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

The New Govans Economic Management Senate

$5,000 / 2005 / Community Development
For the development and implementation of a strategic plan designed to revitalize neighborhoods in the Govans community. Its purpose is to restructure and strengthen the organization and to provide a voice for the Govans community.

The New Teacher Project

$125,000 / 2005 / Education
For support of the Baltimore Model School Staffing Project, established to ensure early recruitment of qualified teachers in the city’s lowest performing schools. By working closely with the Baltimore City Public School System’s Department of Human Resources and individual school principals, the New Teacher Project will help schools learn of retirements and resignations in advance, connect new candidates with lowest performing schools, maximize schools’ interviewing/selection skills, and operate with a policy of holding schools accountable for hiring.

The Piney Woods School

$91,800 / 2005 / Education
For continuing support to provide scholarships at a boarding school in Mississippi for selected underachieving, at-risk male students from Baltimore City for the 2005-2006 school year. The grant includes funding for a counselor to encourage positive attitudes, appropriate social behavior, and academic achievement.

The Samaritan Center

$50,000 / 2005 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Eviction Prevention Assistance program at The Samaritan Center, designed to provide emergency grants to individuals and families facing eviction. Aside from providing a one-time grant directly to the landlord, the Center’s case manager will refer the unemployed to Catholic Charities’ employment services and assist clients in applying for other income supports, such as food stamps and Medicaid Earned Income Tax Credit.

The Samaritan Center

$45,000 / 2005 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Travel Voucher Program. Each year, the program provides bus vouchers to more than 400 homeless people who want to leave Baltimore to reunite with family, find employment, or receive treatment for substance abuse.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.