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

Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc.

$127,000 / 2005 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
To provide support for transitional housing and community outreach services for the Recovery In Community (RIC) outpatient substance abuse treatment program. As a state-certified facility, RIC offers on-site case management, auricular acupuncture, outreach services, assistance in finding employment, and rehabilitative services.

Baltimore City Public School System

$100,000 / 2005 / Education
To provide stipends to math, science, and special education teachers affected by Hurricane Katrina. The incentives are designed to encourage relocation of teachers to Baltimore City.

Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)/Baltimore Freedom Academy

$5,000 / 2005 / Workforce Development
Toward costs of Family Matters, a job readiness program operated by BCPSS, designed to develop and implement art workshops for youth and families with young children in an after-school setting. By offering Baltimore Freedom Academy students job readiness skills and opportunities to serve as assistants in art workshops, the program is expected to instill positive work habits.

Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS)/Early Identification and Intervention Project

$395,500 / 2005 / Education
Three-year funding for planning and implementation of the BCPSS Early Identification and Intervention Project at Barclay Elementary/Middle School and Edgewood Elementary School. Thirty low-performing students who are in need of a core language/literacy development program will be identified. State-of-the-art practices will be integrated into an intervention program. The success of these efforts will be measured by the percentage of students who achieve grade-level performance at the end of the first grade, and the reduction in the number of students requiring special education for reading-related disabilities.

Baltimore City Public School System/Baltimore Freedom Academy

$20,880 / 2005 / Education
For costs of the installation of doors to create a physical separation of space between the Baltimore Freedom Academy and Lombard Middle School. The doors will help ensure the safety of students and decrease disruption between the schools.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.