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 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.

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 your saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant.

See Our Past Grants

NPower, Inc.

$100,000 / 2020 / Workforce Development

In 2016, with support from the Abell Foundation and others, NPower replicated its IT training program for low-income young adults in Baltimore.  NPower’s core training program provides students with 16 weeks of hands-on classroom instruction in hardware and software.  The academic portion focuses on teaching fundamental IT skills, including networking, cloud computing, coding and service management.  Following the classroom instruction, students earn their CompTIA certification and have the option to take additional certificate exams.  NPower participants then enter a seven-week paid internship, working four days per week, while one day is spent in professional development activities in the classroom.  In the coming year, NPower plans to enroll 150 low-income young adults into training, graduating 135 and placing 122 into employment. 

Job Opportunities Task Force

$150,000 / 2020 / Workforce Development

In January 2006, in partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) launched Project JumpStart, a pre-apprenticeship construction program designed to provide low-income Baltimore City residents with 13 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training.  Since its inception, Project Jumpstart has served over 1,300 Baltimore residents, almost all of whom are African-American men (96%) with a criminal record (75%).  With funding from the Abell Foundation, Project Jumpstart plans to serve 145 new students and maintain its 75% job placement rate.  

Byte Back

$100,000 / 2020 / Workforce Development

Byte Back is a Washington, DC nonprofit organization that trains low-income adults with no computer experience in learning the basic fundamental skills of how to turn on a computer, use a mouse and use Microsoft Office applications.  Byte Back then works step by step with students to build upon those skills, preparing students to earn industry-recognized IT credentials.  Last year, with support from the Abell Foundation, Byte Back expanded its programming to Baltimore.  In 2021, with continued support from Abell, Byte Back plans to enroll 100 Baltimoreans into its classes, with 76 completing.  Byte Back will help 36 graduates who earn IT certifications to obtain careers in IT, tracking their job retention for a year.

BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc.

$80,000 / 2020 / Workforce Development

Since 1998, with support from the Abell Foundation, BTI has trained over 450 Baltimore City residents as entry-level technicians in the growing bio-pharma industry.  Students first complete BioSTART, BTI’s six-week bridge program, which was started so that BTI could admit students with lower math scores.  Students move on to the Laboratory Associates program, where students continue training for 10 weeks and complete a 100-hour internship.  Of the 40 students to be trained in 2021, BTI estimates that 29 (or 73%) will graduate and of those who graduate, 22 (or 76%) will be placed into research laboratory and manufacturing technician positions, at an average wage of $17/hour.  

Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, Inc.

$35,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

In 2019, Del. Lorig Charkoudian (District 20) introduced legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to limit hospital debt lawsuits for patients owing less than $5000, along with other medical debt lawsuit reforms. The bill did not pass in the abridged session, in part due to concerns that a prohibition may result in unintended consequences for Maryland’s cost-of-care model.

With this grant support, Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition will oversee an econometric research study by health economists at Boston University to calculate the likely effects of a cap on hospital lawsuits at different thresholds. The study’s findings will inform future legislation on medical debt lawsuits in Maryland. 

Header photo courtesy of Thread.