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

Core Knowledge Foundation

$200,000 / 2008 / Education
In support of the third year of the Core Knowledge Preschool Initiative in four Baltimore City Head Start Centers. Core Knowledge offers a skills-based curriculum and parent program that prepares 275 bilingual Head Start children for kindergarten, and provides teacher training covering the implementation of language, social skills, mathematical reasoning, number sense, and leadership. Comprehensive student baseline data will be collected for ongoing assessments of each child.

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

$50,000 / 2008 / Education
To provide funding in support of scholarships for placement of up to eight incoming ninth-grade students in Baltimore City foster group homes. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School functions in a small-school setting with about 110 students in each grade in partnership with corporations, and offers a rigorous curriculum, transportation, social service options for students and families, mentoring, and one-day-per-week paid internships.

DonorsChoose, Inc .

$50,000 / 2008 / Education
For support of a national nonprofit donation website that provides the opportunity for Baltimore City and other public school teachers to post proposals online for needed teaching resources, materials, and equipment. Potential donors then browse the teacher postings and are able to fund requests online in full or in part.

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore/ Baltimore Art Exposure

$5,000 / 2008 / Arts
For continued support of Baltimore Art Exposure’s installation of art work used to enhance empty storefront windows along Charles Street.

Empire Homes of Maryland

$150,000 / 2008 / Health and Human Services
Capital funding toward the completion of Restoration Gardens, a 43-unit permanent supportive rental housing development in the lower Park Heights community, to serve homeless, at-risk young adults, ages 18 to 24. These affordable units will be subsidized by Section 8 vouchers. Referrals to supportive services, such as job training and placement, substance abuse treatment and mental health services will be provided to enable the residents to gain the stability and skills needed to live independently.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.