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 reach out to an Abell staff member to discuss their idea or submit a short letter of inquiry prior to submitting a regular grant application.

Contact Us or Email Us 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 a saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant. Report forms can be found under the “Requirements” tab.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

Project Garrison/Meet Me Halfway Village Center

$5,000 / 2007 / Education
Toward operating support of an in-school mentoring program for at-risk students at Garrison Middle School and Forest Park High School.

The Piney Woods School

$118,200 / 2007 / Education
To provide scholarships for 13 under-achieving, at-risk male students from Baltimore City to attend a college preparatory boarding school in Mississippi for the 2007-2008 school year. The grant includes funding for a resident counselor to encourage positive attitudes, appropriate social behaviors, and academic achievement.

Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

$25,000 / 2007 / Education
For continued support and expansion of the Music Teacher Mentoring Program, including staffing to provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development of approximately 75 new and returning music teachers at 70 schools. The two Peabody mentors offer expanded scope and sequence to the music curriculum, more age-appropriate materials and lesson plans, strategies on effective classroom management skills, and new methodologies to encourage greater student engagement and improved classroom behavior. The goal is to implement enhanced music curricula that meet state and national content standards and to increase the rate of teacher retention.

New Leaders for New Schools

$110,000 / 2007 / Education
For continued support of the New Leaders-Baltimore program created to recruit and develop school principals for Baltimore City public schools. The four-year program provides recruiting, training, and placing of a minimum of 40 principals in the schools over a three-year period. Each participant attends a six-week Summer Foundations Institute, undertakes a year-long, full-time residency with a mentor, then after placement, is given two years of professional development, coaching, and support.

The Maryland Mentoring Partnership

$5,000 / 2007 / Education
Toward expenses of an executive search, and for support in the transition to a new executive director and his or her administration.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.