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 for a Small Grant?

If you have never received an Abell small grant (requests of $10,000 or less), you must attend an information session to confirm fit with eligibility criteria and funding priorities prior to submitting a small grant application. 

Sign up for an info session

Considering Applying for a Regular Grant?

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?

If you are a returning applicant or have met our eligibility criteria and requirements and are ready to apply for a grant, you may do so on the apply page.

Start a 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

Baltimore Furniture Bank, Fiscally Sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.

$30,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

The Baltimore Furniture Bank (BFB) was founded in 2017 by two men with lived experiences of homelessness to provide donated furniture to homeless individuals who are moving into apartments. The BFB solicits donations of used furniture from institutions with surplus furniture and from individuals; sorts, cleans and stores the furniture in a warehouse; and distributes it at events and through partnerships with nonprofit housing providers. This grant supports the Baltimore Furniture Bank’s general operating costs. BFB is fiscally sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.

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Chesapeake Legal Alliance

$35,000 / 2021 / Environment

The Baltimore region, with its long history of polluting industrial practices, segregation, and racism, has a legacy not only of serious water pollution, but of disparate impact on proximate fenceline communities, neighborhoods which are primarily comprised of Black residents, people of color and residents with low incomes. Chesapeake Legal Alliance (CLA) will provide free legal services and train private attorneys to engage with community members on pro-bono environmental cases to reduce industrial discharge pollution through enforcement of permits in compliance with the Clean Water Act.

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Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

$150,200 / 2021 / Workforce Development

The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) and the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) are collaborating on a transitional employment initiative, where over the course of a year, MOED will hire 60 unemployed local residents and connect them to DPOB for three-month employment placements in DPOB’s Downtown COVID Cleaning Corps. Funding from the Abell Foundation will ensure that the COVID Cleaning Corps has the equipment needed to clean streets, alleyways, and other public places as businesses return to their downtown offices.  Abell funds will be used to purchase sensors that the Cleaning Corps members will install on trashcans throughout downtown Baltimore.  The sensors are designed to improve trash collection.

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Farm Alliance of Baltimore, Inc.

$35,000 / 2021 / Community Development

Farm Alliance of Baltimore will continue to offer a Double Dollars program to incentivize households receiving federal food benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables at local farm stands, community centers, the Civic Works’ mobile market, and the Waverly Farmers’ Market stall. The target population for this project is low income adults and children, especially those who live in Healthy Food Priority Areas who lack nearby access to healthy nutritious food and remain at a significant disadvantage as they have unequal access to a host of other resources.

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Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.

$110,379 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) provides free legal services to people experiencing homelessness throughout Maryland, and advocates for long-term solutions to homelessness. This grant supports HPRP’s Homeless Youth Initiative, which provides direct representation to unaccompanied homeless youth on a range of legal needs, engages in state and local coalitions to address the needs of homeless youth, and advocates for policy solutions to youth homelessness in Maryland.

Learn More

Header photo courtesy of Thread.