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

Paul’s Place, Inc.

$50,000 / 2009 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Hot Lunch and Emergency Assistance programs for residents of Washington Village/Pigtown. Funding allows the programs to accommodate basic needs of long-time residents in an area of entrenched poverty.

Paul’s Place, Inc.

$50,000 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For support of the Hot Lunch and Ambassador programs for residents of Washington Village/Pigtown. Paul’s Place serves an average of 265 meals per day and more than 65 percent of the hot lunch guests use other supportive services or obtain referrals to other organizations. Approximately 30 guests participate in the Ambassador Community Volunteer Program, a pre-job readiness training program. For every hour worked, a participant earns points toward an incentive payment that can be applied to groceries, rent, or utility bills.

Paul’s Place, Inc.

$50,000 / 2013 / Health and Human Services
Toward continued support of the Campaign for Paul’s Place in an effort to expand supportive outreach services for Washington Village/Pigtown residents.

Paul’s Place, Inc.

$35,000 / 2019 / Health and Human Services

For more than 35 years, Paul’s Place has been providing services to meet the basic needs of the residents of Pigtown and other Southwest Baltimore neighborhoods including nutritious hot meals, comprehensive emergency assistance, adult literacy, health services, and case management.  Fundng from the Abell Foundation will help Paul’s Place sustain its Access to Healthy Food Program which includes the hot lunch program (serving 150-200 guests daily) and acting as a distribution site for the Department of Social Services emergency food program providing 3-5 days of shelf stable food for individuals and families.

PCs for People

$100,000 / 2019 / Community Development

Based in St. Paul, MN, PCs for the People also operates in Cleveland, OH, and Denver, CO, and is expanding to Baltimore. The organization will launch its efforts to increase educational opportunity and achievement, career readiness, and employment by providing low or no-cost refurbished computers, mobile internet access for $25/month, technological training, repair and troubleshooting services to low income residents in Baltimore City. This grant provides support for local launch staffing and related costs.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.