Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc
The Chichester duPont Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, established in 1947. The foundation operates through two distinct funds—the Clark Fund and the Lydia Fund—each with specific charitable purposes and beneficiaries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.9M
+6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
-5.5% YoY
Grant Count
64
-12.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+7.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trustees of the foundation devote particular emphasis to programs concerned with the environment, education, health care, and social services. The foundation prioritizes initiatives to which its giving will play a pivotal role in creating positive, sustained change.
The Clark Fund was founded in 1946 by Mary Chichester duPont Clark and focuses on environment, education, health care, and social services.
The Lydia Fund was created upon the death of Lydia C. duPont in 1958 and is dedicated to the benefit of The Children's Beach House in Lewes, Delaware. This fund focuses on the needs, medical care, treatment, and education of underprivileged children throughout Delaware.
Grantmaking
Gregory F. Fields, Secretary
Grant Range
s & Types:**
Review Cycle
May 1
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports initiatives in Delaware, with approximately 68% of grants staying within the state. Other states receiving significant grant support include Virginia, Maryland, Idaho, and Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $47,940,933
- Total Giving: $2,140,500
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $45,145,374
- Total Income: $7,263,412
As of 2022:
- Total Assets: $43.4 million
- Total Revenue: $766,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,940,933 | $45,145,374 | $43,350,130 |
| Revenue | $3,232,519 | $1,304,331 | $765,958 |
| Expenses | $2,772,997 | $2,871,260 | $2,637,583 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,280,743 | $2,400,293 | $2,135,944 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,232,519 | $1,304,331 | $765,958 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,306,233 | $2,182,350 | $2,330,707 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Beach House ($626,000), Children's Beach House ($250,000), First State Educate ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART THERAPY HOCKESSIN, DE | FUNDING TO PLAN, DESIGN AND DEVELOP NEW STUDIO PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| CAMP POSSIBILITIES PORT DEPOSIT, MD | FUNDING OVERNIGHT CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH DIABETES | $10,500 |
| CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS YORKLYN, DE | FUNDING OF ART ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| CHILDREN'S BEACH HOUSE WILMINGTON, DE | FUNDING OPERATION OF THE CHILDREN'S BEACH HOUSE | $626,000 |
| CHILDREN'S BEACH HOUSE WILMINGTON, DE | MATCHING OF CHALLENGE GRANT FROM THE MA-RAN ENDOWMENT | $250,000 |
| CLOTHING OUR KIDS MILLSBORO, DE | FUNDING NEW SCHOOL CLOTHING | $15,000 |
| DELAWARE FOUNDATION REACHING CHILDREN NEWARK, DE | FUNDING HAND-IN-HAND PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| ENGINEER EARLY ASSOCIATION DOVER, DE | FUNDING STEM PROGRAM AIMED AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN | $10,000 |
| FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE WILMINGTON, DE | FUNDING DANCEWORKS OUTREACH PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| FOUR YOUTH GREENVILLE, DE | FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE 'ART IN THE GARDEN' PROGRAM | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Alexis Gahaghan - President
- Allaire Hummel - Vice President
- Gregory F. Fields - Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER T DUPONT | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| KATHARINE GAHAGAN | VICE-PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CAROLINE PRICKETT | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| LYNNE L DORSEY | TREASURER | — | — |
| ALLAIRE HUMMEL | VICE-PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ALEXIS GAHAGAN | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| KATHY C GAHAGAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MARY MILLS ABEL-SMITH | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| SOPHIE M DERRICKSON | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GREGORY F FIELDS | CORPORATE SECRETARY | 30 | — |
| WILLIAM PRICKETT | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ELISE GAHAGAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| EMILIE D CRIST | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| HOLLEY DUPONT | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc fund?
The trustees of the foundation devote particular emphasis to programs concerned with the environment, education, health care, and social services. The foundation prioritizes initiatives to which its giving will play a pivotal role in creating positive, sustained change. **The Clark Fund** was founded in 1946 by Mary Chichester duPont Clark and focuses on environment, education, health care, and social services. **The Lydia Fund** was created upon the death of Lydia C. duPont in 1958 and is dedi…
How do I apply for a grant from Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes & Types:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $875,000 • The foundation generally does not consider requests for more than $50,000 • Preference is given to proposals for new initiatives, special projects, expansion of current programs, and capital improvements • Grants are usually awarded for one year only, though projects in areas of special interest may be considered for multi-year funding • In general, the foundation accepts grant applications for no more than four con…
Where does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports initiatives in Delaware, with approximately 68% of grants staying within the state. Other states receiving significant grant support include Virginia, Maryland, Idaho, and Maine.
What size grants does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc awarded 64 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's EIN?
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-6011641. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Ttee Trustees of Univ of Mass - Art 5
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$380K
Grants
1
Total Given
$14K
The Jonsson Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$784K
Grants
3
Total Given
$15K
The Cucci Family Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$579K
Grants
4
Total Given
$45K
Westly Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$4.1M
Grants
55
Total Given
$1.2M
Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$8.9M
Grants
22
Total Given
$392K
The John C Griswold Family Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$13.4M
Grants
68
Total Given
$534K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc to a real strategy.