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

Johns Hopkins University Center for Social Concern

$5,000 / 2008 / Health and Human Services
Toward the launching of the 95 Percenters, an initiative designed to mentor at-risk male youth in Baltimore’s inner city.

Johns Hopkins Urban Health Initiative

$5,000 / 2008 / Health and Human Services
For the purchase of two laptop computers and wireless airtime for an evaluation of the Urban eClinic project, a health clinic for the uninsured in East Baltimore. The project anticipates the improvement of clinical outcomes by using outreach workers recruited from the local community, with the goal of improving health education, fostering healthy lifestyles, and promoting the prevention of disease.

Living Classrooms Foundation/ Operation Safe Streets

$12,000 / 2008 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
For support of an outreach worker for the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Strategy initiative, designed to reduce violent crime in areas known for high rates of violence. The worker will identify and make contact with at-risk young people to encourage them to take advantage of supportive services and seek employment.

Locust Point Civic Association

$5,000 / 2008 / Community Development
Seed funding toward construction costs of the Locust Point Dog Park in Latrobe Park. This project has been developed as a strategy to enhance quality of life for the community.

Maryland ACORN/ACORN Institute, Inc.

$35,000 / 2008 / Community Development
To hire organizers and housing counselors for ACORN Housing in Maryland to assist low- to moderate-income homeowners in preventing foreclosure. ACORN expects to counsel at least 1,000 Baltimore City residents, help refinance at least 40 borrowers who are struggling with unmanageable loan payments, negotiate loan modifications and payment plans, and reach out to targeted homeowners having difficulty making mortgage payments.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.