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

Center for Urban Families

$300,000 / 2007 / Workforce Development
Ninth-year support of STRIVE Baltimore, a job training and placement service for unemployed and underemployed men and women. STRIVE prepares participants for the workforce thorough a three-week intensive workshop focusing on job readiness. The STRIVE model emphasizes attitudinal training, job placement, one-on-one and group counseling, parenting skills, and case management.

CASA of Maryland, Inc.

$200,000 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For continued support of the Baltimore Worker Employment Center for day laborers and low-income workers. The formal hiring center, where day laborers can have a safe, organized way of finding work rather than waiting on a street corner, will enable more than 250 workers a month to find temporary jobs, 100 workers to find permanent positions, and more than 500 workers to obtain identification cards.

BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc.

$75,000 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For continued support of the BioSTART and Laboratory Associates Programs. BioSTART, a 12-week bridge program, has been developed to introduce Baltimore residents to bioscience terminology, employment possibilities, laboratory procedures, and laboratory math. Upon successful completion, students move on to the Laboratory Associates Program that includes nine-week laboratory classes, followed by three-week internships. The internships qualify the applicants for entry-level laboratory positions with average starting wages of 12 per hour, plus benefits.

Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare, Inc.

$90,000 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For continued support of career coaching, career mapping, and the Pre-Allied Health Bridge Project. The Alliance was created in response to reports that many entry-level workers lack requisite basic skills for post-secondary training leading to high paying jobs.

Art With A Heart

$15,550 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For continued support and expansion of Summer Jobcorps, a visual arts program for 30 at-risk youth living in the Rose Street community. Developed as a four-week job-training program for 14- to 21-year-olds, Art With A Heart offers summer work experience in the creating and selling of marketable art at the 2007 Artscape.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.