Each year, the DCF awards millions of dollars in grants to support the work of nonprofits addressing Delaware’s greatest needs and opportunities, with an eye to building opportunity and advancing equity.
Most DCF grants are from donor advised funds. Nonprofits are invited to apply for the grant opportunities on this page, including the DCF’s Community Impact Grants, which are funded by generous donors who believe in our work to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.
Read about our 2023 Community Impact Grants.
Grant Opportunities Currently Open
Read about general grant eligibility. Each grant also has individual eligibility requirements.
Please review our Grantee Publicity Guidelines.
Small grants will support health-related projects, programs and supportive services. Preference is given to programs that fit BluePrints for the Community priority areas. The community priority areas are: increasing access to health care for uninsured/underserved, reducing health disparities in minority communities, supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health, recruiting and training health care professionals and addressing social determinants of health.
Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions announced to applicants at the beginning of each month. Small Grants cannot exceed $50,000.
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
The First State Food System Program, administered by the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy (a subset of the Delaware Department of Agriculture) provides grant funding to entities that grow, process, store, transport, distribute, or sell food in the State of Delaware. The DCF is facilitating the grant application process, but this is not a grant program of the DCF.
All questions should be directed to the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy at [email protected].
Full program information can be found here: https://farm-and-food-delaware.hub.arcgis.com/
Sample Application (for reference only – must apply online)
Nonprofit organizations supporting the needy in Kent County are invited to apply for grants from the Benjamin F. Potter Trust through the Delaware Community Foundation.
The purpose of the Benjamin F. Potter Trust, created in 1843 and one of the oldest continuing trusts of its type in the nation, is to aid the economically underprivileged in Kent County by supporting charitable organizations serving these individuals. The CenDel Foundation, which brings expertise in needs in Kent County, serves as the grant recommendation committee. The areas of focus considered for funding are:
- Crisis/emergency assistance funding for basic needs
- Homelessness
- Hunger
- Health care
Grants will support proposals for charitable organizations and activities involving programs that have a lasting, positive impact on Kent County.
All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision in September 2023. For more information, please contact Mike DiPaolo at 302.355.6933. To find out more about CenDel, visit www.cendelfoundation.org.
Sample Application (for reference only – must apply online)
Grant Opportunities NOT Currently Open
Quarterly grants from Highmark’s BluePrints for the Community fund, administered by the DCF, support health-related projects, programs and supportive services. Preference will be given to programs that address the following BluePrints priority areas faced by Delaware’s communities.
Priority areas are: increasing access to health care for uninsured/underserved, reducing health disparities in minority communities, supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health, recruiting and training health care professionals, and addressing social determinants of health.
Occasional Special Grants focused on meeting a more specific need may be announced in place of Standard Grants.
2023 Application Periods
- Quarter 1 application opens December 12, 2022
- Deadline Jan. 9, at 11:59 pm
- Notifications Week of March 20
- Quarter 2 application opens March 20, 2023
- Deadline April 7, at 11:59 pm
- Notifications Week of June 19
- Quarter 3 application opens July 10, 2023
- Deadline July 31, at 11:59 pm
- Notifications Week of Sept. 25
- Quarter 4 application opens Sept. 18, 2023
- Deadline Oct. 9, at 11:59 pm
- Notifications Week of December 18
Grants of up to $2,500 available to New Castle County nonprofit organizations serving youth and young adults ages birth through 25 years who are underserved and at risk for not having the skills and support for a self-sufficient future.
2021 Rubric
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
Grants supports programs addressing addiction treatment, family services, emergency housing and homelessness prevention.
The Next Gen South Grant total is $10,000.
Since its inception in 2012, Next Gen South has supported initiatives that address the underlying social challenges facing vulnerable Delawareans in Kent and Sussex.
Sample application(for reference only – must apply online)
The Roy Klein Education Fund supports nonprofits’ projects or programs that support improvements to life in central Delaware through economic development initiatives and related career and occupational education in Kent County, including all of Smyrna and Milford.
The fund is available to all 501(c)(3) organizations in Kent County or organizations that run programming that directly benefit the county.
The maximum award is $3,000.
Sample application (for reference only – must apply online)
The First State Food System Program, administered by the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy (a subset of the Delaware Department of Agriculture) provides grant funding to entities that grow, process, store, transport, distribute, or sell food in the State of Delaware. The DCF is facilitating the grant application process, but this is not a grant program of the DCF. All questions should be directed to the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy at [email protected].
Deadline: TBD
Grant focus TBA.
Next application cycle TBD.
Grants awarded will be $500 – $5,000 to nonprofit organizations working to address community needs in Georgetown and Millsboro.
Nonprofits organizations located in Georgetown or Millsboro will be given priority, but other organizations based in Wilmington can apply if they are a state agency.
Sample application(for reference only – must apply online)
DCF capital grants assist with the acquisition, final-stage design, construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation, or other capital improvements of facilities, so nonprofits in all three counties can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.
An ideal capital grant does more than just renovate or repair. It helps an organization that is already strong to serve its community even better. Supported capital projects will have a lasting, positive impact on the population or community served by the grantee organization.
Grants will not exceed $20,000 other than on rare occasions due to their exceptional merits, based on the discretion of the DCF Grants Committee.
Book “Office Hours”
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
2023 grants will consider nonprofits that support the physical and mental health of youth including, but not limited to, those that improve nutrition, food security, positive body image, negative impacts of social media, decrease substance use and youth violence.
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
2023 grants will consider nonprofits that support the physical and mental health of youth including, but not limited to, those that improve nutrition, food security, positive body image, negative impacts of social media, decrease substance use and youth violence.
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
2023 grants will consider nonprofits that provide assistance for physical wellbeing (food insecurity, homelessness, etc.) and mental health services that address self-harm (cutting, substance/alcohol abuse, suicide prevention, etc.).
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
From the performing arts to animal welfare, there are a variety of “field of interest” funds at the DCF, created by donors to support issues they are particularly passionate about, that provide a structured opportunity for eligible nonprofits, whose missions align with specific areas of activity or service, to apply for grants. The DCF Grants Committee will review and evaluate Specific Interest grant program applications and make recommendations to the DCF Board for approval. Grant applications are being accepted for programs to support:
– Small grants for arts statewide
– Fulfillment of terminally ill children’s wishes
– Animals and animal welfare
Specific Interest Grants Guidelines
Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online)
The FFW accepts applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations for programs that address the needs and enhance the worth and potential of women and girls in Delaware by helping them to lead productive, self-sufficient lives. The FFW’s one-year grant offers organizations an opportunity to obtain seed money for innovative, creative programming or funding to continue or expand programs where effectiveness has been demonstrated. Grants will not be awarded to individuals.
Fund for Women hosted two grant application workshops to answer any questions about key dates and how to submit a Grant application. Please use the links below to reference resources from the Workshop.
Questions regarding 2023 Grant Applications can be directed to [email protected].
As part of the Delaware Community Foundation’s commitment to build opportunity so all Delaware residents can overcome barriers to success, benefit equitably and thrive, the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Leaders and Communities grant program supports organizations that are led by and serving people of color. The DCF defines BIPOC as people that identify as Black or African American, Indigenous, Latino or Hispanic, and/or Asian. The goal of this grant program is to increase investment in BIPOC-led nonprofits and in communities of color in Delaware. Grants will be available to:
- Build organizational capacity
- Support programs that strengthen communities
Sample Application (for reference only – must apply online)
Grants support any nonprofit organization, including any qualified school (public or private) on the Delmarva Peninsula, with particular emphasis given to Western Sussex County.
Sample Application (for reference only – must apply online)
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