The Abell Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $11,835,023 (2024)
Success Rate: Data not publicly available
Decision Time: Within 1 week of board meeting (5 meetings annually)
Grant Range: $500 - $400,000
Geographic Focus: Baltimore City only

Contact Details

Website: https://abell.org/
Email: grants@abell.org
Phone: 410-547-1300
Address: Baltimore, MD

Pre-Application Support:
First-time applicants requesting more than $10,000 should email a letter of inquiry to grants@abell.org

Overview

The Abell Foundation was established in 1953 by Harry C. Black, chairman of the A.S. Abell Company (publisher of the Baltimore Sun). The Foundation experienced transformational growth in 1986 when the sale of the A.S. Abell Company increased its assets to over $112 million, making it more than twice as large as the next largest foundation in the state at that time. In 1987, Robert C. Embry, Jr. was appointed as the Foundation's first President, establishing its guiding mission: "to improve the quality of life in Baltimore." Today, with assets of approximately $335 million, the Abell Foundation is the largest private foundation serving only Maryland. Since 1953, it has distributed more than $339 million in grants and investments. The Foundation concentrates its grantmaking, research, and investments on strengthening Baltimore by addressing structural racism, poverty, and unequal resource access through three funding mechanisms: grants to nonprofits, research supporting solutions to Baltimore's complex challenges, and strategic investments in social enterprises.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants ($10,000 or less)

Reviewed on a rolling basis with no deadline
No letter of inquiry required
No need to speak with Foundation staff prior to application
Applications submitted through online portal

Regular Grants (Over $10,000)

$63,000 - $400,000 typical range
Reviewed at five annual Board meetings
First-time applicants must submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) before full application
LOI response within 7-10 days
Applications submitted through online portal

Program-Related Investments (PRIs)

Available for nonprofits seeking below-market-rate loans or equity investments
Submit letter of inquiry first; full application by invitation
Board reviews five times per year

Direct Investments

For-profit companies operating in or relocating to Baltimore City
Rolling basis consideration
Must align with Foundation's social mission

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds across seven core program areas:

Health & Human Services - Programs addressing vital community health needs
Education - Initiatives promoting equitable learning opportunities
Community Development - Projects strengthening neighborhoods and economic vitality
Workforce Development - Training and employment pathways
Criminal Justice & Addiction - Prevention, treatment, and justice reform efforts
Environment - Sustainability and environmental protection initiatives
Arts - Cultural programming and creative expression

Cross-Cutting Priority: Focus on addressing racial and economic inequities in Baltimore communities most affected by structural racism and disinvestment

Types of Support:

Seed funding for innovative pilots
Ongoing program support with strong outcomes
Capital projects (construction, renovation, equipment)
General operating support
Policy advocacy efforts

What They Don't Fund

Individuals or for-profit businesses (except through Direct Investment program)
Individual scholarships or fellowships
Sponsorships
Deficit financing
Endowments
Travel expenses
Programs or projects outside Baltimore City

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Robert C. Embry, Jr. - President (1987-2025)
Embry has served as President for 38 years, leading the Foundation's transformation into Maryland's largest private foundation focused solely on the state. Under his leadership, the Foundation has distributed more than $339 million. Regarding funding priorities, Embry stated: "The foundation's primary focus is on the poverty issues in the city, so that's what it devotes most of its money to, as well as education, job training, health programs, and housing." His vision has remained consistent: to dramatically reduce the income and health disparities that exist in the city.

Fagan Harris - Incoming President and CEO (Starting January 5, 2026)
Harris will become only the second president in Abell's history. A native Marylander, he previously served as chief of staff to Governor Wes Moore and co-founded Baltimore Corps, a nationally recognized social enterprise connecting Baltimore residents with career opportunities.

Christy Wyskiel - Chair, Board of Trustees

Senior Staff

Andrew A. Green - Vice President
Oversees grants administration and communications; leads the Foundation's research efforts

Timothy J. Lordan - Chief Financial Officer
Responsibility for finance and accounting operations

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Small Grants ($10,000 or less):

Submit application directly through online grant portal at abell.org
No letter of inquiry required
No deadline - reviewed on rolling basis
No need to contact staff before applying

For Regular Grants (Over $10,000):

First-time applicants: Email a short letter of inquiry to grants@abell.org addressed to Robert C. Embry, Jr., President
- Submit LOI at least two weeks before grant deadline
- Include: how your work fits into the broader ecosystem addressing the issue in Baltimore
- Expect response within 7-10 days
Returning applicants: No letter of inquiry required; proceed directly to full application
Submit full application through online portal before deadline
Board reviews applications at one of five annual board meetings
Note: Foundation reviews only one proposal per project within a calendar year

Application Portal: Available at abell.org

Board Meeting Schedule:
Five annual meetings (historically in January, March, May, August, and October; check website for current year dates)

Decision Timeline

Notification: Within 1 week of board meeting
If no response: Contact grants@abell.org if you haven't heard within one week of meeting date
Small grants: Faster turnaround on rolling basis

Success Rates

The Foundation awarded 236 grants in 2024 from its annual distribution of $11,835,023. In 2023, there were 395 awards totaling $14,482,045. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

One proposal per project per calendar year: If a grant proposal is not funded, you cannot resubmit the same project proposal within the same calendar year
Multiple different projects allowed: Organizations may submit multiple proposals if each is for a different project during the same calendar year
No LOI required for returning applicants: Organizations that have previously applied (whether successful or not) do not need to submit a letter of inquiry for future applications
For declined investment applicants: The Foundation typically does not accept repeat funding requests from declined for-profit companies within one calendar year, but welcomes periodic progress updates

Application Success Factors

The Abell Foundation evaluates all applications against ten specific review criteria. Understanding these criteria is essential for crafting a competitive application:

1. Equity Focus (Primary Criterion)
The Foundation gives weighted consideration to requests that "focus on addressing racial and economic inequities in Baltimore communities most affected by structural racism and disinvestment." Applications should explicitly demonstrate how the proposed work advances racial and economic equity.

2. Demonstrated Need with Clear Goals
Articulate a well-documented community need and establish well-defined, measurable objectives. Vague goals will weaken your application.

3. Innovation and Creative Approaches
The Foundation describes itself as "risk takers and open to new ideas," supporting pilot projects and creative initiatives. They seek "innovative approaches to persistent challenges" - show how your approach differs from or improves upon existing efforts.

4. Measurable Results
"Ability to demonstrate impact through measurable results" is critical. Include specific metrics, evaluation plans, and how you'll track progress.

5. Knowledge Building Capacity
Show how your work will advance field expertise or contribute learning that benefits the broader sector.

6. Community Voice and Involvement
Provide evidence of community involvement in both design and delivery of your program. Community-driven work is prioritized.

7. Landscape Understanding
In your LOI and application, "include how your work fits into the broader ecosystem of what is being done to address this issue in Baltimore." The Foundation wants to see you understand your role within the larger network of organizations addressing similar challenges.

8. Meaningful Partnership and Collaboration
"Demonstration of meaningful partnership and collaboration with other organizations" is a distinct criterion. Describe concrete collaborative relationships, not just networking.

9. Organizational Capacity
Show you have the staff, systems, and resources to achieve your stated goals. This includes management capacity and infrastructure.

10. Financial Strength and Sustainability
Demonstrate financial stability and your ability to secure additional funding beyond the Abell grant. The Foundation wants to see their investment is part of a sustainable financial picture.

Recent Funding Examples Show Priorities:

Baltimore Chess Outreach: Afterschool chess program for nearly 1,900 K-12 students in over 50 City Schools
4MyCity: Food rescue, redistribution, and composting efforts
Digital Harbor High School: Driver's education and behind-the-wheel training for 75 students
CASH Campaign of Maryland: Operating eight free tax preparation sites serving 8,500 low-income individuals with EITC access

Strategic Allocation Note:
The Foundation allocates approximately 25% of its resources to strategic investments in start-ups and local companies to improve job creation and economic benefits for Baltimore.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Baltimore City focus is absolute: Your work must be centered in Baltimore City. Geographic restrictions are strictly enforced, and work serving other areas will not be funded.
Lead with equity: Applications that explicitly address racial and economic inequities in communities most affected by structural racism receive weighted consideration. This should be front and center in your narrative.
Know your ecosystem: First-time applicants must demonstrate understanding of how their work fits into the broader landscape of efforts addressing similar issues in Baltimore. Research other initiatives and articulate your unique contribution.
Innovation is valued over replication: The Foundation positions itself as willing to take risks on creative pilots and novel approaches. Don't be afraid to propose something new if you can make a strong case for it.
Be relationship-focused for larger grants: First-time applicants seeking over $10,000 go through a two-stage process (LOI then full application), allowing Foundation staff to engage before you invest time in a full proposal. Use the LOI to start a dialogue.
Returning applicants have streamlined access: Organizations that have applied before skip the LOI requirement, making reapplication more efficient regardless of previous outcomes.
Multiple proposals allowed for different projects: If you have several distinct initiatives that align with Foundation priorities, you can submit multiple applications in the same year, as long as each is for a different project.

References

Accessed: December 22, 2025