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

Civic Works, Inc.

$100,000 / 2019 / Workforce Development

The Center for Sustainable Careers (CSC) has built a multi-tiered green career “pathway out of poverty” by training and placing Baltimore City residents in the brownfields remediation and residential energy-efficiency industries.  Across its programs, CSC has maintained an average job placement rate of 93%.  Since 2014, 81% of graduates have remained employed for at least one year. Among the 125 participants served in the past year, most had a significant history of arrest and conviction and most were formerly incarcerated.  Over the next year, with funding from the Abell Foundation, CSC will train 135 Baltimore City residents for entry-level positions as well as 24 incumbent workers. 

Digital Harbor Foundation

$80,000 / 2019 / Education

With the Baltimore Rec-to-Tech Fellows Program, Digital Harbor Foundation aspires to  build long-term capacity of Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and other community partners to provide meaningful, afterschool and summer tech programs for youth in up to five City Recreation Centers. Digital Harbor’s 18-month Tech Fellows program will help hire and train a Rec and Parks Technology Coordinator in each Rec Center and a Central Office Supervisor as well as provide curricula for 14 courses and equip a dedicated tech facility in each center.  In the first year of operation, 550 youth ages 3rd-12 grade will be served, receiving 12,100 hours of afterschool/summer tech instruction ranging from Raspberry Pi to 3D Printing.

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.

Job Opportunities Task Force

$150,000 / 2019 / Workforce Development

In January 2006, in partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) launched Project JumpStart, a pre-apprenticeship construction program designed to provide low-income Baltimore City residents with 13 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training.  Since its inception, Project Jumpstart has served over 1,000 Baltimore residents, almost all of whom are African-American men (96%) with a criminal record (75%).  With funding from the Abell Foundation, Project Jumpstart plans to serve 145 new students and maintain its 75% job placement rate.  

Light of Truth Center, Inc.

$25,000 / 2019 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

The Light of Truth Center has been providing safe, supportive housing to women in recovery since 1999.  Funding from the Abell Foundation will support increasing the hours of its clinical supervisor and staff to align with COMAR requirements.  This will allow LTC to bill for and provide Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP)  and Outpatient (OP) level of substance abuse treatment on-site to its clients and members of the surrounding community.  

Header photo courtesy of Thread.