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?

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 for a Small Grant?

For first-time or returning applicants with grant requests of $10,000 or less. We accept and review small grant applications on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to apply for a small grant.

Start a Small Grant Application

Ready to Apply for a Regular Grant?

For returning applicants and those who have a verified fit with the Foundation’s priorities for requests greater than $10,000. Regular grant applications are reviewed at one of five Board meetings each year.

Start a Regular 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 HealthCare Access, Inc.

$5,000 / 2006 / Health and Human Services
To assist pregnant women and children in Baltimore City obtain proof of citizenship or identification in order to obtain insurance coverage under the Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc.

$56,000 / 2006 / Health and Human Services
Two-year funding for the implementation of Project HEALTH, an initiative to place college student volunteers in public health settings to serve low-income families in Baltimore City. Comprehensive family help desks at two clinics will be staffed by trained student volunteers who will work with families to provide access to needed services and resources.

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland

$200,000 / 2006 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Regional Equity in Housing Project. The purpose is to provide more than 6,000 families the opportunity to move from inner-city Baltimore to communities offering greater educational, employment, and housing opportunities, and increased safety. ACLU attempts to reduce barriers undermining the ability of low-income families to move to low-poverty areas.

Advocates for Children and Youth

$60,000 / 2006 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Baltimore City Child Welfare Reform Program. Advocates will monitor the Department of Human Resources’ efforts to reduce caseloads for child welfare workers and to develop a database to track child-welfare outcomes mandated by the Child Welfare Accountability Act. The program will also encourage aggressive foster-family recruitment and increased foster care reimbursement rates.

University of Maryland Baltimore County

$112,356 / 2006 / Education
For a four-year evaluation of the Core Knowledge Preschool Program in Baltimore City’s Southeast Community Organization (SECO) Head Start Centers. The purpose is to assess the progress of children attending the Core Knowledge program for two consecutive years, as compared to those attending for one year, in academic readiness, social skill competencies, and language development.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.