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 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.

Contact Us or Email Us 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 a saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant. Report forms can be found under the “Requirements” tab.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

Fund for Educational Excellence

$40,000 / 2019 / Education

Founded in 1984, the Fund for Educational Excellence (The Fund) is a Baltimore-based organization that supports public education through its fundraising and collaboration with Baltimore City Schools, convening and technical support to education non-profits. This operating grant enables The Fund to produce community-sourced education reports and then act upon recommendations, provide stewartship for over $20 million in philanthropic suport for innovative programs in City Schools, and convene diverse organizations and education partners to identify, facilitate and accelerate efforts to improve student achievement in Baltimore. Noteworthy are the Fund’s recent fundraising to support the City Sshools Blueprint, its grant awards to School Principals, and its operation of the successful Chicago Parents Program.

Baltimore Police Department

$60,000 / 2019 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

Funding from the Abell Foundation will support the Baltimore Police Deparment’s efforts to send six BPD leaders to the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).  SMIP is a program of the Police Executive Leadership Forum (PERF) that provides police executives with intensive training in the latest management concepts and practices used in business and government.  It is designed for mid-upper level police executives who will ultimately serve in leading roles in their police agencies.

Baltimore Medical System, Inc.

$13,965 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

Baltimore Medical System (BMS) is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides primary and specialty health care to low income residents of Baltimore City and the surrounding area. BMS operates six community-based clinics and eight school-based clinics, serving nearly 50,000 patients annually.  This grant supports BMS’s family planning program by providing funds to purchase long-acting reversible contraceptives for uninsured patients.  

Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC)

$21,000 / 2019 / Education

For over 10 years, BERC has analyzed data from the National Student Clearinghouse and Naviance to provide Baltimroe City Public School principals and staff with the latest district- and school-level figures on college access behaviors, college enrollment and degree completion amoung City hgh school graduates. In an effort to both produce an annual report and reduce high costs, BERC will automate the development of the Baltimroe City College Fact Book. In addition, an updated, online College Fact Book will be published describing college access behaviors district-wide and by individual high school (i.e., applications, acceptances, FAFSA completions, college “match”, summer melt attrition), college enrollment, and degree completion for the Classes of 2012 through 2018.

Baltimore Community Rowing

$10,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

Reach High Baltimore, a project of Baltimore Community Rowing, was founded in 2011 to provide after-school and summer rowing programming to Baltimore middle and high school students. The program serves about 150 youth a year through spring, summer, fall, and winter sessions. Reach High students have become skilled rowers, training for and participating in competitive races throughout the region, and a few rowers have competed in national and international races. This grant supported the partial salary of Reach High’s Director of Youth Rowing. 

Header photo courtesy of Thread.