Wilmington University Inc logo

Wilmington University Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker New Castle, DE EIN: 51-0107088 Website

Wilmington University Inc is a public charity based in New Castle, Delaware. Its stated purpose is to provide accessible, affordable higher education through career-oriented degree and certificate programs, while its 2025 filing reports grants to 13 recipients, all in Delaware.

Key facts about Wilmington University Inc

In short: Wilmington University Inc gave $113K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Delaware. 46% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
51-0107088
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$113,300
Grants made (2025)
13
Average grant
$8,715
Median grant
$8,000
New grantees (estimate)
46% first-time grantees (6 of 13, 2025)
Total assets
$384,874,339
Primary geography
Delaware (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Deadline
The scholarship page lists November 1, 2026, as the WilmU application deadline for the Spring 2027 scholarship term.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$384.9M

+3.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$113K

+9.3% YoY

Grant Count

13

+30.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-15.9% YoY

Is Wilmington University Inc open to new grantees?

46%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 6 of 13 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $9K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $6K repeat.

  • 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 172% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The university’s mission emphasizes excellence in teaching, relevant programs, individual attention, and accessible higher education for students with varied ages, interests, and aspirations. It says its career-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs and certificates are designed to help students begin or advance careers and pursue lifelong learning.

The 2025 grants listed include event sponsorships and donations to Delaware organizations. The supported organizations’ own descriptions illustrate the range of recipients: the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce says it promotes a stronger business climate in the state; the Grand Opera House says it provides live performances and educational programs; and the Mary Campbell Center says it serves people with special needs. ZIP Code Wilmington describes its work as software-development training and job placement, while Delaware Technical & Community College describes its mission as providing financial assistance to the college. These are the grantees’ descriptions, not stated university grantmaking priorities.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, Wilmington University reported 13 grants totaling **$113,300**. Grant amounts ranged from **$5,200 to $15,670**, with a median of **$8,000**. Listed purposes include sponsorship of events, a donation, and support for an anniversary innovation sponsor.

Review Cycle

The scholarship page lists November 1, 2026, as the WilmU application deadline for the Spring 2027 scholarship term. Its June 1, 2026, deadline for the Fall 2026 term has passed. These are student scholarship deadlines, not deadlines for grants to outside organizations.

How to Apply

for outside organizations seeking grants.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Delaware. The listed recipients are located in Wilmington, New Castle, and Dover.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

WilmingtonNew CastleDoverMontchaninGeorgetownGlenviewNewarkPhiladelphia

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K11 grants2019 9 grants2020 4 grants2021 5 grants2022 10 grants2023 10 grants2024 13 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2022) to $119K (2023). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $113K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce: $16KDelaware State Chamber ofCommerce$16KNew Castle Chamber of Commerce: $14KNew Castle Chamber of Commerce$14KGrand Opera House: $13KGrand Opera House$13KPenn Acres Swim Club Inc: $13KPenn Acres Swim Club Inc$13KBoys & Girls Club of Delaware: $8KBoys & Girls Club of Delaware$8KJunior Achievement of DE Inc: $8KJunior Achievement of DE Inc$8KWilmington Blue Rocks LP: $8KWilmington Blue Rocks LP$8KRonald McDonald House: $6KRonald McDonald House$6KThe Mary Campbell Center: $6KThe Mary Campbell Center$6KDuffy's Hope: $6KDuffy's Hope$6K

The largest 2025 recipient was Delaware State Chamber of Commerce ($16K). Together the top 10 received $97K.

Grant Size Distribution

42 grants across all recorded years

42<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Wilmington, DESponsorship of Various Events$15,670
New Castle Chamber of Commerce Wilmington, DESponsorship of Various Events$13,750
Grand Opera House Wilmington, DESponsorship of Annual Gala and Golf Classic$13,000
Penn Acres Swim Club Inc New Castle, DEDonation$12,500
Boys & Girls Club of Delaware Wilmington, DESponsorship of golf classic and youth of the year event$8,480
Junior Achievement of DE Inc Wilmington, DESponsorship of Various Events$8,000
Wilmington Blue Rocks LP Wilmington, DESponsorship of the 2025 Season$8,000
Ronald McDonald House Wilmington, DESponsorship of 5k series and wine women & shoes event$6,000
The Mary Campbell Center Wilmington, DESponsorship of Golf Invitational$6,000
Duffy's Hope Wilmington, DESponsorship of Various Events$5,700

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $384,874,339 $142,357,658 $136,037,155 $113,300 (13 grants)
2024 $371,599,373 $156,581,244 $133,473,842 $103,641 (10 grants)
2023 $357,282,631 $123,946,874 $121,397,331 $118,505 (10 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$50M$100M$150M$200M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$384,874,339$371,599,373$357,282,631
Revenue$142,357,658$156,581,244$123,946,874
Expenses$136,037,155$133,473,842$121,397,331
Net Investment Income$8,090,549$16,966,395$-3,679,222

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Robert C Cole Jr, Alan D Ellingsworth, Michael J Farnan, Larry D Gehrke, Mariam Koohdary (as of February 1, 2025), David F Marvin, Lawrence H Miller, Edmund Pribitkin, John J Ray III, and Dana P Robinson.

Wilmington University Inc is led by Laverne T. Harmon, President on every filing since 2019; 10 of 26 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Laverne T. Harmon

    President

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $833K (2019) → $1.4M (2025)

  • Joseph J. Farnan Jr.

    Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melissa A. Zebley

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2022) → $0 (2025)

  • Alan D. Ellingsworth

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Allen L. Samuels

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana P. Robinson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David F. Marvin

    Trustee

    Vice Chairman → Trustee, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Edmund Pribitkin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Larry D. Gehrke

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lawrence H. Miller

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael J. Farnan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert C. Cole Jr.

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sue L. Robinson

    Trustee

    Trustee → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tracy T. Woodson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John J. Ray III

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mariam Koohdary

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carole D. Pitcher

    Former Vice President

    Vice President → Former Vice President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    $369K (2019) → $593K (2025)

  • Christian Trowbridge

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $323K (2019) → $436K (2025)

  • Erin J. Dimarco

    Senior Vice President & COO

    Vice President → Senior Vice President & COO, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $486K (2019) → $661K (2025)

  • Heather A. O'Connell

    Vice President

    CFO & Vice President → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $432K (2019) → $2.4M (2025)

  • Jacqueline Varsalona

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $258K (2019) → $407K (2025)

  • James Wilson Jr.

    Professor

    Vice President → Professor, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $350K (2019) → $443K (2025)

  • Lloyd Ricketts

    Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer

    Vice President & CFO → Vice President, CFO & Treasurer, 2024

    Vice President, CFO & Treasurer → Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $63K (2023) → $597K (2025)

  • Phillip Closius

    Dean

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $422K (2024) → $532K (2025)

  • Denise Wells

    Vice President

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $285K (2025)

  • Thomas E. Leipold

    Vice Chairman

    Vice Chairman & Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (16)
  • Former: Peter Bailey (2019–2024) — Former Vice President
  • Former: Thomas S. Shaw (2019–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: David Lewis (2019–2023) — Assistant Vice President
  • Former: Eileen Donnelly (2019–2023) — Vice President
  • Former: Irene Du Pont Jr. (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Angela Suchanic (2019–2022) — Assistant Vice President
  • Former: Donna Quinn (2019–2022) — Executive Director - Office of
  • Former: Jack P. Varsalona (2019–2022) — President Emeritus
  • Former: Tina Barksdale (2019–2022) — Vice President
  • Former: Peter Lutus (2021–2022) — Assistant & Vice President
  • Former: Peg Mitchell (2022) — Assistant & Vice President
  • Former: G. Dean Macewen MD (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Richard P. Sanger (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Sallie Reissman (2021) — Assistant & Vice President
  • Former: John Cunningham (2019–2020) — Assistant & Vice President
  • Former: Phillip Don Hagermann (2019–2020) — Assistant & Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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

Heather O'Connell — Vice President (Thru 2/29/24): $2.4MHeather O'ConnellVice President (Thru 2/29/24)$2.4MLaverne T Harmon — President: $1.4MLaverne T HarmonPresident$1.4MErin J Dimarco — Sr. Vice President & COO: $661KErin J DimarcoSr. Vice President & COO$661KLloyd Ricketts — Sr. Vice President, CFO & Treasurer: $597KLloyd RickettsSr. Vice President, CFO &…$597KCarole D Pitcher — Former Vice President: $593KCarole D PitcherFormer Vice President$593KPhillip Closius — Dean: $532KPhillip ClosiusDean$532KJames Wilson Jr — Professor: $443KJames Wilson JrProfessor$443KChristian Trowbridge — Vice President: $436KChristian TrowbridgeVice President$436KJacqueline Varsalona — Vice President: $407KJacqueline VarsalonaVice President$407KDenise Wells — Vice President: $285KDenise WellsVice President$285K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2.4M, to Heather O'Connell (Vice President (Thru 2/29/24)). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 320 North Dupont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: (302) 356-6915
Website: https://wilmu.edu

Frequently asked questions about Wilmington University Inc

How much does Wilmington University Inc give each year?

Wilmington University Inc gave $113K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $104K across 10 grants.

What is Wilmington University Inc's typical grant size?

Wilmington University Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $8,715, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wilmington University Inc that year got $9K on average.

Where does Wilmington University Inc give grants?

Wilmington University Inc gives mostly in Delaware: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, DE (10 grants) and New Castle, DE (2 grants).

Does Wilmington University Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Wilmington University Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sponsorship of Various Events" (5 grants).

Who are Wilmington University Inc's largest grantees?

Wilmington University Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Delaware State Chamber of Commerce ($15,670), New Castle Chamber of Commerce ($13,750) and Grand Opera House ($13,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Wilmington University Inc?

Wilmington University Inc reported $384.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $142.4M.

What does Wilmington University Inc fund?

The university’s mission emphasizes excellence in teaching, relevant programs, individual attention, and accessible higher education for students with varied ages, interests, and aspirations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Wilmington University Inc?

Wilmington University Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wilmu.edu for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Wilmington University Inc's EIN?

Wilmington University Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0107088. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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