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

Job Opportunities Task Force

$50,000 / 2010 / Workforce Development
For continued support of the Baltimore CASH Campaign, an initiative designed to increase the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Baltimore CASH plans to serve 10,000 tax filers by operating 15 to 17 free tax-preparation sites and training 200 volunteers. As the internal capacity of high-volume sites continues to grow, the quality of services and customer satisfaction will be monitored. Plans call for strengthening and expanding financial education/asset development activities for low-wage tax filers.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

$29,304 / 2010 / Health and Human Services
To develop and disseminate a briefing paper on the economic, health, and safety effects of an alcohol tax increase in Maryland. The paper will include analyses of the impact of an increase in Maryland’s alcohol taxes on worker productivity, job creation and loss, and the likelihood of crossing state borders to purchase alcohol.

Johns Hopkins University/Center for Social Organization of Schools

$66,000 / 2010 / Education
For first-year support of a Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) research study on the record of Baltimore City public school students’ rate of graduation from high school and college. The College On Track report will use data from the classes of 2003-2004 to analyze factors predictive of students’ applying, enrolling, and remaining in college.

KIPP Baltimore, Inc.

$50,000 / 2010 / Education
Toward operating support of the KIPP Harmony Academy, an elementary school enrolling 250 kindergarten and first-grade students. KIPP programming calls for high standards of academic achievement and conduct, along with a commitment to a longer school day, including Saturdays and summer school sessions.

Learning Is For Tomorrow, Inc. (LIFT)

$22,000 / 2010 / Workforce Development
Toward general support, and for securing additional space for expansion of adult literacy and job-training programs for residents of Southeast Baltimore. LIFT specializes in providing educational services to adults with a variety of learning disabilities and then connects the literacy instruction to employment, and it helps students compose resumes, apply for jobs online, and improve interviewing skills. Moving into a larger space means more classrooms and computers, which will allow the facility to serve more students, many of whom are being referred to other low-literacy programs.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.