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Fund for Women Grants $234,145 to 17 Delaware Nonprofits Serving Women and Girls 

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Sussex County Development Committee Wins 2026 Driving Force Award 

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), a top 100 community foundation nationwide and one of the largest charitable organizations in the state, today announced its Fund for Women (FFW) giving circle will award $234,145 to 17 Delaware nonprofits serving women and girls at a grants celebration on Wednesday, May 13 from 4 to 5:30pm at Delaware Technical and Community College Dover Campus Conference Center (100 Campus Dr, Dover, DE 19904). Tickets are available for purchase here.  

“Every year, we are proud to support organizations working to empower women and girls across Delaware,” said Molly Giordano, Chair of the FFW Board of Trustees. “This year, we were especially struck by the quality of proposals from organizations across the state, many of which are navigating a rapidly changing funding landscape. We are encouraged to see that serving women and girls remains a strong priority for so many.” 

Since it began awarding grants in 1994, the FFW has awarded a total of 456 grants valued at more than $4 million. The FFW’s one-year grant offers organizations seed money for innovative, creative programming, or funding to continue or expand programs where effectiveness has been demonstrated. This year, 80 grants were submitted requesting $1.1 million in funding. 

In addition, the awards ceremony will honor the Sussex County Development Committee as recipients of the 2026 Driving Force Award. This award is presented annually to a Founder or group who has gone above and beyond in moving FFW forward to achieve its (changed their to its) mission. 

“The Sussex County Development Committee plays a vital role in advancing the mission of FFW,” said Kathy Kiernan, FFW Vice Chair. “As a highly engaged, volunteer-led group, the Committee consistently demonstrates leadership, creativity, and commitment to create meaningful opportunities to engage new audiences, educate the community, and inspire giving.”  

If you’d like to honor the Sussex County Development Committee, please click here for sponsorships opportunities or contact Kathy Kiernan at [email protected]. 

This year’s grant recipients (alphabetically) include: 

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for Girls on the Run Program  
  • Central Delaware Housing Collaborative — $15,000.00 (Kent) for Case Management Services  
  • Do Care Doula Foundation Inc — $15,000.00 (Kent) for Growth Family Resource Center  
  • Fighting Abuse Through Education — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for Protective Parent Support Network  
  • Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for College tuition support for low-income Delaware women  
  • Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for Volunteer Leadership Summit  
  • Girls Inc of Delaware — $15,000.00 (New Castle) for Project Accelerate  
  • Latin American Community Center — $15,000.00 (NCC, Sussex) for Bridging Supports for Delaware Mothers: Assisting with an Increase in WIC Caseload  
  • Leading Youth Through Empowerment — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for LYTE Scholars Program: Building a Pipeline of Female Empowerment  
  • Read Aloud Delaware — $15,000.00 (NCC, Sussex) for Madres Hispanas Empoderadas (Empowered Hispanic Mothers): Strengthening Early Literacy at Home  
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Delaware — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for Housing and Support Services: Delaware NICU and Advanced Delivery Mothers  
  • Serviam Girls Academy — $15,000.00 (New Castle) for Pathways to Excellence program  
  • Sojourners Place — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for Reset to Rise program  
  • YWCA Delaware Inc — $15,000.00 (Statewide) for LARA Project Expansion  
  • Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education — $10,500.00 (New Castle) for Early Childhood Teacher Professional Development: Delaware Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts  
  • Christina Cultural Arts Center Inc. — $9,400.00 (New Castle) for Chasing the Blues Away  
  • STEHM INC — $4,245.70 (New Castle) for Financial Independence Program 

This year’s Driving Force Award winner, the Sussex County Development Committee, includes members: 

  • Vickie Burrier 
  • Gina D’Alfonso 
  • Sarah Gilmour, Committee Chair 
  • Susan Millard 
  • Joan Millard 
  • Cheryl Mitchell 
  • Jvonne Oliver, Committee Vice Chair 
  • Debra Quinton 
  • Susan Rivers 
  • Kelly Sheridan 
  • Ginny Smith 
  • Marty Tarr 
  • Marge Worrell 

Donors interested in becoming a FFW Founder can join here.  

The Fund for Women 

Through collective philanthropy, the Fund for Women invests and advocates to empower women and girls in Delaware to achieve their potential by bringing together our knowledge and passion. The FFW was established in 1993 as a Giving Circle at the Delaware Community Foundation. Since then, the FFW has awarded 456 grants totaling over $4 million dollars to nonprofits serving women and girls in Delaware. For information, please visit fundforwomende.com/.