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

Baltimore Education Research Consortium

$112,500 / 2019 / Education

Launched by the Abell Foundation and Open Society Foundation in 2007, the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) at Johns Hopkins University pursues long- and short-term educational data analysis and research, and subsequently interprets and shares the findings with Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools), community, and stakeholder leaders.  Over the next two and one-half years, BERC will expand its work and support for youth in Baltimore by building a sustainable research and practice community that is open to any university or college in Maryland interested in working with Baltimore City Public Schools. 

The new governance structure, with several Councils and Research Boards, will increase opportunities to partner, disseminate findings, and translate research findings into action steps in Baltimore City.  By December 2021, BERC will transition to a new revenue model that relies primarily on research grant awards to fund BERC’s ongoing operation.

Behavioral Health Leadership Institute, Inc.

$100,000 / 2019 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

The Behavioral Health Leadership Institute operates low-barrier substance abuse and mental health treatment programs in communities throughout Baltimore City.  A grant from the Abell Foundation will provide on-going support for its mobile treatment van operating outside of the Baltimore City Detention Center.  The mobile van offers health screenings,  buprenorphine and mental health treatment on-site, and referrals to other community-based services to individuals leaving the detention center.

Belair-Edison Neighoborhoods, Inc.

$35,000 / 2019 / Community Development

Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. (BENI) uses a variety of strategies to support existing renters and homeowners and attract new owner-occupants to its Northeast Baltimore community.  BENI facilitates investment in homes, support resident self-management, and ensure that new homeowners are financially well informed and prepared to manage the realities of owning a home. BENI will provide financial education counseling including pre-purchase, post-purchase, and foreclosure counseling to city residents, and support existing homeowners with home improvements and other efforts to increase the value of and equity in their homes. 

Commodore John Rodgers, fiscally sponsored by Strong City Baltimore

$37,070 / 2019 / Education

Developed by child psychologists, the Tools of the Mind curriculum integrates cognitive, social, and emotional domains and creates child-centered, play-based, and language-rich classrooms. This grant will support the third year of implementation of Tools in 10 pre-kindergarten classes in the 100% Project network of turnaround schools. 

Dayspring Programs, Inc.

$45,302 / 2019 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

Dayspring provides transitional and permanent supportive housing for 63 families, and Head Start services to 329 children at locations in East Baltimore (including on-site at the transitional housing facility).  Funding from the Abell Foundation will support Dayspring to expand its programming to include an Intensive Outpatient Treatment program (IOP) on-site to offer substance abuse counseling and mental health treatment to residents in the broader community

 

Header photo courtesy of Thread.