Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc
Chichester duPont Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It makes grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, with stated emphasis on the environment, education, health care, and social services, and on projects where its support can play a pivotal role.
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc gave $2.1M across 64 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in Delaware. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,140,500
- -5.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 64
- -12.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $33,445
- +7.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $47,940,933
- +6.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (28 of 63, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Delaware (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The website says applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations; individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. Its application instructions call for a cover letter with a brief project description and requested amount, a proposal of no more than three pages with objectives, an outline of monitoring and evaluation, the organization’s most recently board-approved budget, and proof of 501(c)(3) status. The website describes an online grant portal. It gives preference to new initiatives, special projects, program expansion, and capital improvements. Grants are usually for one year, though multi-year funding may be considered in areas of special interest; organizations are generally limited to applying for no more than four consecutive years and may submit only one application per calendar year. Grantees must submit an evaluation report within twelve months of receiving funds. The foundation does not fund work outside the United States or grants to individuals or organizations carrying on propaganda or attempting to influence legislation. Its filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The website’s 2026 application cycle was scheduled to open by March 1, 2026, with a June 1, 2026 deadline for consideration at the Fall 2026 board meeting; that deadline has passed. The 2024 filing lists September 1 as the application deadline.
- Deadline
- The website’s 2026 application cycle was scheduled to open by March 1, 2026, with a June 1, 2026 deadline for…
- Contact
Application contact: Gregory F Fields Secretary
Mailing address: 5720 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807
Phone: (302) 658-5244
Email: gfields@eltoninc.com
Website: https://chichesterdupont.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc
Who Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Beach House ($876K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
296 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 287 grants of 296 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website limits funding to projects in the United States. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Delaware, 5% to Idaho, 3% to Maryland, and 1% each to Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 64 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 63 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 37% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2020) to $2.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 64 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| First State Educate Hockessin, DE | Funding program to increase public engagement in school governance | $50,000 |
| Central Delaware Housing Dover, DE | Funding Emergencey Shelter for Homeless Single Women | $30,000 |
| Claymont Community Center Claymont, DE | Funding Community Market and Garden | $30,000 |
| Delaware College Scholars Wilmington, DE | Funding Summer Camp Program | $30,000 |
| Food Bank Newark, DE | Funding Backpack Program | $30,000 |
| Idaho Rivers United Boise, ID | Funding to Educate the Public Regarding Proposed Mining | $30,000 |
| Leading Youth Through Empowerment Wilmington, DE | Funding programs in middle and high schools for low income families | $30,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Delaware Wilmington, DE | Funding Youth Programs for Reproductive Health Education | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,940,933 | $3,232,519 | $2,772,997 | $2,140,500 | 64 | $2,280,743 | $3,232,519 | $2,306,233 |
| 2023 | $45,145,374 | $1,304,331 | $2,871,260 | $2,264,627 | 73 | $2,400,293 | $1,304,331 | $2,182,350 |
| 2022 | $43,350,130 | $765,958 | $2,637,583 | $2,002,980 | 58 | $2,135,944 | $765,958 | $2,330,707 |
| 2021 | $53,447,477 | $4,974,467 | $2,629,508 | $2,007,150 | 59 | $2,136,018 | $4,974,467 | $2,439,502 |
| 2020 | $46,211,483 | $2,409,754 | $2,158,253 | $1,605,237 | 42 | — | $1,973,984 | $2,021,587 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes the Clark Fund’s emphasis as environment, education, health care, and social services. It also describes the Lydia Fund as supporting The Children’s Beach House and focusing on children’s needs, medical care, treatment, and education in Delaware.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The Children’s Beach House says it works to improve the lives of children, youth, families, and communities by helping them identify and use their strengths and resources. First State Educate describes its goal as helping Delaware school boards lead effectively and supporting engaged communities and student success. Idaho Rivers United says it works to protect and restore Idaho’s rivers, with a focus on ecological integrity and citizen involvement. Delaware College Scholars says it prepares high-achieving, under-resourced Delaware public high school students for college, with preference for first-generation students. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 64 grants totaling $2,140,500. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $626,000, with a median of $20,000. The foundation’s website says it generally does not consider requests above $50,000, although the 2024 filing lists two grants to The Children’s Beach House above that amount: $626,000 for operations and $250,000 as a match for a challenge grant.
Other notable 2024 grants included $50,000 to First State Educate for a program to increase public engagement in school governance, and $30,000 each to Central Delaware Housing for an emergency shelter for homeless single women, Delaware College Scholars for a summer camp program, Idaho Rivers United for public education regarding proposed mining, and Project New Start for mental health support and employment opportunities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alexis Gahagan as president; Katharine Gahagan and Allaire Hummel as vice-presidents; Lynne L. Dorsey as treasurer; Gregory F. Fields as corporate secretary; and Christopher T. duPont, Caroline Prickett, Kathy C. Gahagan, Mary Mills Abel-Smith, and Sophie M. Derrickson as trustees.
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc is led by Alexis Gahagan, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 14 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alexis Gahagan
President
Treasurer → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Caroline Prickett
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher T. Dupont
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathy C. Gahagan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary Mills Abel-Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sophie M. Derrickson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elise Gahagan
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Emilie D. Crist
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Holley Dupont
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
William Prickett
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Allaire Hummel
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gregory F. Fields
Corporate Secretary
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Gahagan
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lynne L. Dorsey
Treasurer
President → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc
How much does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc give each year?
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc gave $2.1M across 64 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 73 grants.
What is Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $33,445, across 64 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc that year got $21K on average.
Where does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc give grants?
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc gives mostly in Delaware: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, DE (29 grants), Dover, DE (4 grants), Hockessin, DE (3 grants) and Newark, DE (3 grants).
Does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 64) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Beach House ($876,000 across 2 grants), First State Educate ($50,000) and Central Delaware Housing ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc?
Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc reported $47.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website describes the Clark Fund’s emphasis as environment, education, health care, and social services. It also describes the Lydia Fund as supporting The Children’s Beach House and focusing on children’s needs, medical care, treatment, and education in Delaware. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc?
The website says applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations; individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chichester-dupont-foundation-inc-morg_612f2e497b2b45ce9238530a2588636f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_516011641_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chichester-dupont-foundation-inc-morg_612f2e497b2b45ce9238530a2588636f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Chichester Dupont Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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