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 reach out to an Abell staff member to discuss their idea or submit a short letter of inquiry prior to submitting a regular grant application.

Contact Us or Email Us 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 a saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant. Report forms can be found under the “Requirements” tab.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

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. 

HealthCare Access Maryland

$15,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

HealthCare Access Maryland (HCAM) is a critical healthcare non-profit that enrolls Maryland residents in health insurance and provides care coordination to special populations.  Due to Covid 19, HCAM employees began working remotely in March 2020.  This grant enables HCAM to purchase laptops for employees who currently are not able to telework, specifically those staff members who verify Medical Assistance applications for eligibility and provide health care coordination for children placed in foster care.

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.  

PIVOT, Inc.

$75,000 / 2020 / Workforce Development

PIVOT was founded in October 2017 in response to the dramatic gap in services geared towards women in reentry in Baltimore City and the lack of coordinated services specifically targeting workforce development for women. The PIVOT model was designed to establish cooperative relationships between service providers in workforce development, public health, substance abuse treatment and mental health, human services and other supportive services such as legal aid, transportation, clothing, housing, childcare, family reunification, financial education and more.  Funding from the Abell Foundation will support 45 women being served by Pivot during the grant period.

Neighbor to Family, Inc.

$10,000 / 2020 / Health and Human Services

Neighbor To Family (NTF) provides high quality foster care to sibling groups so that siblings do not have to be separated when they are removed from their homes.  NTF uses trained, professional foster families to provide temporary homes for sibling groups, while working closely with the biological family to address the issues that led to the children being removed from their home. The average NTF foster family takes in four siblings, with some taking in up to eight siblings at a time.  This grant funds extracurricular, recreational and educational activities for children in NTF’s Baltimore program.    

Header photo courtesy of Thread.