Delaware Community Foundation Issues $297,958.36 in Capital Grants to 23 Organizations
2026 grantees include Ronald McDonald House, Sojourners Place, and Developing Artist Collaboration
The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), a top-100 community foundation nationwide and one of the largest charitable organizations in the state, today announced $297,958.36 in capital grants to 23 nonprofits across Delaware. These grants will support a variety of critical projects, including facility improvements, accessibility enhancements, and expansions that strengthen the ability of nonprofits to serve their communities efficiently and effectively.
DCF capital grants assist organizations in acquiring, constructing, renovating, or improving facilities to ensure long-term operational effectiveness. Supported projects are designed to have a lasting and positive impact on the populations served, enhancing the strong work of these nonprofits.
“These investments reflect our deep belief that strong communities are built with the help of strong nonprofit partners,” said Stuart Comstock-Gay, DCF President and CEO. “Essential capital improvements help organizations meet today’s needs and expand their ability to serve Delawareans for years to come.”
Awards for 2026 include $10,000 to The Developing Artist Collaboration, a Rehoboth-based organization that provides artists with career development, peer connection, and physical spaces to build elevated creative lifestyles. This investment will support the final phase of the West Side Creative Market renovation, aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility, and weather protection. Specifically, funds will help cover the construction of a protective metal awning, installing clear panels on vendor booths to shield against weather, and upgrading electrical systems to meet safety standards.
“This $10,000 grant from the Delaware Community Foundation marks a pivotal moment for the final phase of the West Side Creative Market renovation,” said The Developing Artist Collaboration Founder Leah Beach. “With DCF’s support, we’re able to bring long-awaited weather protection to a space that has become a creative and economic engine for emerging artists and our community. This investment helps ensure the Market can thrive rain or shine, and keeps us moving toward a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for local creatives.”
2026 Capital Grants Recipients
These projects represent the diverse needs of Delaware’s nonprofit community and the vital services they provide:
- Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council – $1,698 for a washer and dryer. Currently, council staff take the facility’s dirty towels, washcloths, and aprons home to wash in along with towels and clothing of girls who do not have access to a washer and dryer at home. This equipment will also help support larger scale programming and events and be more sustainable by using fewer paper products.
- Sojourners Place – $15,000 for a new hot water heater and 20-ton rooftop HVAC unit. The funding will cover the cost of labor and equipment/parts associated with replacing the central HVAC system that services Sojourners’ main male dorm with a resident capacity of 40 males and the hot water heater system that services the main shower lines and other essential service lines.
- Network Delaware – $15,426.00 to acquire and implement essential digital Infrastructure for 250+ participants and 30+ community partners. This includes Slack Business Plus/Atlas add-on and Qooper, a mentorship and learning software designed specifically to help organizations efficiently build, manage, and scale various development programs.
- Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. – $10,000 for two HVAC units to improve energy efficiency and ensure a comfortable environment for staff and clients.
- Community Cares Delaware Foundation – $15,000 for minor renovations at the warehouse property and former Catholic Charities Thrift Shop to make it a safe and functional space to store furniture and home goods for residents.
- Rodney Street Tennis and Tutoring Association – $3,399.36 for 32 high-quality, solar/battery powered, rechargeable LED work lights that will illuminate the Rodney Street Tennis Courts, and Dover Tennis Courts, enabling extended evening tennis instruction for youth—particularly in the spring and fall months of the year.
- Planned Parenthood – $17,750 to install a chair lift and renovate the second floor of its Newark Health Center, which is currently inaccessible to patients with mobility challenges.
- Sussex County Land Trust – $14,000 to support the design and planning phase for Chase Oaks Preserve, a 32-acre public access conservation area in Lewes. Funds will cover site assessment, mapping, and development of a master plan integrating trails, habitat areas, and interpretive signage to enhance access and education.
- Jewish Family Services – $15,000 for visual accessibility enhancements that ensure spaces are welcoming and navigable for all clients, including older adults and individuals with disabilities.
- Nature Conservancy – $15,000 to support accessibility improvements at the preserve, including an expanded parking lot that connects to accessible trails. The number of parking spaces will increase from 7 to 13, which will include the addition of an ADA parking space with side access. Other improvements include trail realignments, resurfacing, improved signage, and additional seating in the shaded trails.
- Fostering Wishes Foundation – $5,000 for implementing a barcode, inventory and Point of Sale (POS) system would improve every aspect of our day-to-day operations and improve the shopping experience for foster youth.
- Ronald McDonald House – $20,000 for an HVAC system upgrade to maintain stable temperatures and improve energy efficiency throughout the House, enhancing comfort for our families and reducing utility costs.
- MOT Senior Center – $15,000 to purchase a commercial grade dishwasher.
- Wilmington Youth Rowing Association – $7,000 for repairs and upgrades to WYRA’s historic Boathouse and dock on the Christina River, a hub of activity for over 25 years, serving the community 6 days a week. Funds will be used to replace the rowing doc and repair the boathouse elevator.
- Down Syndrome Association – $13,000 for the removal and replacement of five exterior doors, new building signage, removal of metal panels and installation of new flashing, replacement of screws on the metal roof, fencing repairs, and post-construction landscaping to prevent flooding.
- Primeros Pasos – $18,874 for repairs to the Center, including painting all of the classrooms, installing a new bathroom, and purchasing a new washer/dryer.
- Milford Advocacy for the Homeless – $10,000 for a new air conditioning unit to maintain a safe and healthy environment for volunteers, protect donated food and goods from heat damage, and ensure uninterrupted operations during peak seasons.
- The College School – $20,000 for playground repair.
- Nativity Prep – $20,000 to replace their HVAC system.
- CenDel – $15,000 for three security cameras to improve security for tenants in the community building. Funds will also be used to pay for the installation of the aluminum picket fence and slide gate to enclose the entire CenDel parking lot eliminating loitering, panhandling, illegal parking and/or other nuisances.
- The Developing Artist Collaboration – $10,000 to support the final phase of the West Side Creative Market renovation, aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility, and weather protection. Funds will help cover the construction of a custom metal awning around the Market’s inner perimeter to shield vendors and guests from sun and rain, installation of clear plastic panels on the back of 21 vendor booths to block wind and rain, and professional electrical upgrades to eliminate the use of extension cords.
- Interfaith Housing – $11,811 to replace three severely deteriorated awnings at ICHDE’s Wilmington headquarters and remove 10 additional awnings.
- Culture Restoration Project – $10,000 for demolition and site preparation for Culture Restoration Project’s culture center.