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

Friends Research Institute, Inc.

$29,029 / 2011 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Toward expenses related to an evaluation of the Baltimore Buprenorphine Initiative. The initiative was designed to provide buprenorphine along with either intensive out-patient (IOP) or out-patient (OP) counseling to address opioid addiction. The research seeks to determine the short-term effectiveness of the two counseling treatments after 12 months.

Fund for Educational Excellence

$75,000 / 2011 / Education
To grow and enhance the capacity to provide high-quality district innovation support to increase student achievement in Baltimore City public schools. The Fund will design new models to increase and measure teacher and leadership effectiveness, create a pre-screening model for teacher applications, determine the effectiveness of new literacy professional development programs, and develop recommendations for the selection of new and charter schools.

Fund for Educational Excellence – Green Street Academy

$100,000 / 2011 / Education
For program and resource development for the Green Street Academy, a new transformation high school preparing students for careers in green economy. The curriculum model will prepare students for career paths in green construction, energy conservation, environmental sustainability, and transportation. By integrating career with hands-on and project-based instruction, the students will have the opportunity to do work in school and in the community.

Fund for Educational Excellence – STEM Summer Learning Program

$60,000 / 2011 / Education
Three-year matching funding for the Middle School STEM Summer Learning Program, which was awarded a federal Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) grant. The primary goal of the summer program is to provide additional out-of-school time and alternative educational opportunities to targeted students so they can increase their mathematics grade-level aptitude. At the same time, the program seeks to develop students’ interest in technology, science, and engineering as a motivator to attend college.

Fund for Educational Excellence – Successful Teaching Solutions

$20,000 / 2011 / Education
Toward support of a research project, “Successful Teaching Solutions,” designed to train teachers from Baltimore City public elementary and middle schools to use techniques from Doug Lemov’s book, Teach Like a Champion.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.