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

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, Inc.

$75,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

Launched in 2014, St. Vincent de Paul’s Front Door program provides short-term rent subsidies coupled with housing search assistance, intensive case management, and employment support to homeless families and single adults in Baltimore.  The program serves 160 households per year and has had significant success supporting people to move from homelessness to stable housing.  Of those who exited the program in FY2020, 97% remained in permanent housing six months later, and none had re-entered the shelter system a year after exiting the program.  In addition, 69% of those who exited the program in 2020 were employed at the time of exit, and received support from navigators who assist clients to find and sustain employment.  St. Vincent de Paul tailors services to the needs of each household to ensure that clients achieve stability and are able to remain housed.  While the housing costs are covered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Abell funds are used to pay for furniture, moving expenses, and miscellaneous expenses related to removing employment barriers.

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Success for All Foundation, Inc.

$225,000 / 2021 / Education

The Success For All Foundation, based out of the Johns Hopkins School of Education is developing a new middle school tutoring initiative, entitled ThemeReads.  Summer of 2021 would be targeted for the research and development of the main program components of this middle school tutoring initiative.  The implementation phase of ThemeReads will be paired with a matched evaluation of the program, comparing gains from pre-test to post-test for students participating in the intervention.

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The Be.Org, Fiscally Sponsored by Bmore Empowered, Inc.

$25,000 / 2021 / Education

The Be.Org’s, Be.Virtual STEM based instruction and mentorship program is offered as an after school and summer experience for thirty students annually. By the end of the program, participating students will develop skills in C+ coding and will create a virtual reality curriculum module, using Unity software. This experience provides a pathway for students to receive their entry level Unity industry-recognized certification after 10 months of participation.

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The Ingenuity Project

$375,000 / 2021 / Education

The Ingenuity Project provides students with rigorous math and science courses and experiences that prepare and inspire a pursuit of advanced STEM learning. The program provides gifted programming to a cohort of diverse students that reflects the race, ethnicity, gender, and income of Baltimore City. Ingenuity middle school programming currently takes place at four locations throughout the city, while the high school program, taking place at Baltimore Polytechnic High School, aligns to the highest standards in math and science, enabling every student to participate in a research or STEM practicum experience.

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The York Road Partnership, Fiscally Sponsored by GEDCO

$15,000 / 2021 / Community Development

For many years, the York Road Partnership (YRP) has worked along and across York Road to develop a long-term vision to improve the commercial corridor, reverse the long-term trend of disinvestment, and support adjacent neighborhoods. The corridor is currently characterized by high commercial vacancy and a lack of community-focused retail. Support for an “Invest York Road” initiative will create a crowdfunding tool to raise local, community capital for acquisition, renovation, ownership and leasing of vacant and under-utilized commercial buildings along York Road in Greater Govans.

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Header photo courtesy of Thread.