Delaware Grants for Nonprofits
Learn about grants for Delaware by browsing our curated list of top Delaware funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.
Funding landscape and giving trends in Delaware
Grantmaking in Delaware has accelerated since the early 2010s. Home to over 1,200 grantmakers, more than $600 million dollars in grants have been awarded to Delaware-based organizations. This number continues to grow as needs increase and foundational partnerships improve collaboration between themselves across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Philanthropy Delaware, the leading statewide association of grantmakers in the state, further identifies major shifts in Delaware giving. Philanthropy Delaware notes how unique Delaware’s giving space is in that “its Foundation and Corporate giving are both double the national average with individual donors 18% lower than the national average.” Significant corporate giving moves through Delaware-based organizations: 12% of giving in Delaware in 2019, a number that appears to be growing and that reflects a major shift from past giving. Another important factor for grantmaking in Delaware includes individual, everyday givers that in 2019 alone included 57% of Delaware citizens.
Grants for education continue to dominate Delaware grantmaking. However, philanthropy and nonprofit organization, human services, health and community development reflect other important focus areas for grants to Delaware nonprofits. As well, in contrast with the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region, nonprofit employment has increased significantly to meet the demands of foundations that are building out their staff to better support local giving. Many foundations are working on increasing the relationship between the government and giving foundations, as well, to improve outcomes in the state.
That said, Delaware’s top funders are a mix of private, public, corporate and community foundations, which have raised Delaware’s grantmaking profile by millions. Major funders of Delaware grants include the Longwood Foundation, the Delaware Community Foundation, The American Gift Fund, The Educational Foundation of America, Crystal Trust, Robert & Ardis James Foundation, the Adobe Foundation, The Wasily Family Foundation, the Welfare Foundation, Kent-Lucas Foundation, Horizon Charitable, Good Samaritan, Marmot Foundation, and the Delaware Bar Foundation, among many others.
