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

Baltimore City Community College Foundation, Inc.

$218,250 / 2012 / Education
For support of the new Aspiring Scholars Scholarship Program, which provides performance-based scholarships for 75 graduates of Baltimore City Public Schools entering Baltimore City Community College. The scholars are linked to a facilitator who ensures the students are registering for appropriate courses, familiar with their own performance levels, and referred to campus resources for support.

Baltimore City Department of Planning

$50,000 / 2012 / Community Development
For support of the Decision Modeling Tool for Vacant Structure Demolition and Redevelopment Project. A partnership between the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Sustainability will use the funds to develop a more efficient method of organizing data that identifies potential for nonresidential reuse of vacant properties and lots, and assists in targeting limited demolition resources where they may have the greatest effect.

Baltimore City Health Department

$100,000 / 2012 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
For support of Safe Streets East and Safe Streets Cherry Hill, in an effort to reduce gun-related violence in Baltimore City. These programs rely on community leaders to intervene in conflicts using mediation and the promotion of alternatives to violence.

Baltimore City Health Department

$50,000 / 2012 / Health and Human Services
Toward the costs of computer equipment and related expenses for the Electronic Health Record System of the School Health Program. The purpose of the initiative is to integrate Baltimore City Public Schools’ record system with an electronic health record module, and then integrate both into a new information management system. The process will enable the Health Department to conduct research on the impact of health care on academic achievement.

Baltimore City Health Department

$164,248 / 2012 / Health and Human Services
For support of the Asthma Program, including an evaluation of a model program that provides home-visiting services to children with the most severe asthma. The evaluation analyzes Medicaid cost data related to the asthma home-visiting program to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of the model.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.