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

Washington Village/ Pigtown Neighborhood Planning Council, Inc.

$171,089 / 2005 / Workforce Development
For support of Managed Work Services-Baltimore, a transitional work experience to prepare job seekers for permanent employment. Managed Work Services contracts with businesses to staff high turnover, entry-level positions. Teams of up to ten Managed Work Services employees work alongside a job coach to gain valuable work experience in these temporary, transitional jobs, and are then placed into permanent jobs.

Vehicles for Change, Inc.

$49,500 / 2005 / Workforce Development
Seventh-year funding of a car ownership program designed to make reliable, reconditioned, low-cost cars available to low-income Baltimore City residents.

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, Inc.

$80,000 / 2005 / Workforce Development
For continued support of the Learn to Earn Program, a job training readiness program, at the St. Ambrose Outreach Center. The program helps participants improve language arts, math and computer skills; prepare for and obtain GEDs; and seek, secure, and retain jobs. St. Ambrose Outreach Center expects to enroll 400 participants and place 200 people into employment.

Seedco, Inc.

$75,000 / 2005 / Workforce Development
For the development of a customized EarnBenefits Baltimore, a web-based initiative to help low-wage workers in Baltimore City determine what federal and state benefits they qualify for, and how to apply for them. EarnBenefits Online is designed to streamline eligibility screening, application submission, and tracking of submitted applications. Low-wage workers will be encouraged to apply for under-utilized benefits such as tax credits, health insurance, Food Stamps, Maryland Energy Assistance Program Tel-life, child care, and the school lunch programs.

Second Chance Project, Inc.

$50,000 / 2005 / Workforce Development
To provide housing, employment, mental health services, and transportation to 300 ex-offenders released from Maryland State Correctional facilities. Second Chance will help ex-offenders obtain needed identification, including Social Security cards, Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) identification cards, and birth certificates. Second Chance will work with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Vital Records, the MVA, the Division of Corrections, and MOED to systematize the process by which ex-offenders obtain identification documents.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.