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

Maryland Environmental Service

$88,800 / 2012 / Environment
For project management activities to help facilitate the design and construction of a thermophilic anaerobic digester near the Eastern Correctional Institution Cogeneration facility in Somerset County, in an effort to convert excess poultry litter into methane biogas, a form of renewable energy. This facility will provide an alternative use of poultry litter and provide a source of clean, renewable energy “scalable” to the available feedstock.

Environmental Integrity Project (EIP)

$150,000 / 2012 / Environment
For continued support of the Brooklyn/Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point Environmental Justice Campaign. EIP will conduct additional research to determine the precise locations of air pollution sources, such as emissions from petroleum storage tanks, ships, and equipment at the Port of Baltimore. EIP will also continue to negotiate permits with Constellation Energy to secure binding terms for the new coal ash landfill in the Curtis Bay area, and work to address heavy diesel traffic pollution infiltrating the neighborhoods.

Environment Maryland Research & Policy Center, Inc.

$50,000 / 2012 / Environment
Toward continued support of the Restore the Chesapeake Bay campaign. The focus of the campaign is to provide research-based reports that call attention to relevant problems of urban and farm runoff pollution, organize press conferences, and mobilize grassroots support for effective policies to reduce pollution.

The Chesapeake Rivers Association

$5,000 / 2012 / Environment
Toward the cost of upgrades to a Hydrolab for the SevernStat Water Quality Monitoring Project. The upgrades of a new monitoring meter with chlorophyll sensors to obtain relative phytoplankton densities are expected to lead to better identification of sources of sediment and nutrient pollution that affect water quality of the Severn River.

Chesapeake Climate Action Network

$5,000 / 2012 / Environment
Toward a study to detail improvements to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.