Grants Available from DCF’s Youth Philanthropy Boards
$35,000 available for Delaware nonprofit organizations
Delaware nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grants from the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPBs).
- The Kent County YPB will support nonprofits that provide assistance for mental health and healthcare services for the underprivileged and uninsured community.
- The New Castle County YPB will support nonprofits that promote equitable education for individuals experiencing mental health issues, or are in the foster care system, or who have learning disabilities.
- The Sussex County YPB will support nonprofits that focus on supporting vulnerable communities with student success (before, during and/or after school), workforce development and/or food insecurity. Preference will be given to organizations that support immigrant/minority families with students in elementary and secondary school.
Organizations may apply for grants from each county’s YPB. To be eligible, the program for which funding is requested must directly benefit residents of that county and fall within that county’s unique focus area.
Grant requests are currently being accepted and must be submitted online at delcf.org/grants by 5 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2022. Applicants will be notified in Spring 2022.
The DCF sponsors the YPBs to encourage younger generations to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board, composed of high school students from public, private and parochial schools, is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. The students learn about philanthropy and effective grant-making, study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, solicit grant proposals, and award grants to those they determine to be most deserving.
Retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund in 1999 because she wanted to encourage youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. Students who serve on the YPB are nominated by their principal or guidance counselor.
“The Youth Philanthropy Board program gives students a unique opportunity to be a part of their community and experience the impact they are able to make in people’s lives,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “These are the future leaders of Delaware, and it’s important that they are given a space to learn and exercise philanthropy.”