Abell Foundation Small 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.

These small grants are considered on a rolling basis.

Where we Focus
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The Abell Foundation supports organizations that are building a stronger Baltimore where all its residents can thrive. Baltimore is rich in talent and determination, but it also faces significant, interconnected challenges that stem from structural racism, poverty, and unequal access to opportunity and resources.

Our Approach

The Foundation’s grantmaking, research, and investments leverage our city’s tremendous assets while working to improve systems so that they are more just and promote the well-being and safety of all Baltimoreans. We support an intentionally diverse and wide-ranging set of strategies, projects, and organizations that strive to create more equitable opportunities.
Our grantmaking and research initiatives are rooted in seven core program areas that help us focus our work. We understand that our communities and the challenges they face are interconnected and some projects will not fit neatly into a single category. We encourage you to reach out to one of our program officers and start a conversation before applying.

The seven core program areas are:

• Health & Human Services
• Community Development
• Education
• Workforce Development
• Criminal Justice & Addiction
• Environment
• Arts

Learn more about the focus areas here.

Abell Foundation Small Grants

The Foundation awards small grants (of $10,000 or less). We typically award the following types of grants:

• Seed funding for start-ups, pilots, and research initiatives aimed at finding innovative solutions
• Support for ongoing projects that provide much-needed services and/or show evidence of strong outcomes
• Capital grants that support new construction, renovation, purchase of property, and/or capital equipment
• General operating support
• Outreach and advocacy efforts to develop, promote, and advance policies that address systemic challenges and/or create new opportunities

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Have 501c3 or 509a nonprofit tax status, or are a government agency or a fiscally sponsored project;
  • All applicants must submit a copy of their IRS determination letter, federal tax identification number (EIN), or proof of fiscal sponsorship
• Operate programs or projects that fall into one of Abell’s program areas; and
• Focus on Baltimore City.

Ineligibility

• The Abell Foundation can not provide grant funding to individuals or for-profit businesses. The Foundation also typically does not fund individual scholarships, fellowships, sponsorships, deficit financing, endowments, or travel.