The last two weeks in America have made clear once again the reality of our country’s racial injustices, past and present, and the deep opportunity gap that persists.
We are sad, angry, reflective and resolute. Our colleagues, neighbors and friends are hurting. The hurt is real. Even if we have not suffered discrimination personally, we simply must recognize that it insidiously diminishes what society could be – a community where all members can flourish.
First, the killing of George Floyd – as well as Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other neighbors and citizens – and the ensuing public demonstrations reflect real problems. They remind us again that we have simply not done enough to address deep racial inequities in our country. They are a reflection of deep frustrations and of something broken in our core values.
At the same time, the last three months of pandemic experience have been another acute example of the way troubles in this country impact the least advantaged harder than ever – as COVID-19 has disproportionately affected black and brown communities.
Moreover, the COVID-driven downturn in the economy has hit businesses everywhere, but it has hit black- and brown-owned businesses hardest of all. Already, the number of working African American business owners in the United States has plummeted more than 40 percent, according to the Washington Post, and working Latino-owned businesses have dropped 32 percent, compared to 22 percent for businesses overall.
All of these factors tell us again, we simply have to go deeper in our work to change the story around equity and race. The lived experience of too many in black and brown communities is unacceptable.
The demonstrations are an important reminder that the work of racial equity is nowhere near done. They are a reflection of deep frustrations and of something broken in our core values.
At the DCF, we are committed to lifting up equity issues throughout our work and in our approach. We believe in the goal of the American dream, where all people have real and meaningful opportunity for a sustainable, healthy and happy life.
And while we believe that philanthropy has done much good, we also know that the philanthropic sector – including the DCF – needs to get better. We need to listen, engage, facilitate, support. We must leverage the privilege of our positions to achieve equity.
We set out on this path a few years ago when we started consciously applying an equity lens in all of our grant making and revised our grant making priorities – to focus on equity, youth opportunity and Latino communities. We also convened a Community Equity Cohort – a group of activists and leaders engaged in addressing structural equity issues – to develop a package of recommendations for change in Delaware.
But there is much more to do, and the past two weeks have reminded us that we must work harder.
In the coming weeks and months, we will take several steps. First, we are reconvening our Community Equity Cohort, and we will begin implementing some of their recommendations. We also are revisiting our grant guidelines and programs, to make sure we’re addressing the most critical needs of Delaware’s communities.
Most importantly, and at the same time, we will listen to the community and our allies for other approaches; we will participate in efforts to address our deepest challenges; and we will support efforts that will bring us closer to our collective goal of true racial equity.
We look forward to hearing from you, and learning from you, as we all endeavor to make the changes that are so necessary.
Author Archive for Stuart Comstock-Gay
This first round of DCF podcasts concludes with a slightly different take. Dogfish Head beer is one of this state’s proud successes. And Sussex County local Mark Carter is the guy heading up their work in the community. Mark is committed to a healthy environment, committed to his kids, and an incredibly active member of numerous organizations – including the Delaware Nature Society, Milton Historical Society, Lewes Chamber of Commerce and others. He is also a former information officer for the US Marine Corps.
In this interview, we talk about how a private company can play an important role in building opportunity in our communities. Beyond the mere fact of employing many people, Dogfish Head has a deep commitment to strong communities.
Mark also talks about the role of the employees of Dogfish Head – being active as volunteers, suggesting projects for the company, and caring deeply about the places they call home. Their community work “permeates the brewery,” says Mark.
Mark probably hast the coolest job title of anybody I’ve met, but for him, it’s the coolest job, too – or as he says, “probably 99.9% the best job there…” Check it out, and hear his passion and commitment.
Listen to all nine episodes of Building Opportunity in Delaware at delcf.org/podcast.
Central to any discussion about community and building opportunity is our public library system. “Palaces for the people” was Andrew Carnegie’s phrase when he was building over 2,500 libraries across the country in the early part of the 20th century.
And so, in this episode, it is a pleasure to talk with one of the state’s librarians. Adriana Camacho-Church is a library specialist in the Bear Library. In her work, she spends time with the area’s immigrant community, helping them navigate resources and take advantage of the library’s many programs. Adriana herself found the library when she moved to Delaware, and it became a home to her – a place to feel welcome.
“I know what it’s like not to know the culture, not to know the system. You feel lost, you feel vulnerable, and you feel like you don’t belong. Especially if you don’t feel welcome.
“I think that’s what the libraries do. They help people feel welcome. We try to, we try to do that. We want them to know that this is a safe place where they can come and learn a language or find information that will give them hope, that will help them find direction.
“I’ve been there so I know and my whole family has been there because we came from Columbia.”
Palaces for the people. Building opportunity. Check it out.
It’s time for our first two-fer here on 5Qs – with Lynne Howard and Don Brown.
Lynne, a former government employee for the city (including a stint as chief of staff for the council), county (including time as Chief HR officer), and state (advisor on family issues for Gov. Carper); treasurer for the campaigns of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester; consultant; longtime volunteer (including many years with the Christina Cultural Arts Center); and philanthropist/donor. Don, former assistant county attorney for New Castle County; former Chief Deputy AG for the state of Delaware; former Corporate Counsel for Dupont (16 years); pro bono counsel for low-income Delawareans; volunteer with DCF’s grants and scholarships committees; and philanthropist/donor.
I admire these people greatly, not just for their accomplishments, but for their decency and friendship. And for their commitment to giving back. Enjoy.
1. What first motivated you to get involved in philanthropy?
We were both raised in families that valued being engaged in community, educational, faith-based work, political issues and action. Our parents modeled these values, and we were taught to give of our time, talents and resources, however small, for the betterment of others to make a difference in our communities.
Lynne attended a college that taught about and valued giving to support those in need or to make a change in a community condition. She attended college in Atlanta, in the home base of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work was an environment of community action and social justice, and that has remained with her to this day. Service to others was also a theme in Don’s college and early career as well.
2. What community endeavors are you proudest to support or engage in?
Areas of interest: education, childcare, arts, affordable housing, access to justice, and community health.
Organizations:
1. Christina Cultural Arts Center
2. Wilmington HOPE Commission
3. Mitchell Center for African American Heritage
4. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services
5. Children & Families First
6. Center for Educational Equity and Public Policy
3. Where do you see the greatest potential for philanthropy to drive change in Delaware?
Filling the gaps and complementing the work and financing where government and other funding support is just not adequate to make a sufficient difference. Philanthropy, in addition to providing needed resources to meet community needs, can also be a catalyst to inspire others to understand the gaps and needs and to step up with whatever they can bring to the table for the betterment of their community,
Philanthropy can also support bringing best practice experts to our community to enhance local work, research and advocacy already happening, thus moving action and improvements forward at a faster pace.
4. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned through your work in philanthropy?
Effective and meaningful contributions need not always be financial. Giving can include the giving of time and talent in areas such as planning, strategic guidance, staff encouragement, mentoring, outreach, advocacy and supplementing an organization’s limited staff and resources
All should recognize that philanthropy happens in both small and large ways. A small organization can have just as major a need for a new printer as another might have for a new roof. It’s a matter of perspective. People often think that philanthropy means having lots of money to give. That truly does not have to be the case. All have something to give, time, talent or treasures. We all need to find a way to get that message out more effectively.
5. How does your philanthropy contribute to expanding opportunity for people in Delaware?
We select causes and organizations focused on making a demonstrated difference each day in their service mission. A good project, well-conceived and carried out, attacks urgent needs and delivers clear results while constantly assessing and improving programs. A top-notch organization sets the area of focus and constantly assesses the effectiveness of results and stays in close touch with its customers and clients.
We particularly look at organizations that serve the truly under-served sectors of our community and the diversity of our community, not just on paper but in reality.
ABOUT 5Q with Stu: This series is a chance to highlight philanthropists who are helping to keep Delaware a great place, and to make it better.
I love this discussion.
I feel like I could have talked with Edwin Estevez for a whole day. As pastor of the Grace 
Methodist Church in Wilmington, convening minister of the Riverfront Church, and active member of many diverse communities in Wilmington, Edwin is thoughtful, passionate and connected. We shared stories of our church backgrounds, and connected around why strong communities drive our respective work.
To me, one of the most compelling themes was the basic human idea of truly seeing each other – in our varied experiences, needs, backgrounds, and humanity. I believe there is a lot of today’s divide that is driven by misunderstanding, and not genuinely listening to others and trying to understand. In Edwin’s discussion, he talks also about organizations that he admires, and that includes those that “walk alongside,” but don’t try to dictate.
For me, whether the motivation for this kind of community work comes from a religious base or another sense of community, it can get us to a positive place.
n.b. There’s a small oops in here. In our discussion of Francois Clemmons and Mr. Rogers, I said that Francois was the postman on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Later in the discussion, I realized my error, and acknowledged at the end that he was indeed “Officer Clemmons.” Mr. Rogers lovers will know what I’m talking about.
For over twenty years, Diane Laird led Delaware’s Main Street Program – a program that 
focuses on what downtowns can do to become healthier, more welcoming, and more robust. And for the past year and a half, she’s been the Executive Director of the Downtown Dover Partnership. It’s an important program that works to make downtown Dover a great place to be. Diane is our guest on this week’s podcast.
Diane makes clear that success in her work needs to involve anybody and everybody. “Our partners are anybody that I could lay eyes on truly because I really consider anybody that has an investment of any kind in the Downtown to be a potential partner, because they’re part of the future. They should be part of the planning for the future.”
And she is clear that the small size of Delaware makes it possible to do much more than elsewhere. “When I would travel to National Conference and talk with my fellow coordinators and the Texas coordinator would have to take planes to visit her city, her cities and towns in Texas and I can drive top to bottom and side to side. I guess there’s something about the close connections and the quickness of getting things done. I mean, there are certainly challenges as everywhere, but there is an opportunity to do things a little more quickly and maybe even get recognized, towns or people getting recognized on a statewide level that you wouldn’t necessarily have in Texas.”
Individual donors are the lifeblood of nonprofits everywhere. While we often focus on foundations, businesses and the government, the reality is that individuals account for almost 60% of all charitable giving to Delaware’s nonprofits. So everything and anything we can do to make it easier for individuals to give is a right thing to do.
That’s why the re-energized Delaware giving day – called Do More 24 Delaware – is a very positive development. The program – running from 6 p.m. on Thursday March 5 until 6 p.m. on March 6 – will involve more than 200 nonprofits, and is being coordinated by Spur Impact and the United Way of Delaware. Nonprofits across the state are encouraged to invite their supporters to donate through the DoMore24Delaware.org website (which builds on United Way of Delaware’s earlier giving day, and utilizing Spur Impact’s Delaware Gives platform).
The DCF has contributed to a stretch pool – of $40,000 and growing! – that will ensure every donation will be worth more than the original gift. Additional prizes will be offered throughout the 24 hours.
Other states and cities have thriving giving days, and this partnership is an opportunity to see that here, too.
The amount of money donated to nonprofits in Delaware is more than funding from government, corporations, and foundations combined. These donations support the nonprofits that everyone typically thinks of, such as churches, colleges, and disaster relief organizations. But donations are just as vital to those community focused organizations that many forget are also nonprofits.
For example, thousands of animals are taken in and later adopted each year from nonprofit animal shelters. Most of the 10,000+ babies born in Delaware each year are born in nonprofit hospitals. Tens of thousands of students enrolled in Delaware schools benefit every day from after school activities, summer camps, and music, arts, and athletics programs run by nonprofit organizations. These nonprofits would be unable to function without support from individual philanthropists.
Most donors to these nonprofit organizations are giving what they can when they can, and often in small amounts. These donations matter just as much as the larger ones, because they show breadth of support, and because they are part of the fabric of giving in our communities. And sometimes, those small gifts turn into larger gifts as donors get more familiar with, and more confident in, an organization.
So whatever organization you support, check out the website and make a gift. Your support will be appreciated, and it will make an impact.
We invite you to support your favorite nonprofit on Delaware’s giving day in March. Learn more or donate to Do More 24 Delaware on March 5 – 6 at DoMore24Delaware.org.
This week on our podcast we hear from Micheal Crumble.
Micheal Crumble for the H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club. (Have I ever said how much fun my job can be.)
Micheal Crumble is, in his own words, “Boys and Girls Clubs through and through.” For almost 20 years, he has been focused on helping kids through their programs – from Dumfries, Virginia to greater Washington, D.C., to Silver Spring, Maryland and now Wilmington. And that work comes after a career in the Air Force.
A military guy. A guy who cares about community and cares about kids and wants them to have real opportunity. Currently, Micheal is the Unit Director of the H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club in Wilmington.
Micheal is all in for this work, and has an important story to tell about his work.
It’s worth noting here what an important role the Boys and Girls Clubs are playing up and down the state. The program at Brown is serving some of the most overlooked kids in the city. But that’s also true at all of their facilities, and in their school based programs. In Seaford and Laurel and Milford and Dover and Smyrna, and, and, and.
Thanks to that organization. And thanks to Micheal for his leadership at the H. Fletcher Brown site.
Check out this week’s podcast here.
Listen and subscribe to all episodes in the series at delcf.org/podcast.
In episode four, we take a very different turn. Jacqueline Means is Delaware’s “STEM Queen.” Her story – and her passion – are changing lives and lifting girls to stronger futures.
And she is a true believer in the possibilities of Delaware. “I would say my story as a Delawarean, is one of a dreamer. I, over five years ago, was just a young girl who dreamt of hanging out with other girls and making slime with them and maybe even a little bit of ice cream… That idea just snowballed into this Woman to Urban STEM Initiative. Oh, we’re not only going to do experiments, we’re going to have speakers as well, and a free lunch and an anti-bullying demonstration and just really pack the day full of positivity for these young girls who don’t always get to have all this positivity in their life, like other girls living just one or two zip codes away from them. I would say that Delaware is definitely somewhere where you can make things happen.”
This interview will make you smile, will make you proud for this powerful young woman, and will give you renewed hope for the possibilities of Delaware. Listen here.
Find all the episodes in the series at delcf.org/podcast.
When the story of quiet and committed community leadership in Wilmington is written, Tom Sager’s name simply has to be part of it. His decency, commitment, smarts, passion for equality, and legal leadership are known across the legal profession. He is the recipient of many awards and broad recognition. His hard work for important organizations in Delaware is known and valued by many. As the immediate past Chair of the DCF, he has played a critical role in this organization’s work. And as an individual philanthropist, he is much respected. We are thrilled to share his comments here.
1. Why is philanthropy important to you?
Tom Sager at the opening of the Community Education Building playground in 2019.
Having been blessed with a law degree and the good fortune of working for the DuPont Company for 38 years, I have often observed first-hand what a positive and dramatic impact philanthropy can have upon the citizens in a state the size of Delaware. Whether it is done through volunteering, monetary donations or participation in United Way-sponsored events, the goodwill generated while connecting with our fellow citizens in need is real and palpable.
2. What first motivated you to get involved in philanthropy?
Plain and simple, in 1976 when I joined DuPont, the “giving unselfishly” mindset was instilled in me by our wonderful leaders within the executive ranks from day one. Ed Woolard, Jack Krol, Chad Holiday, Ellen Kullman, Chuck Welch, and Stacey Mobley just to name a few. But it was the culture and ethos within DuPont that touched me deeply and, I am sure, so many other of my DuPont colleagues.
3. What are the greatest factors influencing your decisions when you consider opportunities you could support?
Identifying a “community-based need” which is local, observable, and capable of actually being addressed through the collective efforts of other like-minded individuals.
4. What community endeavors are you proudest to support or engage in?
There are several that strike a chord with me. The ChristianaCare healthy heart campaign targeting the African-American community, the Community Education Building under There DuPont’s leadership, which saw the need to create a playground for the youngsters attending that inner-city school, and finally, the Innocence Project just now being launched at Widener Law School to research and provide legal representation to inmates unjustly convicted.
5. Where do you see the greatest potential for philanthropy to drive change in Delaware?
A disclaimer is in order here. I am a board member and past chair of the Delaware Community Foundation. My introduction to this incredibly effective and visionary organization came through Marilyn Hayward, the past chair who recruited me as her successor, and Fred Sears, the CEO at DCF for 13 years. I am amazed as to how this foundation has evolved under Stuart Comstock-Gay’s leadership and its transformation in developing a far more integrated approach to some of our community’s most pressing needs. The DCF inspires me greatly based upon my first-hand experience in observing the diverse groups and organizations, up and down the state, that it collaborates with to make a difference.