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 City Health Department

$5,000 / 2000 / Health and Human Services
To provide scholarships for 100 former inmates to attend the Second Conference on the Urgent Needs of Newly Released Prisoners, and for related expenses.

Baltimore City Health Department

$219,310 / 2000 / Health and Human Services
For support of ChildSightﾮ, a vision screening program for Baltimore City public middle school students for the 2000-2001 school year. The program, expanded to 41 schools, provides on-site refractive error eye examinations and eyeglasses to children who otherwise could not afford them.

Baltimore City Health Department

$258,400 / 2000 / Health and Human Services
For support of the continuation and evaluation of a comprehensive school-based pregnancy prevention program based on a case management model. Participants in the program are scheduled to meet regularly with case managers who determine appropriate activities, case by case, to meet the students’ individual needs.

Baltimore City Foundation

$50,000 / 2000 / Health and Human Services
In support of consultancies to undertake research to identify and develop core resources which will be critical to the Baltimore City administration’s workforce development initiative. The plan provides for linking workforce development and economic development efforts, evaluating how workforce funding has been accessed and used by federal, state and city agencies to benefit Baltimore citizens, and evaluating the effectiveness of the public and private workforce development provider network.

Alternative Directions, Inc.

$30,000 / 2000 / Health and Human Services
For salary, benefits, and related expenses of a staff person to assist 100 incarcerated fathers per month in filing for modifications of child support payments while serving time in Baltimore City jails and state prisons.

Header photo courtesy of Thread.