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 Samaritan Center

$111,300 / 2002 / Health and Human Services
Three grants in support of the Travel Voucher Program. The program provides homeless persons in need of travel assistance with vouchers for bus travel, if they have a contact in a destination city willing to take them in or assist them in finding housing.

The Shepherd’s Clinic

$50,000 / 2002 / Health and Human Services
For continued funding of operating costs to provide primary medical and dental care to uninsured persons in Baltimore City.

The Urban Institute

$50,000 / 2002 / Health and Human Services
For a study, “Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry” delineating the risks and needs of returning prisoners and their families in Baltimore. Data will be collected from interviews with offenders before and after release, and from interviews with family members, neighborhood focus groups and representatives from human service and employment agencies.

The YANA Project

$60,610 / 2002 / Health and Human Services
Toward staffing costs of a social worker/court monitor to work with women and girls engaged in prostitution. The YANA model offers a continuum of services from street outreach to drop-in services, counseling, and case management with referrals to medical services. Participants who complete the 90-day program with no new arrests will have charges dropped.

TuTTie’s Place

$75,000 / 2002 / Health and Human Services
Toward renovation of a house providing residential services for abused and neglected adolescent boys in foster care.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.