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

United Ministries, Inc.

$30,000 / 2007 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
For continued support of Earl’s Place Transitional Housing Project, targeting recovering addicts who are homeless and often HIV-positive. The program provides interim housing for 17 homeless men, and requires a monthly fee of 30 percent of the participants’ income, when they are holding down jobs and living in transitional housing.

University of Maryland School of Nursing

$97,000 / 2007 / Health and Human Services
Two-year funding for continued support of the Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (MD H2E) initiative. The program has been designed to improve the environmental impact of health care institutions in Maryland over the course of two years by reducing reliance on medical water incinerators, reducing or eliminating the use of mercury-containing and PVC products, increasing reliance on locally grown food products, and conducting workshops for hospital management in an effort to make the hospitals environmentally safe.

University of Maryland/Philip Merrill College of Journalism

$500,000 / 2007 / Community Development
Capital funding for construction of a new journalism building to establish The Abell Professorship in Baltimore Journalism. Each semester the professorship will provide the opportunity for eight to 10 students to develop stories on timely and important issues affecting quality of life in Baltimore City.

Vehicles for Change, Inc.

$57,600 / 2007 / Workforce Development
Ninth-year funding for the continuation of an initiative to provide 48 donated reconditioned and Maryland-inspected cars to low-income persons in Baltimore City. Partnering with community-based organizations, Vehicles for Change enables individuals to drive to work and transport their families to essential destinations.

West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc.

$5,000 / 2007 / Environment
For continued support of outreach activities in efforts to protect, preserve, and restore the West River, the Rhode River, surrounding tributaries, and watershed. The group plans to enhance preservation and restoration efforts by operating a waste-water pump-out boat on the rivers, and expanding water quality monitoring and bacteria testing efforts to 12 sites. It will continue to advocate for greater enforcement of the Critical Area Act.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.