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

Rose Street Community Center

$300,000 / 2012 / Workforce Development
For continued support of drug treatment and training programs. The center serves more than 120 people a week, providing transitional housing for an average of 45 to 60 people each week, many of whom are ex-offenders. Those who live in the transitional houses participate in daily community cleanups, removing nine tons of trash from the neighborhood each week. The center also provides gang mediation services to more than 50 youth each week, and operates a homeless shelter for youth ages 12 to 17.

Mosaic Community Services

$136,675 / 2012 / Workforce Development
For continued support of employment services at the North Baltimore Center for 100 Baltimore City residents challenged by mental health and/or substance abuse issues. The program screens vocational clients to determine which benefits are available to them. It expects to place 55 individuals into employment.

Maryland New Directions

$120,000 / 2012 / Workforce Development
Toward support of the Career Focus job-training program, which is set to reach 300 unemployed Baltimore City job seekers. Each client in the employment readiness program receives approximately 10 hours of individual consultation on resume writing, benefits screening, counseling, and interview practice.

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services

$150,000 / 2012 / Workforce Development
For support of the Maryland House of Correction Inmate Deconstruction Project, an inmate workforce development training program. The project provides 50 inmates with training in occupational safety and the removal of hazardous materials. Fourteen buildings are slated for deconstruction.

Maryland Community Health Initiatives, Inc.

$246,815 / 2012 / Workforce Development
For Year Two support of the Partnership for Growth initiative, an education and job-training program created to serve 60 clients of Penn North, an integrative and addiction recovery center that offers acupuncture and mediation programs for the treatment of addiction. Partnership for Growth offers training in street cleaning, lawn and property maintenance, landscape design and installation, ground-level tree trimming, touch-up painting, and hauling. Along with the required fieldwork, participants spend at least two hours a day in the classroom, focusing on resume writing, job-search strategies, effective communication, job interviewing, dressing for the work place, computer literacy, and budgeting.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.