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

Parks & People Foundation

$60,000 / 2007 / Community Development
Toward start-up costs of two revenue-producing ventures: Chesapeake Trees, an urban tree nursery; and Baltimore City Wood Works, LLC, a waste wood reuse/recycle business. The purpose is threefold: to grow and sell local urban-appropriate tree species that can be used to increase the tree canopy; create opportunities for city residents to learn about environmental restoration/mitigation projects; and generate examples of successful environmental social ventures.

Patterson Park Community Development Corporation

$30,000 / 2007 / Community Development
For continued support of an initiative to clean streets and alleys in the Patterson Park community. The effort is intended to help eliminate trash and create a visually appealing, comfortable, and secure community in the 22-block area.

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.

Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

$25,000 / 2007 / Education
For continued support and expansion of the Music Teacher Mentoring Program, including staffing to provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development of approximately 75 new and returning music teachers at 70 schools. The two Peabody mentors offer expanded scope and sequence to the music curriculum, more age-appropriate materials and lesson plans, strategies on effective classroom management skills, and new methodologies to encourage greater student engagement and improved classroom behavior. The goal is to implement enhanced music curricula that meet state and national content standards and to increase the rate of teacher retention.

Pennsylvania Avenue Panthers Football Club

$5,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
Toward equipment, uniforms, and related expenses of the Panthers Football Club for children in the Upton community. The program is designed to help provide sports, cheerleading, tutoring, and mentoring as healthy and safe alternatives to a life on street corners and continuing involvement with the juvenile justice system.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.