The Abell Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 52-6036106 · since 1955abell.org·Baltimore·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$13.4M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$625 to $90,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$20,000

Typical grant (median)

391 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Abell Foundation funds work in Baltimore City, so this is the first thing to check against your own location.
Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $625 and $90,000, and half of all grants across the recent filings were $20,000 or less, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant made was $400,000.
For requests over $10,000, first-time applicants should submit a short letter of inquiry describing the project and budget, and if there is interest the Foundation will invite a full application for one of the five annual Board review dates; smaller grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no deadline.
A high share, 76%, of grant dollars went to organisations also funded in the two previous filings, suggesting an element of ongoing relationship with grantees is common, though this need not discourage a new applicant from approaching.
The Foundation does not fund individuals, for-profit businesses, individual scholarships, fellowships, sponsorships, one-time events, deficit financing, endowments or travel, so organisations or projects falling into these categories should not apply.

Overview

The Abell Foundation is a US private foundation based in Baltimore, MD.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Abell Foundation is committed to improving health, economic and educational outcomes in Baltimore City so that all people can thrive. It awards grants to nonprofit community partners working to improve quality of life, providing seed funding for innovative pilots, support for ongoing community programmes and services, and funding for capital projects. Its programmes of interest include health and human services, community development, education, workforce development, criminal justice and addiction, environment, and arts. The Foundation focuses on Baltimore City and supports initiatives addressing racial and economic inequities in communities most affected by structural racism and disinvestment.

Themes

Health and human services
Community development
Education
Workforce development
Criminal justice and addiction
Environment
Arts

Geographic Focus

Baltimore City.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals or for-profit businesses
Individual scholarships
Fellowships
Sponsorships
One-time events
Deficit financing
Endowments
Travel

How to apply

First-time applicants seeking more than $10,000 submit a short letter of inquiry describing the project and proposed budget; if the Foundation is interested, it invites a full application for the next submission deadline.

Deadlines:

Small grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and have no deadline.
The Board reviews regular grant requests five times each year.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 76% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,196 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Foundation focuses on racial and economic inequities in Baltimore communities most affected by structural racism and disinvestment.
The Foundation looks for demonstrated need and clearly defined goals and objectives.
The Foundation favours innovative approaches to persistent challenges.
Applicants should demonstrate impact through measurable results.
The Foundation considers an initiative’s potential to advance knowledge in its field.
The Foundation looks for evidence of community involvement in programme design and delivery.
Applicants should show how an initiative fits into the broader landscape.
The Foundation values meaningful partnership and collaboration with other organisations.
Applicants should show the organisation has capacity to achieve its expected goals.
First-time small grant applicants must attend an information session to confirm fit with the Foundation’s eligibility criteria and funding priorities.
An Abell staff member may ask follow-up questions or request a site visit after receiving a proposal.
Grant recipients are asked to report project outcomes and account for funds expended.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Maryland88%

District of Columbia5%

New York4%

Massachusetts1%

Pennsylvania1%

California<1%

6 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 2% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to organisations The Abell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
<1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

391 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 391 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k14%

$1k–$2.5k2%

$2.5k–$5k5%

$5k–$10k6%

$10k–$25k24%

$25k–$50k23%

$50k–$100k17%

$100k–$250k7%

$250k–$500k2%

Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

University of Maryland Baltimore · Criminal justice and addiction
$300,0002024 tax year
Center for Urban Families · Workforce development
$300,0002024 tax year
Ingenuity Project · Education
$250,0002024 tax year
Baltimore Curriculum Project · Education
$250,0002024 tax year
Beloved Community Services Corporation · Criminal justice and addiction
$250,0002024 tax year
Project PLASE · Criminal justice and addiction
$250,0002024 tax year
Thread · Education
$200,0002024 tax year
Southeast Community Development Corporation · Workforce development
$153,8002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Eileen M O'Rourke — Director Impact Investing
Timothy J Lordan — CFO
Andrew A Green — Vice President
Esthel Summerfield — Secretary
Robert C Embry Jr — President
Frances M Keenan — Senior Vice President
Christy Wyskiel — Trustee
Mary Page Michel — Trustee
Jacqueline Hrabowski — Trustee
David Bramble — Trustee
Kevin Abell — Trustee
George L Bunting Jr — Chairman

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$19,032,460	$13,327,966	$318,088,603	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$22,243,302	$14,482,045	$334,676,808	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$18,185,484	$13,360,002	$296,434,535	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.