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

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.

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.

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.

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.

See Our Past Grants

Banner Neighborhoods Community Corporation

$12,000 / 2019 / Community Development

Banner Neighborhoods and Southeast Community Development Corporation are teaming up to ensure a fair, accurate and inclusive 2020 Census count among hard to reach populations of imigrants and seniors in neighborhoods in Southeast and East Baltimore. Outreach efforts include an awareness campaign in schools, door to door visits, presentations at senior centers and senior housing communities, along with Spanish language radio advertising and public service announcements.

Fund for Educational Excellence

$300,000 / 2019 / Education

The Summer Funding Collaborative (SFC) is an aligned fund that directs resources to high-quality summer programs for low-income children in Baltimore City. In 2019, the SFC included 13 public and private funders that, collectively, distributed $3.49 million to 84 programs, funding a projected 12,500 seats. This grant includes funding for between 15-20 non-profit organizations that will be determined in late winter 2020 through the SFC’s request for proposals as well as a fee for Baltimore’s Promise, the SFC’s administrative backbone.

Baltimore Outreach Services

$25,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

Baltimore Outreach Services (BOS) operates a 40-bed emergency women and children shelter at Christ Lutheran Church, in Federal Hill. The organization also offers case management, transitional housing, educational programming, health and mental health services, job training, and employment services. This grant helped sustain BOS’ various supportive services offered to up to 250 women and children a year, including successfully placing 20 women into jobs. 

Baltimore Development Corporation

$100,000 / 2019 / Community Development

For Baltimore to both attract Opportunity Zone investments and ensure such investments benefit community residents and businesses, the Opportunity Zone Coordinator provides a valuable resource and competitive advantage to connect Opportunity Zone investors with projects and to connect projects to critical financing. Baltimore has been nationally recognized as one of the first cities to have a designated point person for the Opportunity Zone program. The grant covers the second year of the Coordinator’s salary.

Baltimore Development Corporation

$10,000 / 2019 / Community Development

Baltimore is one of five US cities participating in the International Urban Cooperation City-to-City program, a global initiative funded by the European Union. This program is a component of a long-term EU strategy to foster sustainable urban development in cooperation with the public and private sectors. Baltimore has been paired with Turin, Italy, and the two cities will meet to advance discussions in four areas of mutual concern.  Funding from Abell will support travel expenses associated with the Baltimore delegation’s fall 2019 trip to Turin.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.