The Abell Foundation Inc
The Abell Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. It supports nonprofit community partners working to improve quality of life in Baltimore City, and also funds research on challenges facing Baltimore and Maryland and makes catalytic investments in businesses with social and economic benefits for Baltimore City.
The Abell Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Abell Foundation Inc gave $13.4M across 391 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), mostly in Maryland. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,360,002
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 391
- -6.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,169
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $296,434,535
- -11.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (86 of 308, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Abell Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications from eligible organizations through its grant processes. Requests of $10,000 or less are reviewed on a rolling basis. First-time small-grant applicants must attend an information session before applying. Requests above $10,000 are reviewed at one of five annual Board meetings; first-time applicants should submit a short letter of inquiry first. Applicants must provide a copy of their IRS determination letter, federal tax identification number, or proof of fiscal sponsorship. The foundation does not fund individuals or for-profit businesses and typically does not fund individual scholarships, fellowships, sponsorships, one-time events, deficit financing, endowments, or travel.
- Review Cycle
- Small grants have no application deadline and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Regular requests are considered at five annual Board meetings.
- Deadline
- Small grants have no application deadline and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert C Embry Jr President The Abe
Mailing address: 111 South Calvert Street Suite 2300, Baltimore, MD 21202-6174
Phone: (410) 547-1300
Email: abell@abell.org
Website: https://abell.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Abell Foundation Inc
Abell Foundation Small Grants
The Abell Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Community Development Grants- Regular Grants (greater than $10,000)
The Abell Foundation Inc
Amount
More than $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Community Development Grants- Small Grants
The Abell Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Abell Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Maryland Baltimore ($463K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,967 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,450 grants of 1,967 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its focus as exclusively Baltimore City. Its website says it supports organizations serving the city, and its 2024 filing shows that 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 3% to the District of Columbia, 2% to New York, and 1% each to Pennsylvania and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 391 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Abell Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 86 of 308 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $27K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $12.6M (2020) to $16.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 391 grants totaling $13.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Urban Families Inc Baltimore, MD | Workforce Development | $300,000 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Criminal Justice and Addiction | $300,000 |
| Baltimore Curriculum Project Inc Baltimore, MD | Education | $250,000 |
| Beloved Community Services Corporation Baltimore, MD | Criminal Justice and Addiction | $250,000 |
| Ingenuity Project Inc Baltimore, MD | Education | $250,000 |
| Project Plase Inc Baltimore, MD | Criminal Justice and Addiction | $250,000 |
| Thread Inc Baltimore, MD | Education | $200,000 |
| Southeast Community Development Corporation Baltimore, MD | Workforce Development | $153,800 |
| Baltimore's Promise Fund for Educational Excellence Baltimore, MD | Education | $150,000 |
| Conscious Venture Lab Novella Center for Entrepreneurship Inc Baltimore, MD | Community Development | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $296,434,535 | $13,445,692 | $18,185,484 | $13,360,002 | 391 | $17,560,027 | $15,443,621 | $15,793,309 |
| 2023 | $334,676,808 | $19,375,292 | $22,243,302 | $14,482,045 | 418 | $19,351,203 | $16,221,893 | $16,299,188 |
| 2022 | $318,088,603 | $31,876,320 | $19,032,460 | $13,327,966 | 387 | $16,960,399 | $33,925,302 | $16,254,961 |
| 2021 | $398,354,670 | $42,510,470 | $19,445,594 | $16,144,808 | 401 | $19,848,064 | $44,717,450 | $18,787,072 |
| 2020 | $373,006,997 | $3,748,795 | $18,595,313 | $12,646,646 | 370 | — | $5,560,768 | $16,271,206 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Abell Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $15.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its work as supporting a stronger Baltimore where all residents can thrive. Its seven program areas are Health & Human Services, Education, Community Development, Workforce Development, Criminal Justice & Addiction, Environment, and Arts. Funding may support seed projects, ongoing programs and services, capital projects, research, general operating costs, and advocacy.
The foundation supports eligible nonprofits, government agencies, and fiscally sponsored projects serving Baltimore City. Examples of grantees’ work include the Center for Urban Families’ efforts to help fathers and families achieve stability and economic success; Project PLASE’s housing and supportive services for homeless adults and families; and the Ingenuity Project’s work to prepare Baltimore City public-school students for STEM leadership. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 391 grants totaling $13,360,002. Grant amounts ranged from $188 to $300,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest reported awards included $300,000 each to the Center for Urban Families and the University of Maryland Baltimore, and $250,000 each to Baltimore Curriculum Project, Beloved Community Services Corporation, the Ingenuity Project, and Project PLASE. The stated purposes included workforce development, criminal justice and addiction, and education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include George L. Bunting Jr., chairman; Robert C. Embry Jr., president; Frances M. Keenan, senior vice president; Andrew A. Green, vice president; and Esthel Summerfield, secretary. Trustees listed are Kevin Abell, David Bramble, Jacqueline Hrabowski, Mary Page Michel, and Christy Wyskiel.
The Abell Foundation Inc is led by Robert C. Embry Jr., President on every filing since 2020; 6 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert C. Embry Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$313K (2020) → $303K (2024)
George L. Bunting Jr.
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eileen M. O'Rourke
Director Impact Investing
CFO → Director of Impact Investing, 2022
Director of Impact Investing → Director Impact Investing, 2024
On filings since 2020
22.5 hrs/week
$275K (2020) → $205K (2024)
Jacqueline Hrabowski
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Abell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Page Michel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Bramble
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christy Wyskiel
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Esthel M. Summerfield
Secretary
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $116K (2024)
Frances M. Keenan
Senior Vice President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$216K (2020) → $154K (2024)
Andrew A. Green
Vice President
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$273K (2023) → $284K (2024)
Timothy J. Lordan
CFO
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$248K (2023) → $262K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Christie Wyskiel (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Stephon Jackson (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $303K, to Robert C Embry Jr (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Abell Foundation Inc
How much does The Abell Foundation Inc give each year?
The Abell Foundation Inc gave $13.4M across 391 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.5M across 418 grants.
What is The Abell Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Abell Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $34,169, across 391 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Abell Foundation Inc that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Abell Foundation Inc give grants?
The Abell Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (309 grants), Washington, DC (14 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and Towson, MD (4 grants).
Does The Abell Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 391 grants with a stated purpose on The Abell Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health and Human Services" (88 grants), "Matching Gifts-Programming" (82 grants) and "Education" (73 grants).
Who are The Abell Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Abell Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include University of Maryland Baltimore ($462,589 across 4 grants), Project Plase Inc ($350,000 across 2 grants) and Center for Urban Families Inc ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Abell Foundation Inc?
The Abell Foundation Inc reported $296.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Abell Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its work as supporting a stronger Baltimore where all residents can thrive. Its seven program areas are Health & Human Services, Education, Community Development, Workforce Development, Criminal Justice & Addiction, Environment, and Arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Abell Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts applications from eligible organizations through its grant processes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Abell Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Abell Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6036106. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Abell Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-abell-foundation-inc-morg_3ae4fd2ec38943b9b6b0360ddfb8dacd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_526036106_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Abell Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-abell-foundation-inc-morg_3ae4fd2ec38943b9b6b0360ddfb8dacd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Abell Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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