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

Submit an Application

Considering Applying?

First-time applicants with grant requests greater than $10,000 should reach out to an Abell staff member to discuss their idea or submit a short letter of inquiry prior to submitting a regular grant application.

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.

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.

Returning to a Saved Application or Submitting a Report?

Log into the grant portal below to return to a saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant. Report forms can be found under the “Requirements” tab.

See Our Past Grants

Maryland Sierra Club, Fiscally Sponsored by Sierra Club Foundation

$25,000 / 2020 / Environment

The Maryland Sierra Club launched a “Clean Transportation Initiative” to focus on transportation priorities which directly affect climate change, public health and economic development. Over the next year with operational support from the Abell Foundation, Maryland Sierra Club proposes to publish a short report and build a broad coalition to advocate for increasing mass transit, electrifying the bus fleet, and accelerating adoption of low- and zero- emission vehicles in Baltimore City to exceed a statewide goal to reduce climate pollution 40% by 2030. 

Made in Baltimore, Fiscally Sponsored by Baltimore Development Corporation

$50,000 / 2020 / Community Development

Made in Baltimore supports local makers and manufacturers through promotional and marketing events, a local brand-certification program, and business development support. The 12-week Home Run Accelerator program will provide intensive business development, marketing, and peer mentoring support for 15 selected home-based makers in targeted industries. MIB will track the growth/development of participants, including jobs created, revenue growth, and production space occupied will be tracked. This grant provided support for staff and program expenses associated with the Home Run Accelerator program. 

Jubilee Baltimore, Inc.

$200,000 / 2020 / Community Development

Jubilee Baltimore is partnering with Property Consulting Inc. to renovate the long-vacant Odell’s building located at 21 E. North Avenue to house two nonprofit organizations that serve Baltimore City schoolchildren. Following the Maryland Institute of Art’s development of the Lazarus Center and reinvestment in the Centre Theatre, Motor House and Parkway Theater, the Abell grant toward the redevelopment of the Odell’s building would enable a customized home for the two nonprofits, infusing new life into an historically significant building, bringing additional activitiy onto North Avenue and boosting confidence in investment in the area.

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

$100,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

This grant supports the Rales Health Center (RHC) at KIPP Baltimore, which provides health services to more than 1,500 students in grades K – 8 who attend two co-located schools in West Baltimore.  The RHC provides both basic school nursing services, and enhanced clinical services for students with acute health concerns and unmet preventive care needs.  In addition to a full range of clinical services, the RHC provides student and staff wellness programs, screenings, first aid and comfort care, and medication monitoring.  In its first four years of operations, the RHC had more than 5,000 school-based health center visits, 78,000 school nursing visits, and 39,000 medication administration visits.  In addition, the RHC provides a school-wide vision care program, offers access to counseling and psychiatric services through a partnership with Johns Hopkins Bayview, and is working with KIPP staff to adapt and implement a social-emotional learning curriculum to address student behavior and school climate concerns.   

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

$92,098 / 2020 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

Drug checking services (Check-It) will be offered in a mobile van during 4-5, 4-hour sessions a week targeting Baltimore City neighborhoods with high rates of overdose identified through mapping drug arrest and overdose data. Testing will take approximately 2 minutes per sample and the results will be provided verbally to the participant. After providing the results, staff will engage in micro-counseling around overdose risk, with information tailored to the participant’s knowledge and practices. Staff will also provide participants with ancillary services i.e., fentanyl test strips, naloxone, as well as referrals to services as needed. 

Header photo courtesy of Thread.