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

Museum of Ceramic Art.

$30,000 / 2006 / Arts
For support of in-school and after-school ceramic art programs in 35 Baltimore City public middle schools for the 2006-2007 school year. Developed to be integrated with core subjects and aligned with the Maryland State Content Standards, the program reinforces students’ reading, writing, and creative skills. The nine-month program provides teachers with equipment, supplies, stipends, coaching, professional training workshops, and monthly opportunities for networking. Student works are seasonally exhibited in public venues, while arrangements are made for participating schools to create ceramic murals for permanent installations around Baltimore.

NAMI-Metropolitan Baltimore, Inc.

$20,000 / 2006 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of educational services for low-income Baltimore City families with children who are affected by mental illness. NAMI will identify at least ten new partner agencies offering to host workshops for 500 families of children with mental illnesses.

National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education.

$52,000 / 2006 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Five-year funding for support of the Maryland Smart Growth Indicators’ Project. The center will develop a set of indicators to measure land use, growth, and development patterns in Maryland over a five-year period. The annual reports will provide policy makers with information to help measure the effect of Maryland’s Smart Growth policies.

National Center on Institutions and Alternatives

$15,000 / 2006 / Education
For the purchase of equipment and supplies for a new Warehousing Vocational Program serving students with severe mental disabilities at the NCIA Youth In Transition School. Youth In Transition will provide students whose needs cannot be met in a traditional public school setting with skills training, job opportunities, and internships for jobs in the warehouse/logistics field.

National Heritage Foundation/B-SPIRIT-A2Y

$40,000 / 2006 / Health and Human Services
For expansion of the B-SPIRIT-A2Y after-school mentoring and tutoring program for 100 at-risk adolescents in the Park Heights community. The program incorporates academic, cultural, recreational, and community service activities in a safe environment for 12 hours each week.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.