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Author Archive for Rebecca Klug

Four people talking in a house under construction

Delaware Community Foundation Awards $177,224 in Capital Grants

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Wednesday, January 13th, 2021 
· No Comments

From expanding a food pantry to building a safe playground, this year’s Capital Grants from the Delaware Community Foundation will benefit thousands of Delawareans statewide.

The DCF has awarded a total of $177,224 in 2021 Capital Grants to 13 organizations around the state. Grants are underwritten by the Delaware Forever Fund and the Elisabeth and Richard Poole Capital Fund for Delaware History and the Fine Arts. This year’s recipients are:

2021 Capital Grants

  • Catholic Charities, Inc. – $15,000
    Pantry expansion and improvement project at the Thrift Center food pantry location in the low-income Riverside neighborhood of northeast Wilmington
  • Cornerstone West Community Development Corporation – $15,000
    Community playground project at Cool Spring and Tilton Parks, Wilmington
  • Delaware Art Museum – $17,800
    ADA-compliant bathroom renovations and security upgrades
  • Down Syndrome Association of Delaware – $20,000
    New office space for a social enterprise meal preparation company that will hire adults with Down Syndrome
  • Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s (FCCSP) – $10,000
    Construction of a confidential and safe space for counseling and case management
  • Fort Miles Historical Association – $7,500
    Installation of ADA-compliant doors
  • Jefferson Street Center, Inc. – $8,500
    Recreation and safety equipment for the center’s new Gathering Place Community Hub
  • Kent-Sussex Industries, Inc. – $15,000
    Restroom remodel
  • Milton Historical Society – $15,000
    Basement waterproofing
  • Rehoboth Beach Historical Society – $10,000
    HVAC system update
  • Salvation Army – $10,000
    Security improvements 
  • Sussex County Habitat for Humanity – pictured – $18,424
    Construction equipment
  • Wilmington Alliance – $15,000
    Construction of a kitchen incubator to provide an affordable, high-quality commercial kitchen for entrepreneurs including food truck owners, bakers and caterers

Since 1989, the Delaware Community Foundation has distributed over $7 million in capital grants. These are primarily funded by the Delaware Forever Fund, which consists of gifts made to the DCF for discretionary grantmaking.

Capital grants support projects that have a lasting, positive impact on the population served by the organization. They may be used to fund construction, renovation or repair of buildings, and/or land purchases. Capital grants typically range from $5,000 to $20,000, but can be awarded for up to $25,000.

“We are so glad we can help nonprofit organizations invest in their infrastructure so they can continue to build opportunity in Delaware,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “These capital grants allow organizations to make a long-term difference in quality of life for all Delawareans.”

TeenSharp student

2021 DCF Focus Grants Include New Leadership in Community Opportunity

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Friday, January 8th, 2021 
· No Comments

Delaware nonprofits are invited to apply for the Delaware Community Foundation’s (DCF’s) 2021 Focus Grants. Applications open Jan. 11, 2021.

DCF Focus Grants will support organizations and initiatives working to build opportunity so all Delaware residents can overcome barriers to success, benefit equitably and thrive. Grants will be awarded in three focus areas and include new Leadership in Community grants to support leaders of color in Delaware and the organizations and communities they serve.

  • Youth Success (statewide)
  • Thriving Latino Communities (Sussex County)
  • Leadership in Community (statewide)

Focus Grants are underwritten by the Delaware Forever Fund, the discretionary fund of the DCF, and range from $10,000 to $20,000.

The deadline to apply is February 12. Applicants will be notified of decisions in late June.

There will be an optional workshop on Jan. 27. Participation in workshops is optional and will not influence funding decisions. Applicants are encouraged to participate in the workshop at the scheduled time for an opportunity to ask questions, but a recording will be made available for those unable to attend.

To register for the workshops and for more information, visit delcf.org/grants.

Photo: Student at past Focus Grant recipient TeenSharp

DCF Announces Scholarships Available for 2021-2022 School Year

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Monday, December 7th, 2020 
· No Comments

Deadline March 15, 2020

Delaware students are invited to apply for scholarships available through the Delaware Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2021.

Last year, the DCF awarded $306,800 in scholarships, helping 165 students throughout the state pursue secondary education. Students can apply for most scholarships by completing a single online application, available at delcf.org/scholarships.

On the website, students can review all criteria and award amounts before beginning the application process. Candidates also can view the DCF Scholarship Compendium, with information on all available scholarships.

The online application system guides applicants through a series of questions to determine which scholarships they may be eligible for. Students are automatically considered for every scholarship for which they meet the minimum criteria.

There is no cap on the number of scholarships or the amount students may receive. Funding from many of the scholarships may be applied to the costs of textbooks and fees, in addition to tuition. Some are one-time awards, and others are renewable.

“Many of our donors who care about education choose to create scholarship funds to help students and their families with rising college costs,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Our goal is to empower people who care about education with people who are engaged about their futures.” 

For more information, contact Kelly Sheridan, 302.856.4393 or ksheridan@delcf.org.

Kent County YPB members visiting 2019 & 2020 grant recipient the Green Beret Project

Grants Available from DCF’s Youth Philanthropy Boards

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 
· No Comments

$35,000 available for Delaware nonprofits

Delaware nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for grants from the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPBs).

  • The Kent County YPB will consider nonprofits that provide mental health and/or domestic violence services, with a preference for organizations that serve elderly, unhoused and/or uninsured community members.
  • The New Castle County YPB will consider nonprofits that are advancing racial equity by building opportunity for all with special consideration for organizations providing arts, education, athletics and extracurricular activities.
  • The Sussex County YPB will consider 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 will be given to organizations that support low-income families.

Grant requests must be submitted at delcf.org/grants by 5 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2021. Applicants will be notified in Spring 2021.

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 an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure and the challenges of charitable giving, including determining how to make the greatest impact on quality of life with the limited resources available,” said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay. “It’s an important program because we are cultivating the philanthropists of tomorrow.”

Photo: Kent County YPB members visiting 2019 & 2020 grant recipient the Green Beret Project

2021 Virtual Grant Applications Workshops, December 9 and December 14

Fund for Women Accepting Grant Applications for 2021

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Monday, November 30th, 2020 
· No Comments

Opens January 1, 2021
Deadline January 31, 2021 11:59PM

Nonprofits helping women and girls in Delaware are invited to apply for grants from the Fund for Women (FFW) at the Delaware Community Foundation.

All Delaware nonprofit agencies with programs benefiting women and girls are welcome to apply. Although we diverted all 2020 grant funds to solely support COVID programs, this year we have adjusted the application and we are ready to get back to supporting programs that benefit women and girls in Delaware.

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. This year we will not be limiting eligibility based on past awards, since we took a break in last year’s 2020 Grant Cycle, this year, all grantees will start anew on the FFW 2021 three-year cycle.

Completed applications are due by Jan. 31, 2021. Apply online at fundforwomende.com/grants. Only online applications will be accepted.

The FFW is offering two grant workshops to assist organizations in preparing their applications. Attending the workshop is optional and will not affect the grant awards. However, historically, organizations that attend the grant workshop have a higher success rate in receiving grants. The workshops will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 14 at 5:30 pm Click here to register for one of these workshops or visit www.fundforwomende.com/grants.

Presentation slides from the FFW’s December grant workshop will be available after the workshops at fundforwomende.com/grants, along with specific grant guidelines.

About the Fund for Women: Through collective philanthropy, the Fund for Women invests and advocates by bringing together our knowledge, passion and commitment to empower women and girls in Delaware to achieve their potential. The FFW was established in 1993 as an endowment at the Delaware Community Foundation. Since then, the FFW has issued more than $3 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofit programs statewide. In 2020, the FFW donated $200K to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiative. For information, please visit fundforwomende.com/grants.

The DCF's Southern Delaware office

The Circle in Georgetown to be Lit in Green for National Philanthropy Day the Week of Nov 16

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Monday, November 9th, 2020 
· No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | November 9, 2020

Buildings around The Circle in downtown Georgetown will be lit in green for National Philanthropy Day the week of November 16, 2020. 

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) and the Town of Georgetown will celebrate the impact of philanthropy and especially the people who make it happen, increasing the quality of life in Sussex County. The DCF’s Southern Delaware office is located at 36 The Circle in Georgetown.

“Philanthropy means more than writing a check or making a donation, it’s about wanting to see our community succeed,” said Mike DiPaolo Vice President for Southern Delaware at the DCF. “Nonprofits in Sussex County make a difference in each of our lives, every day, and their successes are our successes. Whether it’s in eastern Sussex or western, for the arts, churches, education, or helping to address homelessness and hunger, the resources nonprofits need to meet their goals come from individuals and businesses across our county.” 

“Organizations like the DCF play a unique role in advancing philanthropy in Sussex County, allowing individuals and businesses to structure their giving in a way that can bring maximum impact,” said Stuart Comstock-Gay, DCF President. “By working with Sussex County nonprofits day in and day out, we can leverage our experience to help funding get to organizations that are doing the work on the ground.” 

National Philanthropy Day is celebrated every November 15. It was first recognized in southern California in 1986 and has grown as a way to recognize the individuals and institutions who work in philanthropy and whose efforts better our communities every day.  

The DCF was established in 1986 by a group of concerned citizens who saw an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Delaware. The DCF’s Southern Delaware Office was established in 2002 to bring DCF charitable giving opportunities, programming and resources to Kent and Sussex counties. For more information about the DCF, to speak to someone about grant resources or to establish a fund, please contact Mike DiPaolo at 302-856-4393. 

Nuns dancing down a hallway of a senior residential care facility with residents looking on, smiling, and clapping

Rich in Spirit: Family, Faith and the Little Sisters of the Poor

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 
· No Comments

Development Director Debbie Strengari and Sister Cecilia join us from Little Sisters of the Poor in Newark to discuss providing community-centric, residential care for the elderly poor. 

Little Sisters of the Poor received a $40,000 grant from the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund to help fund the PPE, cleaning equipment, and staff needed to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus and care for residents of the Newark facility. The Little Sisters were the first nursing home in the state to experience deaths from the virus. Since those difficult early weeks of the outbreak, they’ve received support through a partnership with Christiana Care, and have been able to establish new protective measures, including frequent testing, to keep their residents healthy. Now faced with the reality of life in lockdown, the Little Sisters and their residents are using new technology, as well as socially-distanced activities, to stay connected with one another and their families outside the facility.  

We also talk with Sheila Bravo, president & CEO of the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA), and one of the DCF’s key partners in establishing the Strategic Response Fund. 

All six episodes in this second season of Building Opportunity will feature stories about how the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund has helped nonprofits meet the needs of our community during this crisis. DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay is our host. 

You can listen and subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast. 

DCF Awards $306,800 in Scholarships for the 2020-21 School Year

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Monday, July 20th, 2020 
· No Comments

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) has awarded $306,800 in scholarships for the 2020-21 school year, helping 165 students throughout the state pursue secondary education. 

Each year, the DCF awards scholarships to students from funds established by generous people who care about education and understand that it can be costly. This year, 165 new and renewed scholarships from over 50 different funds were awarded to these students.

There is no cap on the number of scholarships or the amount students may receive. Funding from many of the scholarships may be applied to the costs of textbooks and fees, in addition to tuition. Some are one-time awards, and others are renewable.

“Many of our donors who care about education choose to create scholarship funds to build opportunities for students where they otherwise may not exist,” DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “Our goal is to help philanthropists who care about education support young people working toward building successful futures.”

See a list of new 2020-21 scholarship winners.

For information about how donors can create scholarship funds at the DCF, contact Joan Hoge-North at jhoge-north@delcf.org.

Love INC volunteer carrying a box of food

See the Person, Not the Problem: Helping Neighbors in Need

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Wednesday, July 15th, 2020 
· No Comments

Susan Kent, executive director of Love INC of Mid-Delmarva, joins us to talk about providing housing and support for the homeless, while building a comprehensive social-service delivery system with a network of churches and nonprofits in Sussex county.  

Love INC of Mid-Delmarva received a $50,000 grant from the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund to provide shelter for the homeless in Sussex County. The organization strives to build strong, holistic relationships with clients in order to provide compassionate, comprehensive aid. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve partnered with hotels to provide shelter for the most vulnerable members of the homeless community. 

We also talk with Cynthia Pritchard, president & CEO of Philanthropy Delaware, and one of the DCF’s key partners in establishing the Strategic Response Fund. 

All six episodes in this second season of Building Opportunity will feature stories about how the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund has helped nonprofits meet the needs of our community during this crisis. DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay is our host. 

You can listen and subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Find all podcast episodes at delcf.org/podcast. 

Arsht-Cannon Fund Supports Delaware’s Latino Families with $582,248 in Grants

Posted by Rebecca Klug 
· Monday, July 13th, 2020 
· No Comments

The Arsht-Cannon Fund (ACF) at the Delaware Community Foundation has awarded $582,248 in grants to Delaware’s nonprofit organizations that are reaching out to Latino families with accessible and needed educational programs at this time of crisis.

To address the devastating and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latino families, FY 2020-21 grants ranged from direct relief to meet basic needs of qualified immigrant families in crisis, to support for the development of innovative and sustainable programs by collaborating nonprofit partners. In between, funding has been dedicated to a variety of programs that support learning and, ultimately, integration and empowerment.

“Amid the rising needs of families and the challenges faced by Latino-serving nonprofits, 2020-21 grant funding was prioritized to our nonprofit partners who redesigned their critically needed programs to reach families safely, effectively and with love, excellence and sustainability,” ACF Executive Director Dr. Christine Cannon said.

FY 2020-21 grant awards focused on:

Language Learning and Family Literacy

ESL@Lutheran Church of Our Savior – $20,000 (second year of grant) Multi-level classes and online English instruction 

PolyTech Adult Education – $20,000 (second year of grant) Family Literacy Program for parents and their children 

Literacy Delaware – $20,000 to strengthen southern Delaware’s ESL tutoring program 

Reading Assist – $20,000 to support AmeriCorps reading tutors at Academia Antonia Alonso Elementary School

Pre-K through Career Planning Programs                        

Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington – $17,500 to support the Hispanic Services Program, a 12-year educational/support program for Latino boys from Wilmington starting at age 10.

YMCA of Delaware – $13,000 for the Water Wise Program for 150 dual language learners at Academia Antonia Alonso Elementary School     

Project New Start – $12,500 to support and prepare Latinos for employment and community reentry post-incarceration  

Arts and Cultural Education

Three 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations – $2,750 each at the Milton Public Library, Route 9 Library and Innovation Center and Dover Library  

The Delaware Contemporary – $6,000 to support Building a Creative Future, a weekly arts program for at-risk youth

Health Supports for Learning

National Alliance for Mental Illness – Delaware – $19,448 to support the Hispanic Services Initiative throughout Delaware

Autism Delaware – $9,000 to provide the Family Peer Support Program to families with children with autism

Rosa Health Center – $25,000 to provide comprehensive care including health education to Latino families in central Sussex County

Educational Advocacy

Delaware Campaign for Achievement Now – $30,000 to expand Juntos Delaware, a Latino advocacy fellows training program

Community Collaborative Partnerships

Trinity Episcopal Parish – $40,000 to support bilingual counseling and referral services for Latino families between the parish and the Empowerment Center/Friendship House in Newport

La Esperanza Community Center – $107,550 to expand the La Colectiva-inspired Family Coaching and Navigation Program in southern Delaware 

First State Community Action – $100,000 for the Sussex County Relief Program, which supports payments to cover the basic needs (food, housing, utilities, etc.) of qualified Latino immigrant families in crisis. It is integrated with the Family Coaching and Navigation Program.

ChristianaCare Caregiver Relief Fund – $15,000 to provide direct support to families of Latino healthcare providers – frontline caregivers 

La Colectiva de Delaware – $114,000 for management, operations and communications; leadership awards and Collaborative Planning Team funding

About the Arsht-Cannon Fund 

The Arsht-Cannon Fund was established in 2004 through the gift of the estate of the Honorable Roxana Cannon Arsht and S. Samuel Arsht to the Delaware Community Foundation. The endowed fund benefits Delaware’s Hispanic families by partnering and funding nonprofits that provide educational opportunities — improving the lives of all Delawareans.

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