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 Alliance for Careers in Healthcare, Inc. (BACH)

$90,000 / 2010 / Workforce Development
For continued support of pre-allied health bridge programming, which provides entry-level health-care workers with the requisite basic skills for post-secondary training; career coaching, which improves the job retention and advancement of frontline health-care workers; and the BACH Fellows program, which provides Baltimore City public school students with experience working in hospitals over the summer.

Baltimore City Department of Planning

$10,000 / 2010 / Community Development
For support of radio advertising designed to reach Baltimore City’s low-income residents in the 2010 Census count. Efforts are intended to improve the rate of mail-in returns, ensure the accuracy of Baltimore’s population count, and maximize the city’s eligibility for federal formula grant dollars and elected representation.

Baltimore City Department of Planning

$20,000 / 2010 / Community Development
Toward staffing costs of a Food Policy Coordinator to implement recommendations of the 2009 Baltimore City Food Policy Task Force. The coordinator will focus on expanding urban agriculture, community-supported agriculture shares of local farm produce, and community gardens; launching street vending with refrigerated trucks to reach isolated areas (“food deserts”); expanding links with local farmers and institutions; and providing input in rezoning to allow agricultural uses.

Baltimore City Public Schools – East Baltimore Community School

$5,000 / 2010 / Education
For summer planning and academic programming for students in grades five through eight. The purpose of the initiative is to evaluate the academic programming, to build on its existing strengths, and to develop data-driven best practices.

Baltimore City Public Schools – National Academic League (NAL)

$167,000 / 2010 / Education
For support of the 2009-2010 National Academic League (NAL) in 26 Baltimore City public middle grades schools. The NAL games are designed to function as an athletic event, with team practices after school two to three times a week under the guidance of teacher mentors (coaches). Interscholastic competitions are held every two weeks. Teams that place first and second go on to compete in the national tournament through video conferencing. The goal is to strengthen student knowledge in all disciplines, particularly mathematics.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.