William S Abell Foundation Inc
The William S. Abell Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Established in 1985 by William S. Abell and Patricia O’Callaghan Abell, it supports qualified organizations serving people in need, with a primary geographic focus on Washington, D.C., and nearby Maryland counties.
William S Abell Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: William S Abell Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 81 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), top state District of Columbia. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,762,500
- -12.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 81
- -17.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,105
- +5.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $77,718,218
- +5.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (7 of 81, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (47% 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 William S Abell Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligible applicants are invited by foundation staff to submit a proposal. The board approves grants case by case after reviewing information submitted by applicants.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation’s 2024 filing describes a two-cycle-per-year funding program but gives no specific deadlines.
- Deadline
- The foundation’s 2024 filing describes a two-cycle-per-year funding program but gives no specific deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Janet Miller Executive Director
Mailing address: 2 Wisconsin Circle Suite 700, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7033
Phone: (240) 835-1831
Website: https://williamsabellfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William S Abell Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jubilee Association of Maryland ($225K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
449 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 384 grants of 449 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports organizations serving clients in Washington, D.C., and Maryland’s Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties. Its 2024 grant dollars were reported as 47% to recipients in D.C., 42% in Maryland, 9% in Virginia, 2% in New York, and less than 1% in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.
Cities
Is William S Abell Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 81 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 17% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $2.6M (2021) to $3.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 81 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jubilee Association of Maryland Kensington, MD | Intellectual Disabilities Grant | $225,000 |
| Pathway Homes Inc Fairfax, VA | Homeless Grant & Homelessness Grant | $150,000 |
| Capital Area Food Bank Washington, DC | Hungry Grant | $125,000 |
| Mamatoto Village Inc Washington, DC | Needy Pregnant Women Grant | $100,000 |
| A Wider Circle Inc Silver Spring, MD | Homeless Grant & Homelessness Grant | $75,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Inc Washington, DC | Hungry Grant & Homeless Grant | $75,000 |
| Potomac Community Resources Inc Potomac, MD | Intellectual Disabilities Grant | $75,000 |
| Social Good Fund Washington, DC | Homeless Grant | $75,000 |
| Help Development Corp New York, NY | Homelessness Grant | $60,000 |
| Changing Perceptions Washington, DC | Homelessness Grant | $50,000 |
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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 | $77,718,218 | $1,566,980 | $3,558,674 | $2,762,500 | 81 | $3,294,584 | $1,291,591 | $3,792,662 |
| 2023 | $73,635,586 | $1,716,350 | $4,137,748 | $3,154,880 | 98 | $3,650,954 | $482,608 | $3,525,137 |
| 2022 | $68,673,025 | $2,936,462 | $4,383,476 | $3,300,475 | 107 | $3,893,746 | $2,581,495 | $3,465,574 |
| 2021 | $83,166,986 | $7,416,962 | $3,651,560 | $2,606,244 | 80 | $3,120,622 | $6,875,274 | $3,462,191 |
| 2020 | $70,313,696 | $617,953 | $3,978,757 | $2,771,044 | 83 | — | $125,109 | $3,052,373 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William S Abell Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.8M 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 says it seeks to fund projects with demonstrable community impact. Its website describes goals that include addressing the root causes of food insecurity; helping people exit homelessness permanently; supporting domestic-violence survivors and children affected by maltreatment; assisting women during and after pregnancy; and improving quality of life and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. For intellectual-disability grants, the foundation specifies that it funds programs for people with intellectual disabilities, not people with other developmental disabilities.
The foundation’s website says its Margaret Abell Powell Fund supports performance and training in classical ballet and traditional theater in the Washington, D.C., area. The foundation was expanded by a bequest from Margaret Abell Powell, part of which was used to establish this fund.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantee work. Capital Area Food Bank describes its mission as improving equitable access to food and opportunity through community partnerships. Mamatoto Village says it serves Black women through maternal-health career pathways and perinatal support. Pathway Homes says it provides long-term housing, supportive services, and supervision to adults with serious mental illness. A Wider Circle describes work to advance equity in the greater Washington, D.C., region through neighbor-to-neighbor exchange and advocacy addressing poverty.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 81 grants totaling $2,762,500. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $225,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $225,000 to Jubilee Association of Maryland for intellectual disabilities; $150,000 to Pathway Homes for homelessness; $125,000 to Capital Area Food Bank for hunger; and $100,000 to Mamatoto Village for at-risk pregnant women. Other notable awards included $75,000 each to A Wider Circle, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Potomac Community Resources, and Social Good Fund.
The foundation awards grants to IRS-qualified tax-exempt organizations and does not make grants to individuals. Its website says it does not consider consecutive-year requests and excludes organizations that perform, sponsor, or promote abortion. It also lists tax-status requirements for applicant organizations and says eligible organizations must serve clients in Washington, D.C., or specified Maryland counties.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christina Castle as president; Eleanor Nurmi as vice president; Janet R. Miller as executive director; and Aryn Castle, Cindy Work Abell, Cleo Schneider, Elizabeth Sites, Greg Abell, Jamison Sites, and Jennifer Shoop as trustees.
William S Abell Foundation Inc is led by Janet R. Miller, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 16 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Janet R. Miller
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$189K (2020) → $215K (2024)
Christina Castle
President
Trustee & Vice President → Trustee & President, 2021
Trustee & President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelley Abell
Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Chair, 2021
Trustee & Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aryn Castle
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Work Abell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Sites
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Abell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamison Sites
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Ganjamie
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin O'C Abell
Trustee
Trustee & Treasurer → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
May Kathryn Nolan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cleo Schneider
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Shoop
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Landon Shoop
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eleanor Nurmi
Vice President
Trustee → Trustee & Vice President, 2021
Trustee & Vice President → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Nolan
Treasurer
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2021
Trustee & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Alicia M. Abell (2020) — Trustee & Chair
- Former: Elaine Nurmi (2020) — Trustee & President
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 $215K, to Janet R Miller (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about William S Abell Foundation Inc
How much does William S Abell Foundation Inc give each year?
William S Abell Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 81 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 98 grants.
What is William S Abell Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
William S Abell Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $34,105, across 81 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William S Abell Foundation Inc that year got $11K on average.
Where does William S Abell Foundation Inc give grants?
William S Abell Foundation Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (42%) and Virginia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (38 grants), Rockville, MD (7 grants), Silver Spring, MD (4 grants) and Bethesda, MD (4 grants).
Does William S Abell Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 81 grants with a stated purpose on William S Abell Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Homeless Grant" (18 grants), "Hungry Grant" (15 grants) and "Intellectual Disabilities Grant" (11 grants).
Who are William S Abell Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
William S Abell Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Jubilee Association of Maryland ($225,000), Pathway Homes Inc ($150,000) and Capital Area Food Bank ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William S Abell Foundation Inc?
William S Abell Foundation Inc reported $77.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does William S Abell Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it seeks to fund projects with demonstrable community impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William S Abell Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William S Abell Foundation Inc's EIN?
William S Abell Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1435573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does William S Abell Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William S Abell Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-s-abell-foundation-inc-morg_6946893d457e43bcbbabaf1b14fb9932
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521435573_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William S Abell Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-s-abell-foundation-inc-morg_6946893d457e43bcbbabaf1b14fb9932},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 William S 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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