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

University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation

$60,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

Since 2009, Promise Heights has anchored one of B’more for Healthy Babies’ (BHB) place-based initiatives to improve birth outcomes and family well-being in West Baltimore. Promise Heights has long supported parents after the birth of their children, including providing breastfeeding support, family planning, research-based parenting classes and early literacy opportunities.

This grant supports the Teen Parenting Success Program (TiPS), which bring this continuum of services to pregnant and parenting teens at Renaissance Academy and Frederick Douglass High School. The two Community Hub Leaders in this program will ensure all pregnant and parenting teens are connected to Health Care Access Maryland as well as provide individual case management to set and achieve individual goals for health and wellness, education/vocation, as well as family planning. The Community Hub Leaders  will also hold group programming in the high schools to build social support among young parents and their families.

Helping Up Mission, Inc.

$200,000 / 2021 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

Abell funding will support the Helping Up Mission (HUM) in its development of a Women’s and Children’s Center at 1216 E. Baltimore Street in Baltimore City. The Women’s Center will provide a gender-informed, residential, faith-based, 12-step substance abuse recovery program set within the context of a therapeutic supportive community. Clients will be provided with clinical professional mental health care and substance abuse counseling, professional pastoral care, and a large array of physical, psychological, social, emotional, and practical supportive services so that they can focus on their recovery and achieve lasting success.

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Maryland Family Network

$40,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

“Maryland Child Care Boost” is a pilot program that aims to improve the sustainability of childcare by helping providers maintain full program enrollment; implement sound financial management practices; and achieve economies of scale through participation in a shared services network. It will serve a total of 120 family and center-based child care providers: 40 from Baltimore City, 40 from Montgomery County, and 40 from Prince George’s County. This grant supports the staffing required at the Baltimore City Child Care Resource and Referral Center (BCCCRC) to coordinate the cohorts of Baltimore City childcare providers.

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University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation

$46,136 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

HealthySteps is an evidence-based model that embeds a child development professional into pediatric care to promote positive parenting and healthy development for babies and toddlers from birth to age five.  The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) implements HealthySteps at two sites: the UMSOM Family Medicine Practice and the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus Pedatric practice.  This grant will strengthen data collection capacity so that ultimately, UMSOM can analyze the program’s return on investment and advocate for insurance reimbursement of the program’s prevention services. 

Advocates for Children and Youth

$50,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

Advocates for Children and Youth (ACY) is an independent organization dedicated to promoting the interests of children and families in Maryland through research, policy development, community outreach, media relations, and government relations.  ACY is one of the leading champions of policies in Maryland that advance the interests of children across a broad range of issues, including education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and health care.  This grant supports ACY’s child welfare program, which focuses on the needs of foster and homeless youth in Maryland.  

Header photo courtesy of Thread.