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

Chesapeake Center for Youth Development, Inc.

$29,000 / 2005 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Capital funding for Phase Two of the Millennium Renovation Project to include a library, private counseling offices, and additional classrooms. The Chesapeake Center, operating as an alternative school, provides year-round instruction and supportive services for students referred by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The goal is to prepare students for return to a former school, to earn a GED, or to receive pre-employment training.

Citizens Planning and Housing Association

$75,000 / 2005 / Community Development
For support of the Regional Housing Equity initiative, designed to organize and support development of affordable housing, to explore foreclosure intervention as a tool for increasing regional housing equity, to identify key locations for targeted development of affordable units, and to explore homeownership models for low-income and Section 8 recipients.

Citizens Planning and Housing Association

$80,000 / 2005 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Support for the development of BAASH (Baltimore Area Association of Supportive Housing), a professional association of housing providers committed to strengthening and improving services to individuals in recovery through the development of voluntary standards, creation of a peer network, and training and technical assistance.

Clean Water Fund

$15,000 / 2005 / Environment
Matching grant in support of the reopening of a Baltimore office. Its objective is to develop grassroots organizing, and to strengthen coalitions with other local environmental organizations. The Baltimore effort will focus on creating community awareness, eliminating toxic emissions from medical waste incineration, energizing community support for clean water and clean air, and training neighborhood groups to use federal, state, and local strategies for environmental health protection.

Collington Square Non-Profit Corporation

$45,900 / 2005 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
For the purchase of 1217 North Chester Street to be used as a halfway house for recovering addicts. The goal is to reduce the incidence of relapse by providing professional services designed to ease transition to a drug-and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.