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

Saint Cecilia Roman Catholic Church

$5,000 / 2012 / Education

Toward support of the CityWide Special Education Advocacy Project for physically disabled students in Baltimore City Public Schools. The purpose of the project is to provide collaboration, training, and advocacy designed to improve academic and social outcomes for students with special needs.

Gilman School

$5,000 / 2012 / Education

Toward support of the 2012 Baltimore Independent School Learning Camp, a month-long academic and enriching experience for 50 disadvantaged Baltimore City public elementary school students. The academic, cultural, and physical education experiences are designed to prevent summer learning loss, stimulate creative thinking skills, and challenge motor skills.

Digital Harbor Foundation

$200,000 / 2012 / Education

For support of EdTech Link, a digital literacy and technology workforce program that provides training to Baltimore City teachers in classroom and school integration of technology.  Teacher Fellows also host after-school clubs for Baltimore City Public Schools K-12 students. The seven EdTech Link Fellows organize community EdTech forums where community leaders are brought together to discuss technology solutions to problems in education. The foundation will partner with the Baltimore Educational Research Consortium to determine to what extent technology education and after-school programming improve students’ performance, and graduation and employment rates.

The Community School, Inc.

$12,000 / 2012 / Education

Toward support of the current GED cohort, and College Support and Dual Enrollment Initiative serving graduates of The Community School. The initiative provides ongoing academic and mentoring support, and limited employment for eight college students.

Baltimore City Public Schools/ The Mount Washington School

$50,000 / 2012 / Education

For costs, both salary and benefits, of a coordinator in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme at The Mount Washington School. The IB coordinator ensures a smooth expansion of the program to the seventh grade, and serves 78 seventh-grade students and 90 sixth-grade students. The IB program emphasizes intellectual challenges and development of critical and reflective skills, and focuses on the integration and interrelationships of all content areas in a global context. The goal for The Mount Washington School is to achieve accreditation as an IB Middle Years Programme school by the start of school year 2013-2014.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.