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 Office of Promotion and the Arts

$25,000 / 2011 / Arts
Toward support of Free Fall, an initiative designed to provide 30 low-budget arts and cultural organizations with the opportunity to offer free events. The initiative is intended to attract audiences from diverse communities and increase accessibility to the arts.

Baltimore Outreach Services, Inc.

$30,000 / 2011 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Toward the purchase and installation of exterior and interior wheelchair lifts to serve physically disabled women seeking housing and services at an emergency shelter.

Baltimore Outreach Services, Inc.

$25,000 / 2011 / Workforce Development
For support of the Culinary Arts Job Training Program, designed to place at least eight homeless women into internships at local restaurants or food service businesses. The program plans for interns to work 32 hours a week for eight weeks, earning $10 an hour. With an effective system of monitoring, evaluation, and support, the job placement rate is expected to be 80 percent.

Baltimore Police Foundationﾠ

$223,474 / 2011 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
For the purchase and operating costs of 145 Pocket Cops for new Baltimore City police officers in the Southern District. Pocket Cop is a software program operating through a wireless network that provides police with instant online access to relevant databases for issuing warrants.

Baltimore Rowing Club

$10,000 / 2011 / Health and Human Services
Toward expansion of Reach High Baltimore, an initiative designed to serve 40 at-risk Baltimore City middle school students through rowing and academic mentoring. The four-season program will prepare participants to row on high school teams.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.