FundersMaryland

The Abell Foundation Inc

Baltimore, MD · EIN 52-6036106. Reported 1,597 grants totalling $57.3M to 657 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$20,000median grant
$57.3Mgranted, 2021-2024
657organizations funded
54%of grantees funded again the next year
$296.4Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Abell Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $20,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $63 and the largest $400,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
235 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
126 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
143 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
319 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
340 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
276 grants
$100,000 and Up
158 grants

Every organization it funded

All 657 recipients appear in its filings; the 250 largest are listed here. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which this organization received money -- the clearest signal of who this foundation actually has a relationship with.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Civic Works IncBaltimore, MD$1,392,9542242024
Ingenuity Project IncBaltimore, MD$1,365,000442024
Center for Urban Families IncBaltimore, MD$1,220,000642024
Baltimore's Promise Fund for Educational ExcellenceBaltimore, MD$1,218,350942024
Thread IncBaltimore, MD$1,102,500542024
Healthy Neighborhoods IncBaltimore, MD$812,4751242024
Public Justice Center IncBaltimore, MD$788,1251242024
The Work First FoundationNew York, NY$765,000742024
Baltimore CorpsBaltimore, MD$673,7001242024
University of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$627,589822024
Vehicles for Change IncBaltimore, MD$620,000742024
Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of EngineeringBaltimore, MD$600,000442024
Rose Street Community Center Southeast Community Development CorporationBaltimore, MD$600,000422024
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD$593,8341042024
Rose Street Community CenterBaltimore, MD$569,839522022
Southeast Community Development CorporationBaltimore, MD$566,8761842024
Homeless Persons Representation Project IncBaltimore, MD$560,0091142024
Venture for AmericaNew York, NY$555,000332023
Roca IncChelsea, MA$520,000322023
Maryland New DirectionsBaltimore, MD$480,000442024
Rebuild MetroBaltimore, MD$475,000542024
Teach for America BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$460,000442024
Banner Neighborhoods Community CorporationBaltimore, MD$458,5001942024
St Vincent De Paul of Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$454,1442142024
Cash Campaign of MarylandBaltimore, MD$452,0001142024
Civil Justice IncBaltimore, MD$444,894642024
Living Classrooms FoundationBaltimore, MD$425,326222022
Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland IncBaltimore, MD$407,358542024
University of Maryland Baltimore FoundationBaltimore, MD$400,000722022
DC WitnessWashington, DC$375,000322022
Turnaround Tuesday IncBaltimore, MD$375,000332024
Project Plase IncBaltimore, MD$358,500322024
Patterson Park Public Charter School IncBaltimore, MD$350,000222023
Npower IncBrooklyn, NY$337,500542024
Hippodrome Foundation IncBaltimore, MD$333,333112021
Job Opportunities Task ForceBaltimore, MD$325,750532024
Springboard CollaborativePhiladelphia, PA$312,500332024
St Francis Neighborhood CenterBaltimore, MD$310,000322023
An End to Ignorance IncBaltimore, MD$300,000642024
Conscious Venture Lab Novella Center for Entrepreneurship IncBaltimore, MD$300,000222024
Improving EducationBaltimore, MD$300,000642024
Jane Addams Resource CorporationBaltimore, MD$300,000332024
Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition IncBaltimore, MD$274,125722022
Emerging Technology Centers IncBaltimore, MD$270,000222022
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers ServiceBaltimore, MD$262,500842024
Y of Central MarylandTowson, MD$262,500432024
Franciscan Center IncBaltimore, MD$261,3251942024
National Center on Institutions and AlternativesBaltimore, MD$260,000442024
Moveable Feast IncBaltimore, MD$258,7501042024
University of Baltimore FoundationBaltimore, MD$252,1821142024
Baltimore Curriculum Project IncBaltimore, MD$250,000112024
Beloved Community Services CorporationBaltimore, MD$250,000112024
Goodwill Industries of the ChesapeakeBaltimore, MD$250,000112023
Johns Hopkins University Vision to LearnBaltimore, MD$250,000112021
Jews United for JusticeBaltimore, MD$247,500742024
Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition IncBaltimore, MD$245,000732024
Baltimore Kids Chess League IncCockeysville, MD$242,500842024
Biotechnical Institute of Maryland IncBaltimore, MD$240,000442024
Health Care for the HomelessBaltimore, MD$238,1881242024
Chesapeake Climate Action NetworkTakoma Park, MD$236,250742024
Success for AllBaltimore, MD$225,000112021
Urban TeachersBaltimore, MD$225,000432023
Baltimore Tree TrustBaltimore, MD$222,500742024
Baltimore Brew Fusion Partnerships IncBaltimore, MD$220,000332023
Heritage Crossing Residents Associationturning Point (fusion Partnerships)Baltimore, MD$218,400112021
St Ambrose Housing Aid CenterBaltimore, MD$212,250742024
Umbc FoundationAdelphi, MD$205,000642024
Wide Angle Youth MediaBaltimore, MD$204,050332024
Helping Up Mission IncBaltimore, MD$201,500432024
Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$200,250542024
Baltimore Education Research ConsortiumBaltimore, MD$200,000222024
Baltimore Harm Reduction CoalitionBaltimore, MD$200,000222024
Baltimore Police Departmentmayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety & EngagemeBaltimore, MD$200,000222023
Byte BackWashington, DC$200,000332023
Fund for Educational ExcellenceBaltimore, MD$200,000542024
Greenlight FundBoston, MA$200,000442024
KIPP Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$200,000112023
Soccer Without Borders BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$200,000432024
The CompoundBaltimore, MD$200,000112021
Farm Alliance of Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$195,000442024
4MYCITY IncTaneytown, MD$190,000642024
No Struggle No Success IncBaltimore, MD$190,000532023
Maryland Food BankBaltimore, MD$188,125832024
Grow Home IncBaltimore, MD$185,000542024
Tahirih Justice CenterFalls Church, VA$180,000442024
Environmental Integrity ProjectWashington, DC$175,000642024
The No Boundaries CoalitionBaltimore, MD$172,4501042024
Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and EngagementBaltimore, MD$170,938222024
Humanim IncBaltimore, MD$170,000112021
The Loyola SchoolBaltimore, MD$166,667222024
Baltimore City Mayor's Office Baltimore Civic FundBaltimore, MD$163,000222022
Modern Classrooms ProjectWashington, DC$162,500432024
Blue Water Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$161,500632024
Climate Access Fund CorporationBaltimore, MD$160,000332024
Drink at the Well - Hon's Honey Social EnterpriseCurtis Bay, MD$160,000742024
Imentor BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$160,000222024
New Vision House of Hope IncBaltimore, MD$160,000212023
Marian House IncBaltimore, MD$158,750842024
Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipBaltimore, MD$156,500332024
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimore, MD$156,003322023
BetamoreBaltimore, MD$155,000432024
The Maryland Book Bank IncBaltimore, MD$155,000332024
Downtown Partnership of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$153,300542024
American WitnessWashington, DC$150,000112022
Baltimore Child Abuse Center Inc Center for HopeBaltimore, MD$150,000222022
Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition Fusion Partnerships IncBaltimore, MD$150,000222022
Center for HopeBaltimore, MD$150,000222024
Chesapeake Bay FoundationAnnapolis, MD$150,000222022
Equal Justice WorksWashington, DC$150,000112022
Govans Ecumenical Development CorporationBaltimore, MD$150,000542024
Kids in Need of DefenseWashington, DC$150,000332024
Latino Economic Development CenterWashington, DC$150,000442024
Manna House Inc (mhi)Baltimore, MD$150,000112021
Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative Education Fund Inc Dba Health Care forBaltimore, MD$150,000222023
Medstar Good Samaritan HospitalBaltimore, MD$150,000222023
National Institute for Criminal Justice ReformBerkeley, CA$150,000112023
Prepare IncGaithersburg, MD$150,000222024
Rose Street Community Center Southeast CdcBaltimore, MD$150,000112022
The Literacy LabWashington, DC$150,000422023
Upsurge Baltimore Community IncBaltimore, MD$150,000112024
Environmental Defense FundNew York, NY$147,500532023
Turnaround IncTowson, MD$143,006422022
The Samaritan CommunityBaltimore, MD$141,1411442024
Building Steps IncBrooklandville, MD$140,546842024
Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare IncBaltimore, MD$140,121332024
Friendly Loving OpportunitiesBaltimore, MD$140,000332024
Turning Point Foundation IncBowie, MD$139,980112021
Baltimore Underground Science SpaceBaltimore, MD$137,000112021
University System of Maryland FoundationAdelphi, MD$136,400222022
Medstar Harbor HospitalBaltimore, MD$135,224222024
Central Baltimore Partnership IncBaltimore, MD$135,000212023
Asylee Women Enterprise IncBaltimore, MD$132,349542024
Baltimore Development CorporationBaltimore, MD$130,000422022
Food & Water WatchWashington, DC$130,000542024
Collegebound Foundation IncBaltimore, MD$125,7501142024
Human Rights for KidsWashington, DC$125,000642024
Maryland Dental Action Coalition IncColumbia, MD$125,000332024
Tuerk House IncBaltimore, MD$125,000112023
Turnaround Tuesday IncbuildBaltimore, MD$125,000112021
University of Maryland Medical System FoundationBaltimore, MD$125,000112021
Arts for Learning MarylandBaltimore, MD$120,000432024
Maryland Hunger Solutions An Initiative of Food Research & Action CenterWashington, DC$120,000332024
Rails-to-Trails ConservancyWashington, DC$120,000222024
Innovation Works IncBaltimore, MD$118,750442024
Baltimore Green SpaceBaltimore, MD$112,750432024
Lydia's House in SoutheastBaltimore, MD$112,500222024
Baltimore Civic Fund IncBaltimore, MD$111,400412021
The Venetoulis Institute for Local JournalismBaltimore, MD$110,000212024
Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Maryland Philanthropy NetworkBaltimore, MD$105,000112022
The Baltimore Community FoundationBaltimore, MD$105,000212021
CASA De Maryland IncHyattsville, MD$104,487522023
STEM Champions of Baltimore Inc Fund for Educational ExcellenceBaltimore, MD$102,500532024
The Community SchoolBaltimore, MD$102,500842024
Liberty Grace Church of GodBaltimore, MD$102,400222023
Paul's Place IncBaltimore, MD$101,500532024
Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative Education Fund IncBaltimore, MD$100,625322022
The Sos Fund Parity Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$100,250442024
Charm City Care ConnectionBaltimore, MD$100,125322022
Prepare Prepare for Parole and Reentry Fusion Partnerships IncBaltimore, MD$100,100112021
Associated Catholic Charities IncBaltimore, MD$100,000212023
Baltimore City Competitive Robotics Program Fund for Educational ExcellencBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
Baltimore Medical System IncBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
Baltimore Robotics League Fund for Educational ExcellenceBaltimore, MD$100,000112022
Baltimore Squashwise IncBaltimore, MD$100,000112024
Behavioral Health Leadership Institute IncBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$100,000112024
Cornerstone Community Housing Inc Formerly United Ministries IncBaltimore, MD$100,000222022
Fuel Fund of MarylandBaltimore, MD$100,000442024
HeartsmilesBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
Higher Achievement BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$100,000332024
Jane Addams Resource CorporationChicago, IL$100,000112021
Leveling the Playing Field IncBaltimore, MD$100,000442024
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee ServiceBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD$100,000432023
Memorial Episcopal ChurchBaltimore, MD$100,000112021
National Aquarium IncBaltimore, MD$100,000112021
Next One Up Foundation IncBaltimore, MD$100,000112023
Roland Park Community FoundationBaltimore, MD$100,000442024
Saint Agnes FoundationBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
Special Education Policy and Advocacy Project Fund for Educational ExcelleBaltimore, MD$100,000222024
The Justice Policy InstituteWashington, DC$100,000432024
We Rise a Non-Profit CorporationBaltimore, MD$100,000222023
BuildBaltimore, MD$97,500222024
B-360 STEM Education Program Fusion Partnerships IncBaltimore, MD$95,000322022
Maryland Community Health Initiatives Inc Dba Penn NorthBaltimore, MD$93,000112023
Code in the SchoolsBaltimore, MD$90,000332024
Pro Bono Counseling ProjectBaltimore, MD$90,000332024
Uempower of MarylandSeverna Park, MD$90,000322024
Maryland Philanthropy NetworkBaltimore, MD$88,530642024
Intersection of ChangeBaltimore, MD$88,125532024
Baltimore Community ToolbankBaltimore, MD$87,500442024
Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition Maryland Philanthropy NetworkBaltimore, MD$87,500222024
Parks & People FoundationBaltimore, MD$87,500542024
Sharebaby IncBaltimore, MD$86,938642024
Chesapeake Legal AllianceAnnapolis, MD$85,000222023
Johns Hopkins University School of EducationBaltimore, MD$85,000112024
Neighborhood Trust Financial PartnersNew York, NY$85,000222024
The Urban Alliance Foundation IncBaltimore, MD$85,000222024
Intercultural Counseling Connection Fusion Partnerships IncBaltimore, MD$82,625432024
Identity Access ProjectBaltimore, MD$81,685332024
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas IncLanham, MD$80,779112024
Baltimore Community Lending IncBaltimore, MD$80,625222022
29TH Street Community Center IncBaltimore, MD$80,000112024
Baltimore Police DepartmentBaltimore, MD$80,000112021
Maryland Pirg FoundationBaltimore, MD$80,000332024
So What Else IncRockville, MD$80,000432024
The Annie E Casey Foundation (balt Community Foundation)Baltimore, MD$80,000112022
Baltimore City Health DepartmentBaltimore, MD$78,050112021
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (rales Health Center)Baltimore, MD$75,000222023
Project Jumpstart IncBaltimore, MD$75,000222024
South Baltimore Learning CenterBaltimore, MD$75,000332024
Sugar Free Kids Marylandcenter for a Healthy MarylandBaltimore, MD$75,000222022
The Literacy LabBaltimore, MD$75,000212021
American Lung AssociationChicago, IL$74,968222023
Black Women Build - BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$73,850322024
Community Wealth Builders Maryland Philanthropy NetworkBaltimore, MD$70,676332024
Baltimore Furniture Bank Fusion Partnerships IncBaltimore, MD$70,638332023
Holistic Life Foundation IncBaltimore, MD$70,000542024
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City IncRoxbury, MA$70,000222022
The Family Tree IncBaltimore, MD$70,000222023
Episcopal Housing CorporationBaltimore, MD$69,750332024
Saint Luke's Youth CenterBaltimore, MD$68,000532024
Waterkeepers ChesapeakeTakoma Park, MD$67,500222022
Roberta's House IncBaltimore, MD$65,643212022
Be Org IncBaltimore, MD$65,000322024
From Prison Cells to Phd IncBaltimore, MD$65,000432023
ImentorNew York, NY$65,000112021
St Frances AcademyBaltimore, MD$65,000212023
The York Road Partnership GedcoBaltimore, MD$64,927332024
Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition Inc Dba Economic Action MarylandBaltimore, MD$62,500112024
Baltimore Safe HavenBaltimore, MD$60,000222022
Goucher CollegeBaltimore, MD$60,000112024
Holy Nativity and St John's Development CorporationBaltimore, MD$60,000332024
Maryland Hunger SolutionsBaltimore, MD$60,000112021
Saint Frances AcademyBaltimore, MD$60,000112022
Springboard Community ServicesBaltimore, MD$60,000222022
STEM Champions of Baltimore IncBaltimore, MD$60,000322022
Urban Teacher Center Dba City Teaching AllianceBaltimore, MD$60,000112024
Economic Action Maryland Formerly Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition IncBaltimore, MD$59,800112023
Baltimore City Office of Sustainability Baltimore Civic FundBaltimore, MD$57,684112021
Strong Schools Maryland Fund for Educational ExcellenceBaltimore, MD$57,500332023
Light of Truth Center IncBaltimore, MD$54,856332024
Office of the Public DefenderBaltimore, MD$54,550112024
Healthcare Access MarylandBaltimore, MD$51,144432024
International Rescue CommitteeBaltimore, MD$51,000332023
Rebuilding Together BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$50,750432024
Women's Housing CoalitionBaltimore, MD$50,625332024
Apm Food Works LLC Baltimore Hunger ProjectTimonium, MD$50,000112022
Art With a HeartBaltimore, MD$50,000112021
At Jacob's Well IncBaltimore, MD$50,000112024

305 of 657 (46%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 54%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 1,022 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Education
176 grants
Human Services
169 grants
Community Improvement
131 grants
Arts & Culture
87 grants
Environment
65 grants
Crime & Legal
61 grants
Youth Development
59 grants
Housing & Shelter
49 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2021401$16.1M$25,000
2022387$13.3M$20,000
2023418$14.5M$17,500
2024391$13.4M$20,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Already committed for future years

Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Abell Foundation Inc has 368 of them, worth $21.8M. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.

OrganizationLocationApproved
Thread IncBaltimore, MD$400,000
Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipBaltimore, MD$300,000
University of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$300,000
Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipBaltimore, MD$300,000
Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipBaltimore, MD$300,000
Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipBaltimore, MD$300,000
Emerging Technology Centers IncBaltimore, MD$260,000
University of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$252,069
Beloved Community Services CorporationBaltimore, MD$250,000
Mary Harvin Transformation Center CdcBaltimore, MD$250,000
Project Plase IncBaltimore, MD$250,000
Mary Harvin Transformation Center CdcBaltimore, MD$250,000
Roca IncChelsea, MA$250,000
Mary Harvin Transformation Center CdcBaltimore, MD$250,000
Baltimore's Promise Fund for Educational ExcellenceBaltimore, MD$233,750

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 88% of this one's giving went to organizations in Maryland. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Maryland
$50.4M
District of Columbia
$2.7M
New York
$2.1M
Massachusetts
$841K
Pennsylvania
$479K
California
$278K
Virginia
$235K
Illinois
$182K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Baltimore Community Foundation Inc211 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund196 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc163 shared recipientsT Rowe Price Program for Charitable150 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc145 shared recipientsFrance-Merrick Foundation Inc137 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $20,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Maryland.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from The Abell Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 111 S Calvert St 2300, Baltimore, MD, 21202. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 52-6036106 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.