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

Associated Catholic Charities, Inc.

$82,000 / 2018 / Health and Human Services

The Samaritan Center – a project of Catholic Charities – offers to help people resolve emergency needs and increase self-sufficiency through information and referral services, direct financial assistance, and advocacy. This grant provided eviction prevention funds to serve 120 households at risk of homelessness. The Samaritan Center works closely with low-income families and landlords to resolve unpaid rent and ensure clients remain stably house after receiving assistance.  

Blue Water Baltimore, Inc.

$50,000 / 2018 / Environment

Blue Water Baltimore advances clean water and watershed protection and elevates citizen concerns through multiple fronts: water and outfall sampling, data collection and scientific analysis, outreach and education, green infrastructure installation and tree plantings, cultivation and sale of native plants, targeted policy work, legislative advocacy, as well as litigation to hold polluters accountable under the Clean Water Act. This grant provides staff support to address top pollutants plaguing Baltimore City and its waterways: stormwater runoff, sewage overflows, and litter/trash.

Fund for Educational Excellence

$59,215 / 2018 / Education

Partnering with Baltimore City Schools, The Abell Foundation has co-sponsored the Baltimore Robotics League, an afterschool competitive robotics clubs for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade who build and compete in VEX and FIRST tournaments locally and nationally.  Over 600 students participate in robotics clubs three hours per week at 78 school locations.  Abell funding this year has been dedicated to increasing the number of Jr. FIRST Lego teams in 20 elementary schools.

Baltimore Kids Chess League, Inc.

$85,000 / 2018 / Education

The Abell Foundation has supported the launch and growth of the Baltimore Kids Chess League in Baltimore City Public Schools since 2004. Part of the Abell portfolio of afterschool “academic” sports, The Chess League serves over 700 kindergarten through 12th grade students in 45 schools who practice weekly with teacher mentors and compete in local, state and national Chess Federation tournaments with increasing success. Baltimore is now on the map as a chess-development hub.

Association for the Public Defender

$8,000 / 2018 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

The Association for the Public Defender of Maryland was created to support the activities of the  Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD), an independent state agency that provides legal representation to indigent defendants throughout the state.  This grant provides matching funds for an AmeriCorps volunteer who will be placed at OPD in Baltimore City to develop a routinized process for public defenders to include expungement petitions into their process for closing a case.  The project year will focus on a pilot cohort of public defenders to develop, implement, and refine a process that can be replicated throughout Baltimore City and ultimately OPD offices statewide. 

Header photo courtesy of Thread.