Its clients are from over 30 different countries and have experienced extreme violence, including torture.  Intercultural Couseling Connection serves about 100 clients a year in individual and group therapy.  This grant is for general operating support.

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Header photo courtesy of Thread.