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 Stallions Youth Programs/ American Youth Football

$5,000 / 2011 / Health and Human Services
Toward the purchase of uniforms and equipment for the Baltimore Stallions Football program established for 200 inner-city youth. Along with athletic experiences, the program will provide instruction in leadership, teamwork skills, tutoring, and mentoring.

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.

Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc.

$199,832 / 2011 / Health and Human Services
For support of a hotline and media campaign to promote expansion of Medicaid funding of family planning services and other health-care needs. The goal of the campaign is to enroll 2,000 to 3,000 eligible women in insurance benefits.

Baltimore City Health Department

$47,000 / 2011 / Health and Human Services
Toward support of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. The objectives of the initiative are to create a multi-agency collaboration aimed at improving reproductive health services, to strengthen sex education in City Schools, to promote effective contraceptive methods, and to improve family planning services for teen mothers. The long-term goal of the initiative is to reduce teen births in Baltimore City by 15 percent by 2015.

Baltimore City Health Department

$169,000 / 2011 / Health and Human Services
For support of the Baltimore Vision Screening Initiative in Baltimore City public schools. The initiative will revamp the current vision-screening program to screen 95 percent of students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade, and provide follow-up care with medical providers for those who fail the screening. The Bureau of School Health will also recruit and train qualified volunteers to conduct screenings in an effort to reach 95 percent of eighth-grade students.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.