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

Reclaiming Our Children and Community Project, Inc.

$100,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
Toward the purchase of a building to help support after-school programs for at-risk youth in Southwest Baltimore. Operating as a community center, the project serves approximately 60 children and adolescents in an after-school program providing homework assistance and recreational activities while their parents are working.

Recovery In Community

$5,000 / 2007 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Start-up costs for the new transitional housing program, including training for a house manager and for Internet equipment and services.

Resources for the Future

$25,000 / 2007 / Community Development
Toward expenses in support of a conference to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Maryland’s Smart Growth legislation. The conference is expected to identify strengths and weaknesses in the law, to present an assessment of how the Smart Growth laws are working, and to develop programming to strengthen state and local laws.

Rose Street Community Center

$300,000 / 2007 / Workforce Development
For continued support of rehabilitation services for ex-offenders, adults recovering from substance abuse, and at-risk youth. The center provides transitional housing and case management to as many as 30 men per week, linking them to employment opportunities, providing stipends for living expenses, and referring them to drug treatment and job training programs. An average of 35 at-risk youth and young adults participate in daily peer mediation activities designed to reduce gang-related shootings and homicides.

Sandi’s Learning Center

$100,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
Continued capital support toward completion of a daycare center in the Rosemont neighborhood of West Baltimore. The center will provide developmental and educational childcare and after-school services for 200 children from birth to 12.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.