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

Waterkeepers Chesapeake

$10,000 / 2019 / Environment

Waterkeepers Chesapeake is a coalition of nineteen independent programs working to make the waters of the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays swimmable and fishable. As an affiliate partner with the Indiana-based Clear Choices Clean Water organization, Waterkeepers Chesapeake will launch a community education and behavioral change campaign to highlight the effects densely populated areas have on water quality. This grant provides programmatic support for the launch of Clear Choices Clean Water Baltimore.

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

$40,000 / 2019 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

To support the deployment of security officers at intersections in the Downtown business district to decrease negative interactions between motorists and squeegee kids and adults. The officers interact with the window washers who work at these intersections to determine if they can be connected to traditional work opportunities or services as needed. 

Arena Players Incorporated

$20,000 / 2019 / Arts

Arena Players is the oldest continuously operating African-American community theater in the US. A comprehensive renovation of its theater facility will include upgrades to the main stage, a complete renovation of the second and third floors and exterior repairs and improvements. This grant provided support for staff project management.

Baltimore City Office of Sustainable Energy

$150,000 / 2019 / Environment

This pilot program has a simple premise: to lower water consumption and bills through water conservation and efficiency interventions and to measure the results. The Baltimore City Energy Office proposes to continue a five-year partnership with Healthy Neighborhoods that began with energy-efficiency projects to offer low and moderate income homeowners free installation of aerators, showerheads, high-efficiency/low water flow toilet replacements, and potential plumbing alterations and leak repairs if appropriate. The pilot program will be offered to 150 homeowners and three large nonprofit facilities with a mission of providing housing and services to homeless and low-income households.

Baltimore Corps

$125,000 / 2019 / Community Development

Baltimore Corps supports Baltimore City’s social innovation sector by recruiting and deploying mission-driven young professionals to Baltimore City’s public agencies and social sector organizations. This grant provided support for staff costs associated with core programmatic efforts to recruit, deploy and retain talent in Baltimore City.  

Header photo courtesy of Thread.