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

Alternative Directions, Inc.

$50,000 / 2009 / Workforce Development
Toward child support modification workshops in the Maryland Reception, Diagnostic and Classification Center; the Maryland Transition Center in Baltimore; and the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup. The objectives of the workshops are to assist 515 incarcerated individuals in preparing requests to have their child support orders modified and following-up with the child support system to ensure that the support orders have been modified.

Alternative Directions, Inc.

$50,000 / 2004 / Health and Human Services
A challenge grant for support of the Turn Around Program (TAP), a transition program providing re-entry services, intensive case management, and empowerment training for female ex-offenders. On leaving prison, they may ask to participate in TAP as a condition of their parole. Upon returning to the community, they must make a one-year commitment to the program.

American Civil Liberties Foundation of Maryland, Inc. (ACLU)

$150,000 / 2009 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Regional Housing Equity Project. ACLU will focus on developing a regional housing remedy to enable thousands of public housing residents to live in high-opportunity areas.

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland

$50,000 / 2003 / Education
For support of the Baltimore City Education Reform Project, designed to ensure that schools serving disadvantaged students receive adequate and equitable funding.

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland

$200,000 / 2005 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Regional Equity in Housing Project. The project will provide thousands of families with the opportunity to move from inner-city Baltimore to communities that offer greater educational opportunity, employment, housing, and safety. Efforts will be made to reduce regulatory barriers that undermine the ability of low-income families to move into communities of opportunity.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.