Delaware Humanities Council
Delaware Humanities Council, based in Claymont, Delaware, is a public charity that provides educational and cultural opportunities through programming and grants for nonprofits. It serves people and communities in all three Delaware counties and is Delaware’s independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Delaware Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Delaware Humanities Council gave $160K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Delaware. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $160,300
- -19.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $14,573
- -12.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $18,000
- Total assets
- $1,260,575
- +0.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Delaware (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Delaware Humanities Council
- How to Apply
-
The Action/Innovation process begins with an LOI; organizations invited to proceed submit a full application and required materials. The council encourages applicants to contact its Grant Officer early in the application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3301 Green Street Suite 203, Claymont, DE 19703
Phone: (302) 657-0650
Website: https://dehumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Delaware Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was History Book Festival ($18K). Together the top 10 received $155K.
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 107 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council provides opportunities to people and communities in all three Delaware counties. Its reported 2024 grants were all awarded to Delaware recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Delaware Humanities Council open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $160K (2024) to $645K (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $160K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| History Book Festival Lewes, DE | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware Wilmington, DE | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation Wilmington, DE | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Plastic Free Delaware Wilmington, DE | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Berkana Center for Media and Education Inc Wilmington, DE | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Delaware Public Archives Dover, DE | Program Support | $18,000 |
| Network Delaware Wilmington, DE | Program Support | $16,200 |
| Neighborhood House Inc Wilmington, DE | Program Support | $12,000 |
| Department of Human Resources Dover, DE | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Southern Delaware Alliance For Racial Justice Lewes, DE | Program Support | $9,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,260,575 | $939,663 | $1,024,272 | $160,300 | 11 | $24,065 |
| 2023 | $1,254,892 | $1,041,316 | $1,061,255 | $199,475 | 12 | $18,161 |
| 2022 | $1,224,490 | $911,668 | $1,423,647 | $645,124 | 31 | $47,507 |
| 2021 | $1,987,019 | $1,484,720 | $921,245 | $321,418 | 19 | $56,467 |
| 2020 | $1,113,132 | $1,005,761 | $981,374 | $444,221 | 34 | $5,589 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is to strengthen communities by connecting Delawareans through shared human experiences. It supports humanities projects through Opportunity and Action/Innovation grants, and offers low- or no-cost lectures and discussions through its Speakers/Visiting Scholars programming. Its other stated activities include special-initiative events and a family reading and discussion program administered with public libraries and other eligible nonprofits serving populations with low literacy levels.
Eligible applicants listed by the organization include nonprofits; K–12 schools, colleges, and universities; museums; libraries; historical preservation groups; state and local government agencies; professional or social organizations; social service organizations; community or religious groups; noncommercial media firms; and ad hoc groups.
Examples of grantees include Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation, whose stated mission is to inspire innovation through exploration of historical collections, the original DuPont powder yard, and online resources; Network Delaware, whose mission is to activate change agents; and Neighborhood House, which describes programs in early learning, youth services, crisis alleviation, housing counseling, and community development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the council reported 11 grants totaling $160,300. The grants ranged from $5,100 to $18,000, with a median of $18,000. Its website says grants range from a few hundred dollars to $18,000 and average $5,500.
All 11 reported 2024 grants went to recipients in Delaware. Recipients included History Book Festival ($18,000), Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware ($18,000), Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation ($18,000), Plastic Free Delaware ($18,000), Berkana Center for Media and Education ($18,000), Delaware Public Archives ($18,000), Network Delaware ($16,200), and Neighborhood House ($12,000). The listed purposes were program support.
For Action/Innovation grants, the published requirements include submitting a letter of inquiry (LOI); an organization may or may not be invited to submit a full application. Nonprofit applicants must have current tax-exempt status and be in good standing, provide their most recent Form 990, and have a Unique Entity ID. The published Action/Innovation grant description sets a maximum award of $18,000 and requires a 1:1 cost-share match. Applications are assessed for financial and organizational stability before external committee review and final board approval.
The council says it cannot fund projects focused on personal rather than public concerns; events not open to the public; existing organizations’ operating expenses; construction, restoration, equipment, property, or capital purchases; certain acquisitions not directly tied to humanities programming; lobbying or direct social action; one-sided treatments of issues; fundraising for for-profit or commercial purposes; alcoholic beverages or entertainment costs; or candidates for public office. It identifies insufficient humanities content as the most common reason for rejection and advises applicants to establish the humanities role clearly and use humanities experts as project speakers or leaders.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michele Anstine as Executive Director; Adenike Davidson as Chair; Amy Ferrer as Vice-Chair; Sara Jatcko as Secretary; and Jim Purcell as Treasurer. Listed board members are Ruthi Adams Joseph, Clay Athey, Kimeu Boynton, Harry Blake, and Stephanie Brown.
Delaware Humanities Council is led by Michele Anstine, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 26 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michele Anstine
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$86K (2020) → $95K (2024)
Adenike Davidson
Chair
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alana Dionne King
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Ferrer
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Henderson
Board Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Trembanis
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stan Divorski
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Coker
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Devon Filicicchia
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Campbell
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry Blake
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Nasstrom Evans
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ilona Holland
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Iva Hairston
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jianguo Chen
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimeu Boynton
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruthi Adams Joseph
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Fischer
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clay Athey
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Jackson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Jatkco
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Powers
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Redmond
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Purcell
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shane Cannon
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Brown
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Akash Dania (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Lucas Clawson (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Murowany (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Peter Zoll (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Justin Richards (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sara Jatcko (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Williams (2022) — Chair
- Former: Andrew Marshall III (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Brandon Harper (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: David Teague (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: George Tzanis (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Epler (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joan Hoge-North (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Matthew Kinservik (2020–2021) — Chairman
- Former: Richard Claypoole (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Robert McKennett (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rony Baltazar-Lopez (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas William (2020–2021) — Vice Chairman
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $95K, to Michele Anstine (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Delaware Humanities Council
How much does Delaware Humanities Council give each year?
Delaware Humanities Council gave $160K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $199K across 12 grants.
What is Delaware Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Delaware Humanities Council's median grant in 2024 was $18,000, and its average grant was $14,573, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Delaware Humanities Council that year got $13K on average.
Where does Delaware Humanities Council give grants?
Delaware Humanities Council gives mostly in Delaware: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, DE (6 grants), Dover, DE (2 grants) and Lewes, DE (2 grants).
Does Delaware Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Delaware Humanities Council's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (11 grants).
Who are Delaware Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Delaware Humanities Council's largest 2024 grantees include History Book Festival ($18,000), Local Journalism Initiative of Delaware ($18,000) and Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation ($18,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Delaware Humanities Council?
Delaware Humanities Council reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $940K.
What does Delaware Humanities Council fund?
The organization’s mission is to strengthen communities by connecting Delawareans through shared human experiences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Delaware Humanities Council?
The Action/Innovation process begins with an LOI; organizations invited to proceed submit a full application and required materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Delaware Humanities Council's EIN?
Delaware Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0212681. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Delaware Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Wilmington, DE
Delaware Community Foundation supports nonprofits and students addressing community needs in Delaware, including community-impact projects, capital improvements, and scholarships. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $21,500, though awards varied widely. Applicants are directed to apply through the relevant program’s online portal; whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
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Welfare Foundation Inc
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Longwood Foundation Inc
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Longwood Foundation supports nonprofit organizations across sectors, funding operating, program, and capital requests that strengthen their work and impact. Recent average awards are $250,000–$400,000, with requests capped at $2 million; it serves Delaware and the area within four miles of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. It accepts online grant requests, with Spring and Fall deadlines of March 1 and September 1.
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Crestlea Foundation Inc
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Crestlea Foundation supports nonprofits working in social services, education, health care, arts and culture, the environment, housing, and civic causes, primarily in Delaware and parts of southeastern Chester County, Pennsylvania. Its typical grant is about $15,000, with recent awards ranging from $4,250 to $50,000. It accepts applications, but organizations must first meet with foundation staff and receive an access code; annual applications are due January 15.
Assets
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Happy Difference Foundation
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In 2024, the foundation funded Delaware organizations working in areas including food access, community services, education, libraries, and health care. Its 39 grants ranged from $500 to $62,500, with a median grant of $2,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
39
Total Given
$280K
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Delaware Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/delaware-humanities-council-morg_df44584f359b481885b13d54d9c3b1a1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510212681_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Delaware Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/delaware-humanities-council-morg_df44584f359b481885b13d54d9c3b1a1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Delaware Humanities Council'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.
Delaware Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?