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

The No Boundaries Coalition

$66,400 / 2021 / Community Development

No Boundaries Coalition addresses food insecurity, increases availability of fresh produce, and helps limit the transmission of COVID through home delivery in Sandtown and surrounding Central West Baltimore neighborhoods. Grant funding will support operations of their fresh produce stall at Avenue Market, expansion of a buying club for home delivery of food and essential supplies, a salad garden distribution program for residents to grow their own fresh greens at home, and promotion of SNAP benefits.

Learn More

TurnAround, Inc.

$41,506 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

TurnAround provides comprehensive, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual abuse and assault, harassment, and human trafficking in Baltimore City and County. This grant supports TurnAround’s legal services program, which partners with Maryland Legal Aid and other legal service providers to provide legal advice and representation to TurnAround clients. Survivors of sexual assualt and domestic violence often have complex legal needs, and timely access to legal services, coupled with TurnAround’s case management support, increases the likelihood that survivors will obtain needed legal relief.

Learn More

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.  

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.

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.  

Header photo courtesy of Thread.