The Abell Foundation is committed to improving health, economic, and educational outcomes in Baltimore City so that all people can thrive. We provide grants to nonprofit community partners, fund research to better inform civic conversation, and make catalytic investments in new businesses that offer significant social and economic benefits to the city.
A defining feature of The Abell Foundation Inc is its recurring support for Baltimore-based organizations working on education, workforce development, and criminal justice and addiction. The recent grant record shows long-running relationships rather than one-off awards: Center for Urban Families received $300,000 in 2023, $300,000 in 2024, and $300,000 in 2025, while Thread Inc appears multiple times as well, including $400,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs multi-year program work and renewals. The foundation also funds larger education grants for local institutions. Ingenuity Project Inc received $370,000 in 2023 and $370,000 in 2024, and Baltimore Curriculum Project Inc received $250,000 in 2025. In addition, Abell supports criminal justice and addiction work through grants such as $300,000 to the University of Maryland Baltimore in 2025 and $250,000 to Project Plase Inc in 2025. Alongside nonprofit grants, it makes direct investments in Baltimore companies that create jobs and social benefits for the city.
Education is one of the clearest strands in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $370,000 to Ingenuity Project Inc in 2024 for education and $250,000 to Baltimore Curriculum Project Inc in 2025 for education, while also supporting Kipp Baltimore Inc with $200,000 in 2024. Workforce development is another recurring priority. Center for Urban Families Inc received $300,000 in 2025 for workforce development, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake received $250,000 in 2024 for workforce development, and Civic Works Inc received $200,000 in 2024 for workforce development. The foundation also funds criminal justice and addiction work. Recent examples include $250,000 to Beloved Community Services Corporation in 2025 and $250,000 to Roca Inc in 2024. In health and human services, it gave $200,000 to St Francis Neighborhood Center in 2024 and $175,000 to Public Justice Center Inc in 2024.
Typical grant size centers on $17,500, with a lower quartile of $5,000 and an upper quartile of $50,000. The recent record also includes repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, which suggests ongoing support rather than isolated gifts. Abell is a regular funder with a grantmaking structure that includes small grants of $10,000 or less, larger regular grants reviewed at five annual board meetings, and direct investments for companies creating jobs in Baltimore. First-time small grant applicants attend an information session, and first-time larger applicants submit a letter of inquiry before a full application.
$12M
$296.4M
$13.4M
$18.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 89% of grants go to recipients in MD.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Maryland, with 89% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and Baltimore City serving as the center of activity. Recent recipient locations include Baltimore, as well as out-of-state grantees in Chelsea, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The country distribution is entirely domestic, with 1,196 grants to U.S. recipients.
The foundation supports nonprofit community partners working in health and human services, education, community development, workforce development, and criminal justice and addiction. It also makes direct investments in for-profit companies and startups that create jobs in Baltimore and provide social and economic benefits to the city.
Its giving is local and concentrated in Baltimore City and Maryland, with 89% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent record is mostly Baltimore-based, but it also includes recipients in Chelsea, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Requests greater than $10,000 are reviewed at one of five annual board meetings, and first-time applicants submit a letter of inquiry before a full application. Small grants of $10,000 or less are reviewed on a rolling basis, and first-time small grant applicants must attend an information session.
The typical grant size is $17,500. The grant-size distribution shows a first quartile of $5,000 and a third quartile of $50,000, which indicates that many awards are relatively modest even though the recent record also includes larger six-figure grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years in the recent grants list. Center for Urban Families Inc received $300,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Thread Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Abell Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit community partners with unique, non-recurring capital challenges. The board considers PRI requests five times per year.
Deadline: The board considers PRI requests five times per year; specific 2026 deadline schedule is referenced on the site but not fully visible in the scraped text.
Who can apply: Applicants must have 501c3 or 509a nonprofit tax status, be a government agency, or be a fiscally sponsored project; programs or projects must fall into one of Abell’s program areas and focus on Baltimore City. First-time applicants with requests greater than $10,000 should submit a short letter of inquiry prior to a full application.
Deadline: Reviewed at one of the Foundation’s five annual Board meetings.
Who can apply: Applicants must have 501(c)(3) or 509(a) nonprofit tax status, be a government agency, or be a fiscally sponsored project; programs or projects must fall into one of Abell's program areas and focus on Baltimore City. 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.
Deadline: Small grants: no deadline, rolling basis. Regular grants: reviewed at five annual Board meetings; applicants should submit a letter of inquiry first.
Who can apply: Must have 501c3/509a status (or be a government agency or fiscally sponsored project), operate programs in Abell's program areas, and focus on Baltimore City. First-time applicants must attend an information session before applying.
Deadline: No deadline; reviewed on a rolling basis.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $300,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| CENTER FOR URBAN FAMILIES INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $300,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| PROJECT PLASE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| INGENUITY PROJECT INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BALTIMORE CURRICULUM PROJECT INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BELOVED COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| THREAD INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $153,800 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| BALTIMORE'S PROMISE FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ROSE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| CONSCIOUS VENTURE LAB NOVELLA CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| ROSE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| UPSURGE BALTIMORE COMMUNITY INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| REBUILD METRO | BALTIMORE, MD | $135,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| TURNAROUND TUESDAY INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $125,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| MARYLAND NEW DIRECTIONS | BALTIMORE, MD | $120,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA-BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $110,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $104,212 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| WIDE ANGLE YOUTH MEDIA | BALTIMORE, MD | $101,650 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| VEHICLES FOR CHANGE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| BALTIMORE SQUASHWISE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| VEHICLES FOR CHANGE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| BALTIMORE EDUCATION RESEARCH CONSORTIUM | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE VENETOULIS INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL JOURNALISM | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| THE WORK FIRST FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| PROJECT PLASE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| BALTIMORE HARM REDUCTION COALITION | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| JANE ADDAMS RESOURCE CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| CIVIL JUSTICE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| ST AMBROSE HOUSING AID CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METROPOLITAN BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| FRIENDLY LOVING OPPORTUNITIES | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
| MARYLAND FOOD BANK | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| IMPROVING EDUCATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER OF MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $95,473 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $92,589 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $90,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $87,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $85,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE LOYOLA SCHOOL | BALTIMORE, MD | $83,333 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA CHESAPEAKE & CAROLINAS INC | LANHAM, MD | $80,779 | 2025 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION |
| IMENTOR BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $80,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| 29TH STREET COMMUNITY CENTER INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $80,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| MOVEABLE FEAST INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $80,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| CLIMATE ACCESS FUND CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $80,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| PUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| CIVIC WORKS INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| PUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| GROW HOME INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
$300,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
CENTER FOR URBAN FAMILIES INC
$300,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT PLASE INC
$250,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
INGENUITY PROJECT INC
$250,000EDUCATION
BALTIMORE CURRICULUM PROJECT INC
$250,000EDUCATION
BELOVED COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION
$250,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
THREAD INC
$200,000EDUCATION
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$153,800WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
$150,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BALTIMORE'S PROMISE FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
$150,000EDUCATION
ROSE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$150,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
CONSCIOUS VENTURE LAB NOVELLA CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP INC
$150,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ROSE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$150,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
UPSURGE BALTIMORE COMMUNITY INC
$150,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
REBUILD METRO
$135,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TURNAROUND TUESDAY INC
$125,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
MARYLAND NEW DIRECTIONS
$120,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
TEACH FOR AMERICA-BALTIMORE
$110,000EDUCATION
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$104,212HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WIDE ANGLE YOUTH MEDIA
$101,650EDUCATION
VEHICLES FOR CHANGE INC
$100,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
BALTIMORE SQUASHWISE INC
$100,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
VEHICLES FOR CHANGE INC
$100,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
BALTIMORE EDUCATION RESEARCH CONSORTIUM
$100,000EDUCATION
THE VENETOULIS INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL JOURNALISM
$100,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
THE WORK FIRST FOUNDATION
$100,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT PLASE INC
$100,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
BALTIMORE HARM REDUCTION COALITION
$100,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
JANE ADDAMS RESOURCE CORPORATION
$100,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
CIVIL JUSTICE INC
$100,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ST AMBROSE HOUSING AID CENTER
$100,000CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METROPOLITAN BALTIMORE
$100,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
FRIENDLY LOVING OPPORTUNITIES
$100,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
MARYLAND FOOD BANK
$100,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
IMPROVING EDUCATION
$100,000EDUCATION
PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER OF MARYLAND INC
$95,473COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
$92,589CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS INC
$90,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE
$87,500EDUCATION
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
$85,000EDUCATION
THE LOYOLA SCHOOL
$83,333EDUCATION
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA CHESAPEAKE & CAROLINAS INC
$80,779CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ADDICTION
IMENTOR BALTIMORE
$80,000EDUCATION
29TH STREET COMMUNITY CENTER INC
$80,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
MOVEABLE FEAST INC
$80,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CLIMATE ACCESS FUND CORPORATION
$80,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER INC
$75,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CIVIC WORKS INC
$75,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER INC
$75,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
GROW HOME INC
$75,000WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT