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

VH1 Save the Music Foundation

$25,000 / 2005 / Education
For the purchase of musical instruments in support of Be Instrumental, an initiative to restore musical instrumental programs in 15 Baltimore City public elementary and middle schools.

Washington Village/ Pigtown Neighborhood Planning Council, Inc.

$171,089 / 2005 / Workforce Development
For support of Managed Work Services-Baltimore, a transitional work experience to prepare job seekers for permanent employment. Managed Work Services contracts with businesses to staff high turnover, entry-level positions. Teams of up to ten Managed Work Services employees work alongside a job coach to gain valuable work experience in these temporary, transitional jobs, and are then placed into permanent jobs.

Women’s Housing Coalition

$15,000 / 2005 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
To provide partial funding for expanded services to homeless women with mental illness and drug addiction. By expanding the staff to include a contractual part-time counselor and psychiatrist, the Coalition expects to reduce the rate of failure among the new entrants by 50 percent, and to increase the medication compliance rate among participants.

1000 Friends of Maryland

$60,000 / 2004 / Environment
To support the Partners for Open Space campaign to help restore the funding for Maryland’s land conservation. The partners, a coalition of more than 120 environmental organizations across Maryland, plan to launch an educational program to showcase the long-term benefits to the community of continuing statewide land conservation initiatives, park improvements, and newly acquired public land.

1000 Friends of Maryland

$25,000 / 2004 / Environment
For an organizational assessment and development of a strategic plan. As a leading environmental advocacy organization, 1000 Friends is a public voice for preserving Maryland’s natural resources and open space while encouraging planned growth and redevelopment, and reinvestment in older neighborhoods.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.