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 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 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 your saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore, Inc.

$50,000 / 2019 / Community Development

Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore (NHS) serves 800 households annually through its homeownership counseling and financial coaching programs. NHS deploys down payment assistance awards, raises additional capital toward an ongoing revolving DPA fund, increases access to affordable homeownership for borrowers that face challenges accessing traditional affordable mortgage products, and attracts new home buyers to Baltimore City. This grant provides support for staff positions associated with deployment of those funds, housing counseling, and financial coaching, and targeted community outreach.

Mentoring Mentors, Inc.

$20,000 / 2019 / Education

Mentoring Mentors Inc. is a youth wholeness mentoring program promoting social, emotional, and intellectual development in addition to physical wellness for 6th through 12th grade African-American youth in the West Baltimore Windsor Hills area. Founded in 2015, Mentoring Mentors’ uses a “Near-to-Peer” intergenerational triad model, where young professionals and college students mentor program alumni in high school who, in turn, guide middle school students at Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School.  Mentoring Mentors enables the mentees, known as “legacy builders,” to receive support services afterschool within their own community to address and overcome adversity.This grant is a capacity building grant in support of staffing to a promising community leader.

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc.

$25,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

This grant supports a joint effort by Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Moveable Feast, Benefits Data Trust, and Health Management Associates to design and test a new nutrition services model that will enable health insurers and other health care providers to contract with community based organizations to provide nutritional services for patients.  The project seeks to capitalize on increasing interest in, and opportunities for, the health care sector to partner with community organizations to meet non-medical needs of patients that have significant impacts on health, often referred to as “social determinants of health.” Food insecurity, and lack of access to nutritious food, is one of the major social determinants of health in Baltimore City.   

Maryland Food Bank

$75,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

The Maryland Food Bank’s School Food Pantry program operates food banks in schools that serve large populations of families living in poverty, including approximately 100 Baltimore City public schools.  The program delivers food to each participating school on a monthly basis, including fresh produce and shelf-stable products.  All food is provided to families free of charge. This grant supports the continued operation of the School Food Pantry program in Baltimore City.  

Maryland Farmers Market Association

$15,000 / 2019 / Community Development

The Maryland Farmers Market Association’s Maryland Market Money Program was launched in 2013 in response to interest from Maryland Farmers who were interested in serving as sites for healthy food access but found it difficult to independently access federal nutrition benefits incentive programs via SNAP/EBT system.  This grant supports related staff costs and outreach expenses targeted at 10 Baltimore City farmers markets.  

Header photo courtesy of Thread.