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

Enoch Pratt Free Library

$5,000 / 2012 / Arts
Toward support of “Pratt Presents…A Night of Mystery with Elizabeth George.” This fund-raiser features the author of the Inspector Lynley mysteries, as seen on PBS, and benefits Pratt’s child and teen literacy efforts.

EMP Collective, Inc.

$5,000 / 2012 / Arts
Toward the purchase of a projector, lighting equipment, and professional sound equipment for an emerging arts organization. EMP Collective, in collaboration with the Downtown Partnership, operates a renovated storefront as a rotating art gallery, and as a venue for theatrical and musical events, film screenings, lectures, and an experimental workshop. With higher-quality lighting, sound, and production equipment, EMP expects to attract other performing groups as tenants.

Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts

$25,000 / 2012 / Arts
Toward support of Free Fall, an initiative that allows 91 small and emerging arts and cultural organizations with budgets of $300,000 or less, to offer more than 300 free programs and events. A publicity program has increased the visibility of these organizations.

Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts

$5,000 / 2012 / Arts
In support of the 2012 Baltimore Book Festival. The 17th annual three-day free festival is a hallmark weekend and attracts more than 55,000 attendees. Some 200 local, regional, and national authors provide opportunities to participate in authors’ readings, panel discussions, book signings, literary workshops, children’s workshops, and the creation of original work. This year, an additional pavilion houses independent presses and publishers, and authors provide a weekend of lectures.

Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy

$20,000 / 2012 / Environment
Toward support of the Water Quality Monitoring Program, for the Choptank River, the Tred Avon River, the Miles and Wye rivers, and the Eastern Bay. More than 50 trained volunteers are engaged in the extensive water-monitoring program, which tests 84 sites bi-monthly to detect hot spots, illegal discharges, farm runoff, septic tank leakages, erosion sediment, and algae blooms. Findings are included in the conservancy’s second annual report and incorporated into the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan for Talbot, Kent, and Caroline counties.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.