Read our 2024 Annual Report

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

Baltimore City Public Schools – National Academy Foundation High School

$5,000 / 2011 / Education
For the purchase of 30 NOOK eReaders for the 11th-grade English class, to encourage reading e-books inside and outside of school.

Baltimore City Public Schools – National Academic League

$177,000 / 2011 / Education
For support of the 2011-2012 National Academic League (NAL) in 28 Baltimore City public middle schools, involving up to 675 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students, in a year-long scholastic extracurricular activity. The NAL games are designed to function as competitive events, with team coaching after school two to three times a week under the guidance of teachers. Interscholastic competitions are held every two weeks. Teams that place first and second go on to compete nationally through video conferencing. The purpose is to bring the visibility and spirit of school rivalry of sports competition to academic competition.

Baltimore City Public Schools – The Mount Washington School

$100,000 / 2011 / Education
For the salary and benefits of an International Baccalaureate coordinator at The Mount Washington School. The coordinator will oversee the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) into the school’s curriculum and ensure that the IB standards are met. The IB program, emphasizing intellectual challenges and development of critical and reflective skills, focuses on the integration and interrelationship of all content areas in a global context. The program will serve up to 80 students in three sixth-grade classes.

Baltimore City Public Schools – City Neighbors Charter School

$50,000 / 2011 / Education
In support of the development of a new charter high school, now serving 180 ninth- and tenth-grade students. Based on the progressive model charter school, the City Neighbors High School features the independent project-based learning and advisory system called PODS (groups of 15 students) that meet and work with a teacher for 90 minutes in their own workspaces. PODS were designed to provide leadership development and mentoring for academic skills and work habits.

Carver Vocational-Technical High School

$5,000 / 2011 / Education
Toward travel expenses for students who participated in the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Exchange Program in the summer of 2011.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.