Delta Research & Educational Foundation
The Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF) is a public charity based in Washington, DC, established by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. It supports scholastic achievement, public service programs, and research initiatives focused on African American women. Its work includes grantmaking and program partnerships, charitable giving services for local Delta chapters, community-based project support, and research and public dialogue on socioeconomic policy issues.
Delta Research & Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: Delta Research & Educational Foundation gave $1.3M across 44 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), top state North Carolina. 93% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,259,609
- +146.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 44
- +57.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,627
- +56.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $12,369,513
- +8.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 93% first-time grantees (41 of 44, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Delta Research & Educational Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2026–2027 application period has ended. The foundation’s program page says the next application period will begin in November 2026, with awards made in fall 2027. Its published requirements include a program addressing issues affecting African American women and their families and explaining how the target population will be empowered to move beyond its current situation.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1703 New Hampshire Ave Nw, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 347-1337
Website: https://deltafoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Delta Research & Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greensboro Alumnae ($264K). Together the top 10 received $856K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 113 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DREF is based in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares were in North Carolina (35%), Virginia (10%), Georgia (9%), Texas (8%), and Florida (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Delta Research & Educational Foundation open to new grantees?
93%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 41 of 44 grantees (93%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $224K (2021) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 44 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro Alumnae Greensboro, NC | Program and Scholarships | $263,535 |
| Raleigh Alumnae Raleigh, NC | Program and Scholarships | $140,278 |
| Atlanta Alumnae Atlanta, GA | Program and Scholarships | $92,500 |
| Denbigh Alumnae Newport News, VA | Program and Scholarships | $75,000 |
| San Antonio Alumnae San Antonio, TX | Program and Scholarships | $68,377 |
| Philadelphia Alumnae Philadelphia, PA | Program and Scholarships | $55,035 |
| Denver Alumnae Denver, CO | Program and Scholarships | $49,500 |
| Jacksonville Alumnae Jacksonville, FL | Program and Scholarships | $44,905 |
| Memphis Alumnae Memphis, TN | Program and Scholarships | $35,000 |
| Winston-Salem Alumnae Winston-Salem, NC | Program and Scholarships | $31,873 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,369,513 | $5,028,222 | $4,510,681 | $1,259,609 | 44 | $536,615 |
| 2024 | $11,396,762 | $4,599,843 | $3,738,708 | $511,497 | 28 | $243,188 |
| 2023 | $9,949,470 | $4,699,018 | $3,774,143 | $315,126 | 14 | $277,299 |
| 2022 | $8,813,117 | $4,297,698 | $3,029,574 | $336,832 | 15 | $427,991 |
| 2021 | $8,923,415 | $3,932,041 | $2,678,625 | $224,273 | 12 | $464,917 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
DREF’s stated mission is to identify issues affecting Black women, their families, and communities of the African diaspora globally, and create solutions through research, programming, and funding in support of charitable and educational programs of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and other collaborative organizations.
Its stated program areas include chapter grants and technical assistance, research on African American women, and charitable contributions for public service and scholarship programs. DREF also describes the Center for Research on African American Women as examining education, economics, and health. Its website’s Community Empowerment Grantmaking Program is for Delta Sigma Theta chapters; eligible programs may be conducted by a chapter or in partnership with a community-based organization with 501(c)(3) status.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, DREF reported 44 grants totaling $1,259,609. Grant amounts ranged from $5,500 to $263,535, with a median of $12,500. The largest listed awards were to Greensboro Alumnae in North Carolina ($263,535), Raleigh Alumnae in North Carolina ($140,278), Atlanta Alumnae in Georgia ($92,500), Denbigh Alumnae in Virginia ($75,000), and San Antonio Alumnae in Texas ($68,377). Each was reported for “program and scholarships.”
DREF’s Community Empowerment Grantmaking Program is directed to Delta Sigma Theta chapters. For the 2026–2027 program, the foundation describes a $1,000 award for programs focused on economic uplift, including economics, financial literacy, wealth-building, investing, and venture capital. Applications are limited to one per chapter per year, and chapters may not apply in consecutive years. The foundation states that awards depend on availability and application rating scores. Recipients must report how grant funds were used; failure to submit reports can disqualify them from future funding.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Renee Harper as president, Tina Fernandez as vice president, Angela Williams as secretary, Jada Grandy-Mock as treasurer, and Deadra Woods Stokes as parliamentarian. Listed board members are Elsia Cooke-Holmes, Patirica Benson, Doris Gray Brown, Saraya Farver, and Lori Jones Gibbs.
Delta Research & Educational Foundation is led by Karla Green, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 1 of 27 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karla Green
Executive Director
Executive Director & From → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $123K (2025)
Renee L. Harper
President
Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela M. Williams
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doris Gray Brown
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan M. Prince
Board Member
Board Member → Chair of Programs, 2023
Chair of Programs → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Lindsey
Board Member
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nigel W. Long Esq.
Board Member
Board Member → Parliamentarian, 2023
Parliamentarian → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Nellons Paige
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Hunter
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Harman
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annie Whatley
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frederic Navarre
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Saraya Farver
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tina Fernandez
Vice President
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elsia Cooke-Holmes
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn Mason
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Stanley
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristan Murray
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Phillips Johnson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vonetta C. Mickens
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deadra Woods Stokes
Parliamentarian
Board Member → Parliamentarian, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jada Grandy-Mock
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Jones Gibbs
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sade Reid
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Lester
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela E. Smith
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patirica Benson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (28)
- Former: Tchicaya Robertson (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Cristel Turner (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Barbara Mosley Davis (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Karen Dorseau (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kimberly Lloyd (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Laurel Levy (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Anjanette Wyatt (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Constance Y. Ross Esq. (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Yanique O. Moore (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Dee Dee James Kong (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cheryl Turner (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Beverly E. Smith (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Carolyn E. Lewis (2021–2022) — President
- Former: Cheryl M. Thomas (2021–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Deborah A. Jones-Buggs (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Johnnie Brooks Booker (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Josie Daniels (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Leona M. Bridges (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Suzanne Brown Peters (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Elise Cooke-Homes (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Andria Jeffries (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Diamond Compton (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Doreen Dixon (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Larry P. Suarez (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Michele V. Hagans (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Pat Hurlock (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Patricia Lattimore (2021) — CEO
- Former: Xavier R. Richardson (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $123K, to Karla Green (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Delta Research & Educational Foundation
How much does Delta Research & Educational Foundation give each year?
Delta Research & Educational Foundation gave $1.3M across 44 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $511K across 28 grants.
What is Delta Research & Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
Delta Research & Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $28,627, across 44 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Delta Research & Educational Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does Delta Research & Educational Foundation give grants?
Delta Research & Educational Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (10%) and Georgia (9%).
Does Delta Research & Educational Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on Delta Research & Educational Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program and Scholarships" (44 grants).
Who are Delta Research & Educational Foundation's largest grantees?
Delta Research & Educational Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Greensboro Alumnae ($263,535), Raleigh Alumnae ($140,278) and Atlanta Alumnae ($92,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Delta Research & Educational Foundation?
Delta Research & Educational Foundation reported $12.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.0M.
What does Delta Research & Educational Foundation fund?
DREF’s stated mission is to identify issues affecting Black women, their families, and communities of the African diaspora globally, and create solutions through research, programming, and funding in support of charitable and educational programs of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and other collaborative organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Delta Research & Educational Foundation?
The 2026–2027 application period has ended. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Delta Research & Educational Foundation's EIN?
Delta Research & Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1338072. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Delta Research & Educational Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?