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

Office of the Mayor/Mayoral Fellowships .

$12,000 / 2008 / Education
Toward expenses of two Fellows participating in the 2008 summer Baltimore City Mayoral Fellowships. The ten-week internships are offered to undergraduate and graduate students who have expressed an interest in public service employment in Baltimore City government.

Parks & People Foundation

$60,000 / 2008 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Hooked on Sports program for Baltimore City public school students. The multi-sport program serves more than 1,100 students participating in soccer, baseball, volleyball, and lacrosse leagues. This after-school program stresses the basic fundamentals of organized sports, and the value of teamwork and fair play. The organizers monitor academic achievement and attendance; participants are required to maintain a “C” average and at least a 95 percent school attendance rate.

Parks & People Foundation

$500,000 / 2008 / Community Development
Capital funding for the restoration of the historic Superintendent’s House, located at the heart of a nine-acre park improvement project in Druid Hill Park. The restored site will become part of the new headquarters of the Parks and People Foundation, which administers 14 programs providing greening activities and recreational opportunities. The building will be used for community training, special events, and meetings.

Parks & People Foundation

$60,000 / 2008 / Community Development
Second-year funding for support of two revenue-producing initiatives of the Social Enterprises Program: Chesapeake Trees, an urban tree nursery; and Baltimore Wood Works, LLC, a waste- wood recycling/reuse business. Once a permanent site for the nursery is secured and the tree brokering operation is fully operational, Parks & People anticipates sales of 5,000 trees a year.

Patterson Park Community Development Corporation

$35,000 / 2008 / Community Development
Toward efforts to restructure the rental housing financial portfolio, close out sales of renovated and unimproved houses, and implement limited commercial development in Library Square. The objectives are to provide affordable rental housing options within the neighborhood, encourage homebuyers to purchase, and support existing homeowners to remain in Patterson Park.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.