Youth Philanthropy Board Grantees

The Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPBs), one in each of Delaware’s three counties, are composed of students from public, independent and diocesan high schools throughout the state.

KENT COUNTY
Focus Area: In 2024, YPB Kent County focused on the conservation of a stable mind, body and environment. Grants were awarded to nonprofits that prioritized the wellbeing of the individual and the planet (e.g., environmental protection, health, homelessness, domestic violence and/or drugs/alcohol abuse).

Do Care Doula Foundation, Inc. – $5,000 to increase the organization’s outreach to include smaller support groups and monthly sessions.
Survivors of Abuse in Recovery (S.O.A.R.) – $4,000 to provide counseling to children, adolescent and adult survivors of sexual assault.
YWCA Delaware, Inc. – $2,750 to expand the Survivor’s Emergency Fund for women and other victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Kent County.
St. John’s Community Services – $2,750 to support adults living with disabilities in finding their ideal living situation and assisting them in achieving their highest levels of independence.
A Sister’s Village, Inc. – $2,500 to support the Micro Villages Program and provide comprehensive support and a community for young mothers.
Capital School District – $2,500 to support the Capital Community Center and provide services, resources and referrals to families experiencing homelessness.
Milford Advocacy for the Homeless – $2,000 to support the HarvestHub: Nutrition for All program and address food insecurity and promote holistic well-being in the community.
Plastic Free Delaware – $1,500 to support the annual Youth Environmental Summit (YES!).

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Focus Area: In 2024, the New Castle County YPB focused on the importance of youth mental health. Grants were awarded to nonprofits that focused on the impact of gun violence, food insecurity, learning disabilities and other forms of trauma on youth.

Neighborhood House – $1,875 to support the Youth Development Department and the youth programs focusing on prevention, education and activities that implement health-related goals and outcomes.
Academia Antonia Alonso – $3,350 to support the Special Education Manipulatives Department and ensure the students have access to quality resources that address their unique learning styles and challenges.
A Sister’s Village, Inc. – $1,875 to support the Nourish and Nurture: Free Breakfast and Playtime for Families program and support young mothers and their children who experienced trauma.
Nativity Preparatory School – $3,000 to support the school’s food pantry on campus that provides access to nutritious meals to students and families affected by food insecurities.
Latin American Community Center (LACC) – $3,000 to support the High School Credit Recovery Program and support students who are working to complete school credits to re-enter traditional schooling at their grade level or graduate.
Jewish Family Services of Delaware – $1,875 to support the Youth Anxiety Program (YAP) and reach unidentified and/or untreated youth who are suffering from anxiety.
Survivors of Abuse in Recovery (S.O.A.R.) – $2,500 to provide counseling to children, adolescent and adult survivors of sexual assault.
EDGE for Tomorrow – $2,500 to implement a multifaceted SEL awareness and empowerment initiative to enhance students’ learning.
Delaware Pride – $1,050 to support the organization’s 3C Corner program.
Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. – $1,967 to provide Therapeutic Journaling Kits to 100 children, youth and adolescents to support ongoing clinical behavioral health care.

SUSSEX COUNTY
Focus Area: In 2024, the Sussex County YPB focused on the importance of land conservation and addressing the wellbeing of the individual. Grants were awarded to nonprofits that focused on land conservation, mental health, homelessness and/or drugs/alcohol addiction.

YWCA Delaware, Inc. – $4,000 to address the needs of homeless women who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault
Run Saniyah Run, Inc. – $4,000 to assist parents/guardians of special needs children with services and resources.
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays – $4,000 to support the SEE (Student Estuary Exploration) program to increase student environmental literacy through a variety of nature-based lessons.
Survivors of Abuse in Recovery (S.O.A.R.) – $3,000 to provide counseling to children, adolescent and adult survivors of sexual assault.
Harry K. Foundation – $3,000 to expand the organization’s food backpack program for vulnerable students in Sussex County who are considered homeless and living in area hotels or shelters.
Milford Advocacy for the Homeless – $3,000 to support the HarvestHub: Nutrition for All program and address food insecurity and promote holistic well-being in the community.
Tether Foundation – $2,500 to support Camp Abilities Delaware (CADE), an educational sports camp for children ages 8-17 who are blind or have low vision in Delaware.
Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. – $2,000 to refurbish the Family Therapy Room at the DGS Seaford location.

KENT COUNTY

Focus Area: In 2023, YPB Kent County grants are supporting nonprofits that provide assistance for physical well-being (food insecurity, homelessness, etc.) and mental health services that address self-harm (cutting, substance/alcohol abuse, suicide prevention, etc.).

Visions of Hope, Inc. – $5,000 to support the Visions of Hope Residential Program
YWCA of Delaware – $3,567.62 for survivor emergency needs kits
Delaware Guidance Services – $3,432.38 for child-centered play therapy toys
Courageous Hearts – $2,000 for equine therapy
Green Beret Project – $1,250 to support the Equipping Youth for Success Program
St. John’s Community Services – $1,250 to support the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Residential Program

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Focus Area: In 2023, the New Castle County YPB grants were awarded to 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.

Down Syndrome Association (DSA) – $2,500 to support its Down to Box Program
Survivors of Abuse and Recovery (SOAR) – $2,500 for funding for an intake specialist apprenticeship
Tether Foundation – $2,500 to support its athletes mentoring program
Big Brothers Big Sisters – $2,250 to provide mentoring in the summer for students in foster care
Vision to Learn – $2,500 for new pairs of glasses
Supporting Kids – $1,250 to support Healing Pathways
EDGE for Tomorrow – $2,000 to fund its body positive and anti-bullying workshop
YWCA of Delaware – $2,500 to support ESTEEM

SUSSEX COUNTY
Focus Area: In 2023, the Sussex County YPB is funding nonprofits that focus on support for those who struggle with access to reproductive (teen pregnancy), mental health and/or substance abuse services. Preference given to nonprofits that mentor middle and high school students that help them avoid and minimize these obstacles.

YWCA of Delaware – $1,500 to support ESTEEM
Zoe Ministries– $1,500 for equine mentoring
Delaware Guidance Services – $1,500 for child-centered play therapy toys
Courageous Hearts – $4,000 for equine therapy
Tether Foundation – $4,000 to support Camp Abilities Delaware
SOAR – $5,000 for specialized trauma training in Sussex County

KENT COUNTY

Focus Area: Nonprofits that provide assistance for mental health and healthcare services for the underprivileged and uninsured community.

Code Purple Kent County – $4,334 for medical check-ins for the homeless
Compassionate Hearts – $4,333 for equine therapy
Inner City Cultural League – $4,333 to provide care for the underinsured in the Sankofa Health and Wellness Center
Survivors of Abuse in Recovery – $1,000 to help fund a part-time clinician
The Shepherd Place – $1,000 for supplies for the emergency shelter for the homeless

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Focus Area: Nonprofits that promote equitable education for individuals who are experiencing mental health issues, or are in the foster care system, or who have learning disabilities.

Down Syndrome Association (DSA) – $4,167 for textbooks for educators working with students with Down syndrome
Survivors of Abuse and Recovery (SOAR) – $4,167 to support intake specialists who connect clinicians to youth and families for mental health services
Love-In-Deed – $4,167 to support home economics courses and college tours for students in foster care
Connecting Generations – $2,500 to expand mentoring for students in foster care
Delaware Contemporary – $2,500 to support the Summer of Play festival, which provides access to art and education about how play can mitigate trauma
Delaware Art Museum – $2,500 to support the bilingual Healing through the Arts program in partnership with the Teen Warehouse
Edge for Tomorrow – $2,500 to fund Mt. Pleasant Elementary’s afterschool Feel the Beat Fridays program, which provides students the opportunity to express emotions and process trauma and stress
Latin America Community Center (LACC) – $2,500 to support a field trip to SkyZone for children in the Youth Achievement Center’s mental health program

SUSSEX COUNTY
Focus Area: Nonprofits that focus on supporting vulnerable communities with student success (before, during and/or after school), workforce development and/or food insecurity. Preference was given to organizations that support immigrant/minority families with students in elementary and secondary school.

Primeros Pasos – $945 to help pre-K teachers purchase materials
Native Nourishment – $2,000 to provide garden starter kits to Native American families
Family Promise of Southern Delaware – $2,500 to pay for clients’ needs (e.g., rent, utilities, employment support, etc.)
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Delaware – $2,500 to support the Bigs in Blue program, which creates a bridge between law enforcement and youth to build trust and create mentoring opportunities
Harry K Foundation – $3,000 to support their many food pantries
Philadelphia Arms Townhomes – $4,055 to build a new playground for small children whose parents are homeless and awaiting permanent housing

KENT COUNTY
Focus Area: Nonprofits that provide mental health and/or domestic violence services, with a preference for organizations that service the elderly, the homeless and/or the uninsured.

Compassionate Hearts – $5,000 for equine therapy sessions not covered by insurance
Mental Health Association in Delaware – $2,000 to fund suicide prevention trainings and education
Survivors of Abuse in Recovery – $3,000 to fund a part-time practice manager
YWCA – $5,000 to fund the Sexual Assault Response Center

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Focus Area: Nonprofits that are advancing racial equity by building opportunity for all with special consideration for organizations providing arts, education, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Delaware Contemporary – $2,500 to support of Building a Creative Future afterschool program
Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation – $2,500 for the 2021-2022 program to support scholarships
Latin American Community Center – $2,500 to support culinary components of the Youth Achievement Center enrichment activities
Leading Youth Through Empowerment – $2,500 to pay for 25 background checks
Nativity Preparatory School – $2,500 for general operating support
One Village Alliance – $2,500 to support the Freedom Fellows mentoring program in New Castle County
Reading Assist Institute – $2,500 to recruit, train and embed new Reading Assist Fellows
Teen Warehouse – $2,500 to help fund Level Up programming for up to 20 students

SUSSEX COUNTY
Focus Area: Nonprofits that focus on addressing the social determinants of health, including but not limited to mental health, substance abuse, domestic abuse, homelessness and food insecurity. Preference given to organizations that support low-income families.

Children & Families First – $3,000 to fund the Casey Community of Hope in Seaford
Laurel Community Foundation – $3,000 to fund House of Hope I & II short-term transitional housing apartments
One Village Alliance – $3,000 to support the Freedom Fellows mentoring program in Sussex County
Philadelphia Arms Townhomes – $4,000 for the Ellendale homeless shelter Morgan’s Place
Survivors of Abuse in Recovery – $2,000 to fund a part-time practice manager

$3,500 – Compassionate Hearts
$2,500 – Green Beret Project
$2,000 – Children & Families First
$2,000 – YWCA of Delaware
$5,000 – Survivors of Abuse in Recovery

New Castle County YPB focused on post-secondary readiness and/or mentoring programs that serve teens and young adults in New Castle County, with special consideration for initiatives that build leadership opportunities, address specific challenges (including homelessness, substance abuse or violence), or target traditionally underserved populations (including low-income and immigrant youth).

$1,250 – Jewish Family Services
$2,500 – Leading Youth Through Empowerment (LYTE)
$2,500 – Survivors of Abuse in Recovery (SOAR)
$2,500 – The Delaware Contemporary
$2,500 – Delaware Youth Leadership Network
$3,125 – Catholic Charities
$3,125 – YWCA of Delaware
$2,500 – Delaware College Scholars

Sussex County YPB chose to focus on nonprofit organizations that focus on mentoring at-risk youth in Sussex County, with a preference for programs supporting those affected by substance abuse, sex trafficking and/or mental health issues.

$5,000 – Green Beret Project
$4,675 – La Red Health Center
$2,825 – Mental Health Association of Delaware
$2,500 – YWCA of Delaware

Kent County YPB focused on organizations that enhance and support youth development in Kent County, with preference for those that focus on mental health, the arts, hunger and/or agricultural programs. Kent County YPB grants were presented on April 8 at the Duncan Center in Dover. This year’s grants were awarded to:

$4,770 – Compassionate Hearts
$2,615 – Green Beret Project
$2,615 – Inner City Cultural League
$5,000 – Survivors of Abuse in Recovery

$2,500 – Duffy’s Hope
$1,200 – EastSide Charter School
$2,000 – Girls Inc. of Delaware
$1,800 – I Am My Sister’s Keeper
$1,250 – Nativity Prep
$2,500 – One Village Alliance
$1,250 – TeenSHARP
$2,500 – Teen Warehouse
$2,500 – UrbanPromise
$2,500 – West End Neighborhood House

Sussex County YPB chose to focus on organizations that focus on mentoring at-risk youth in Sussex County, with a preference for programs supporting those affected by substance abuse, sex trafficking and/or mental health issues. The Sussex County YPB presented grants on May 6 at the CHEER Center in Georgetown. This year’s grants were awarded to:

$2,500 – Connecting Generations
$3,000 – First State Community Action Agency
$2,500 – FORGE Youth & Family Academy
$3,000 – Laurel Public Library
$4,000 – Pathways to Success

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