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

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Education Fund, Inc.

$100,000 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of a grassroots effort to educate citizens and policy makers about the need for universal health coverage in Maryland. In recognition that there are more than 550,000 Marylanders with no health insurance, including 43,000 children, the initiative aims to guarantee quality, affordable health care for all Marylanders.

Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, Inc.

$60,000 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
Two-year funding for support of the Emergency Services and Transitional Housing programs serving homeless veterans. In recognition of the traumas of severe psychological distress and substance abuse that homeless veterans have often experienced, the center offers a military model of support, rehabilitation and healing to men and women through individual counseling, job readiness and placement, mental health services, three balanced meals a day and housing.

Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations

$5,000 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
Toward the development of a policy paper on child support enforcement reform.

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.

$274,235 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
For expansion of the project to address the needs of noncustodial parents whose child support obligations far exceed their ability to pay. By providing individual representation, Legal Aid has been able to identify recurrent issues that adversely affect noncustodial parents, such as driver’s license suspensions, reports to credit agencies and denial of access to child support records.

Koinonia Baptist Church

$30,000 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
Toward the purchase of a 15-passenger van to transport youth to and from the Neighborhood Evening Reporting program. An alternative to detaining youth in juvenile detention facilities, the program is designed to reduce recidivism by offering home-monitored youth computer skills training, conflict resolution and anger management training, tutoring, GED preparation and job readiness training.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.