Since 1986, the Delaware Community Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars in the community, enabling us to help improve quality of life in the First State and expand opportunities for all.
Through our Community Impact Grants program, we make direct grants to initiatives throughout the state that demonstrate the greatest potential for impact. For specific requirements and timing, please explore the grant opportunities below.
View 2020 Community Impact Grant recipients.
For more information about the DCF’s grantmaking process, contact Yolanda Rushdan, Program Associate, at 302.504.5239. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for grant announcements!
Grant Opportunities
| Location | Grant Opportunities | Description | Application & Deadline |
| Statewide, unless otherwise noted | Specific Interest Grants | There are a variety of funds at the DCF that provide a structured opportunity for eligible nonprofits whose missions align with specific interest areas to apply for grants. These specific areas include: – Small grants for arts in Wilmington – Fulfillment of terminally ill children’s wishes – Support animals and animal welfare | Application is open Specific Interest Grants Guidelines Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online) |
| Statewide | Highmark BCBSD BluePrints for the Community Standard Grants | Quarterly grants from Highmark’s BluePrints for the Community fund, administered by the DCF, support health-related projects, programs and supportive services. Preference will be given to programs that address the following BluePrints priority areas faced by Delaware’s communities. Priority areas are: increasing access to health care for uninsured/underserved, reducing health disparities in minority communities, supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health, recruiting and training health care professionals, and addressing social determinants of health. Occasional Special Grants focused on meeting a more specific need may be announced in place of Standard Grants. | Application now open. 2021 application periods: · QUARTER 2: Mar. 29 – Apr. 19, 11:59 pm (notifications week of June 7) · QUARTER 3: Jul. 19 – Aug. 9, 11:59 pm (notifications week of Sept. 27) · QUARTER 4: Sept. 20 – Oct. 12, 11:59 pm (notifications week of Dec. 6) Eligibility Requirements Sample Application(for reference only – must apply online) |
| Statewide | COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund: Community Needs Grants | Grants help Delaware-serving 501(c)3 organizations address a broad range of community needs during the pandemic. | Application is now open Deadline: 5pm April 1 Guidelines and eligibility Sample application (for reference only – must apply online) Rubric |
| Statewide | Highmark BCBSD BluePrints for the Community Small Grants | Small grants will support health-related projects, programs and supportive services. Preference is given to programs that fit BluePrints for the Community priority areas. The community priority areas are: increasing access to health care for uninsured/underserved, reducing health disparities in minority communities, supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health, recruiting and training health care professionals and addressing social determinants of health. Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions announced to applicants at the beginning of each month. Small Grants cannot exceed $20,000. | Application now open. Deadline: Rolling basis through 2021 Eligibility Requirements Sample Application (for reference only – must apply online) |
| Statewide | Focus Grants: Youth Success | In 2021, grants will support organizations and initiatives working to build opportunity so all Delaware residents can overcome barriers to success, benefit equitably, and thrive. Investments in youth success are made to organizations statewide that are enabling at-risk, traditionally disadvantaged youth to advance their personal development and resiliency, civic engagement, physical health, educational readiness and achievement from birth to post-secondary. | Application is now closed Focus Grants Guidelines |
| Sussex County | Focus Grants: Thriving Latino Communities | In 2021, grants will support organizations and initiatives working to build opportunity so all Delaware residents can overcome barriers to success, benefit equitably, and thrive. Investments in Delaware’s Latino communities are made to initiatives in Sussex County enabling English learners and their families to thrive through expanded educational and community supports and that are building capacity and collaboration of service providers and resources in communities. | Application is now closed Focus Grants Guidelines |
| Statewide | Focus Grants: Leadership in Community New in 2021! | In 2021, grants will support organizations and initiatives that significantly increase leader-of-color-led organizations amongst DCF grantees, support community-driven change, and provide capacity-building funding to support current and next-generation leaders’ long-term success. | Application is now closed Focus Grants Guidelines |
| Statewide | Capital Project Grants | Grants will support construction, renovation or repair of buildings, and/or land purchases, so nonprofits statewide can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.
| Application now closed. Next application cycle opens Fall 2021. |
| Statewide | Fund for Women | Grants will support initiatives statewide that relate to health, wellness, and life skills that lead to future economic self-sufficiency for girls and women in Delaware. See application for specific focus areas. | Application is now closed |
| Statewide | African American Empowerment Fund of Delaware | The AAEFD funds causes important to the education, social and economic empowerment of African American Delawareans. Their grantmaking focus for 2019 will be education, and more specifically, higher education access and retention. | Application now closed. Next application cycle TBD. |
| New Castle County | The Next Generation – Northern Delaware | Grant focus TBA. | Next application cycle TBD. |
| New Castle County | Caesar Rodney Rotary Foundation (CRRF) New Castle County Youth Empowerment Fund | Available to New Castle County nonprofit organizations serving youth and young adults ages birth through 25 years who are underserved and at risk for not having the skills and support for a self-sufficient future. | Application now closed. |
| Statewide | Delaware Health Fund Advisory Committee | School Health and Health Equity Grants will support projects focused on improving health in school settings. Potential grantees include school districts, individual schools and other stakeholders. | Application now closed. |
| Statewide | Delaware Health Fund Advisory Committee | Creative Health Innovation Grants will support projects that focus on improving health and health equity and reach beyond incremental changes to explore ideas that are replicable and scalable to influence the future of health in Delaware. Potential grantees include those who may not be currently engaged in promoting health, but who are well connected to high risk communities/populations. | Application now closed. |
| Kent County | Potter Charitable Trust | The Potter Trust, established by Colonel Benjamin Potter in 1843, is one of the oldest trusts in the nation and has helped the economically underprivileged in Kent County for 177 years. | Application now closed. |
| Western Sussex County | Nanticoke Rotary Club | Grants support any nonprofit organization, including any qualified school (public or private) on the Delmarva Peninsula, with particular emphasis given to Western Sussex County. | Application now open until March 15th. |
| Kent and Sussex Counties | The Next Generation – Southern Delaware | Grants support programs addressing addiction, substance abuse, and family services and programs including, but not limited to, treatment services, addiction prevention and education, mental health services, and organizations supporting families touched by addiction. | Application now closed. |
| Kent County | Youth Philanthropy Board | 2021 grants will support nonprofits that provide mental health and/or domestic violence services, with a preference for organizations that serve elderly, unhoused and/or uninsured community members. | Application now closed. Next application cycle opens Winter 2021. |
| New Castle County | Youth Philanthropy Board | 2021 grants will support nonprofits that are advancing racial equity by building opportunity for all with special consideration for organizations providing arts, education, athletics and extracurricular activities. | Application now closed. Next application cycle opens Winter 2021. |
| Sussex County | Youth Philanthropy Board | 2021 grants will support 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. | Application now closed. Next application cycle opens Winter 2021. |
| Statewide | Delaware Nonprofit Support Fund (CARES) | A two-part, compliance-based, non-subjective grant program disbursing Federal CARES Act funds. | Round 3 applications are now closed |