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

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Education Fund, Inc.

$50,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

This grant supports two of Maryland Citizen’s Health Initiative’s current efforts: 1) The “Easy Enrollment” program, which uses individual tax returns to identify people who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, health insurance, and expand it to unemployment applications; 2) Advocate for the formation of and funding for Health Equity Resource Communities, which would be a state-funded grant program focused on reducing disparities in chronic health.  

The Literacy Lab

$75,000 / 2020 / Education

The Literacy Lab employs a professionalized tutoring workforce that provides one-on-one, small group, and whole group literacy interventions to 690 students annually.  A replication of the acclaimed Minnesota Reading Corps, Literacy Lab embeds rigorously trained reading tutors in PreK classrooms and provides 1:1 tutoring in schools to children in Kindergarten through third grade.  Literacy Lab tutoring participants are between 1.5 to 5 times as likely to be on grade level than students who started at the same grade level and received no tutoring.  Approximately 20% of participating students will achieve literacy benchmarks and end the school year on grade level.

Light of Truth Center, Inc.

$25,000 / 2020 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

The Light of Truth Center has been providing safe, supportive housing to women in recovery since 1999.  Funding from the Abell Foundation will support increasing LOT’s clinical staff to align with COMAR requirements for its 3.1 residential program.  This will allow LTC to bill for and provide substance abuse treatment in a residential setting.    

Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV)

$25,000 / 2020 / Community Development

The Social Innovation Lab incubates mission-driven companies and nonprofits to maximize their potential to become thriving sustainable ventures that contribute to increased opportunity in Baltimore. Through a six-month social venture accelerator program, the competitively selected cohort of up to ten entrepreneurs is provided programming sessions, access to an extensive network of advisors, one-on-one coaching, co-working space, and $1,000 in unrestricted funding. 

Jews United for Justice

$75,000 / 2020 / Community Development

Jews United For Justice (JUFJ) educates and mobilizes its network of over 2,000 members in the Baltimore area to participate in advocacy campaigns on a variety of social justice issues. Building on work JUFJ has done over the past three years to advocate for renters’ rights in Baltimore, this grant will support JUFJ to work with other coalitions and organizations, including the Public Justice Center and Baltimore Renters United, to advocate for strengthening legal protections for renters in Baltimore City.   

Header photo courtesy of Thread.