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

See Our Past Grants

STEM Champions of Baltimore / Fund for Educational Excellence

$30,000 / 2019 / Education

Like many of Abell’s afterschool academic sports programs, STEM Champions of Maryland trains teacher coaches to prepare middle & high school students for the National Science Olympiad Tournament each Spring. Providing robust curricula and materials for each of the 18 Olympiad activities, STEM Champions also brings STEM professionals and volunteers to work with teachers in the afterschool practices. This year, STEM Champions expects 36 school teams and 650 students to prepare for and enter the City Science Olympiad, with 15 teams advancing to the State Competition, and hopefully to Nationals.

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, Inc.

$50,000 / 2019 / 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 in Baltimore City.  Over the past five years, the program has placed over 250 families into privately owned housing, and almost all remained housed one year after exiting the program.  St. Vincent de Paul tailors services to the needs of each family to ensure that the families 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 Foundation grant funds pay for furniture, moving costs, and miscellaneous costs associated with eliminating barriers to employment.    

St. Francis Neighborhood Center

$200,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

The St. Francis Neighborhood Center has served the Reservoir Hill neighborhood since 1963 with after-school and summer programming for community youth. This grant will further support the renovation and expansion of their 125-year-old three-story town home at 2405 Linden Avenue with a new 12,000 sq. ft. facility (including five classrooms, a study hall and library, a café and kitchen, two meeting rooms, a multi-purpose room, an art studio, and an expanded computer lab.) The $5.5 million expansion is anticipated to be complete in Fall 2020.

South Baltimore Learning Center

$50,000 / 2019 / Workforce Development

South Baltimore Learning Center (SBLC) has provided adult education services for nearly three decades, serving over 700 adult students each year.  Two years ago, with funding from the Abell Foundation, SBLC established an office and classroom at the Regional Skills Training Center in Park Heights.  Working with sector skills training programs, SBLC provided 60 students with remedial instruction in math and reading.  On average, students gained 2.5 levels in reading and 4.0 levels in math. These gains were achieved over an average of 30 hours of instruction.  With continued funding from Abell, SBLC will serve 115 students, with the goal of 76 students gaining 3.0 levels in reading and 4.0 levels in math.

Shepherd’s Clinic

$50,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

Shepherd’s Clinic offers primary and specialty medical care to uninsured adults by leveraging an extensive network of volunteer doctors, nurses and other health professionals. On-site specialty services include cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, women’s health, diabetes management, mental health, and wellness services. The clinic seeks to increase access to health care services for the uninsured, manage chronic diseases, and improve health and well-being. This grant provided Shepherd’s Clinic with general operating support. 

Header photo courtesy of Thread.