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

Baltimore Community Lending

$25,000 / 2007 / Community Development
Toward support of the Baltimore Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP), an initiative to provide refinancing options for predatory loan victims. The program objectives are to refinance 18 predatory loans, to provide two-year financial counseling and budgeting services for each refinanced family through St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, to make referrals to other needed services for 60 families, and to support future class-action lawsuits determined by Civil Justice, Inc. and St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center.

Baltimore Development Corporation

$25,000 / 2007 / Community Development
Toward continuing support of administrative expenses for Maglev-Maryland, a program to develop a magnetic levitation high-speed train between Baltimore and Washington. When fully operational, the train could reduce travel time between the two cities to less than 20 minutes.

Baltimore Efficiency & Economy Foundation, Inc.

$5,000 / 2007 / Community Development
Toward support of an effort to amend the City Charter to raise the minimum expense level requiring Board of Estimates approval, and for a study on privatizing the Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks’ concessions.

Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc. (BHCA)

$50,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
For support of a one-year fluoride varnish pilot program for 6,000 low-income Medicaid or uninsured children, ages one to five, in Baltimore City. By partnering with three large pediatric practices: a clinic at the University of Maryland, a community-based clinic operated by Baltimore Medical Systems, and a private practice, BHCA will develop training materials and contract with dental educators who will train pediatricians and nurses to conduct oral health screenings and administer fluoride varnish treatments, and will track the number of children screened and receiving fluoride varnish, then being referred to primary care dental providers.

Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc. (BHCA)

$15,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
For continued support and expansion of an initiative to assist low-income persons in Baltimore City obtain medical coverage through the Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Primary Adult Care Program. In an effort to help clients overcome barriers to health care, BHCA will provide funds to purchase identity and citizenship documents for clients applying for health care programs.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.