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

Baltimore Center for the Performing Arts

$1,000,000 / 2001 / Community Development
Four-year funding for leasehold improvements to the Hippodrome Theatre, a venue to house Baltimore’s premier Broadway road shows in the heart of the West Side redevelopment area on Eutaw Street between Baltimore and Fayette Streets.

Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development

$75,000 / 2001 / Community Development
Toward staffing for a vacant house intervention and community conservation program. This initiative is designed to identify vacant or problem properties in the community and to track these properties through the code enforcement process.

Baltimore City Foundation

$10,000 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
In support of the Baltimore Stars Coalition’s participation in the 2001 Amateur Athletic Union boys’ national basketball tournament.

Baltimore City Health Department

$175,667 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of ChildSight, a vision screening program for Baltimore City public middle-school students for the 2001-2002 school year. The program, expanding to 40 schools, enables over 12,000 students to be screened for vision correction needs. Free on-site refractive error eye examinations and eyeglasses are available through third-party payments.

Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc.

$673,000 / 2001 / Health and Human Services
Third-year funding of Recovery In Community, a substance abuse prevention and recovery initiative. The purpose of the citywide program is to expand the number of treatment slots and increase the resources and supports available to recovering addicts and their families. By assessing the effectiveness of a comprehensive continuum of community-based supports, the program aims to reduce relapses and drug-related crime.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.