Funding Amount

$65,000 total distributed annually across three counties; individual grants vary

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPB) Grants

Geographic Scope: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, Delaware

Overview:
The DCF supports Youth Philanthropy Boards (YPBs) in each of Delaware's three counties. YPBs are composed of high school students from public, independent, and diocesan schools who make annual grant recommendations to support impactful projects in their communities.

What YPBs Do:

  • Develop a focus area for grant-making each year

  • Solicit and evaluate proposals from nonprofits

  • Conduct site visits to organizations

  • Award grants to selected nonprofits

  • Build skills that foster lifelong philanthropic giving

  • Connect to Delaware's nonprofit community
  • 2025 Focus Areas by County:

    New Castle County ($20,000 total):
    Programs that increase access to services providing youth with necessities, including:

  • Mental health support

  • Safe housing

  • Food security

  • Programs with educational components
  • Kent County ($20,000 total):
    Nonprofits addressing vital conditions of health:

  • Services for the homeless

  • Mental health support

  • Violence prevention

  • Student support

  • Conservation of land
  • Sussex County ($25,000 total):
    Support for students and families related to social, economic, and educational development:

  • K-12 sports

  • Mentoring and tutoring

  • Basic needs assistance

  • Addiction recovery/prevention

  • Mental health (including animal therapy)
  • Eligibility:

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations

  • Must serve Delaware and its residents

  • Cannot discriminate based on race, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation

  • Subject to same DCF funding restrictions
  • Contact:
    Yolanda Rushdan, Senior Program Officer
    302.504.5239

    To sponsor YPB students in one county or statewide, contact the above.

    How to Apply

    How to Apply

    Nonprofits interested in applying for YPB grants should:

    1. Check the YPB focus area for their county
    2. Determine alignment with that year's priorities
    3. Submit application through the DCF online grant portal at delcf.org
    4. Follow standard DCF grant application procedures
    5. Be prepared for potential site visits from YPB student members

    Note: Specific application deadlines and detailed requirements are not provided in the content. Organizations should contact the DCF directly at 302.571.8004 or visit delcf.org/apply-for-grants/ for current application details.

    What Delaware Community Foundation Inc actually gave

    Source: IRS Form 990, 2024

    Grants in 2024
    323
    Total given
    $41.89M
    Median grant
    $25K
    Range
    $5,300–$10.75M
    • By dollars: Delaware 39%, Virginia 26%, Pennsylvania 15%. Top recipient cities: Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; Dover, DE.
    • 46% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
    • 24% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

    Example grants

    • The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation · Arlington, VA

      Granogue estate project to conserve the open space and the vital habitats supported on…

      $10.75M

    • Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA

      Restricted support for wxpn; support for alzheimer's research at the penn institute on…

      $5.01M

    • New York Blood Center Inc · New York, NY

      Fit-out for bbd biotech plans at blood bank of delmarva newark location

      $4.54M

    • Washington College · Chestertown, MD

      Capital acquisition of two(2) parcel property located at 141 round top creek land…

      $1.51M

    • University of Delaware · Newark, DE

      4-h stem education; athletic fund; edward j bennett lacrosse scholarship fund; eliason…

      $1.37M

    IRS Form 990, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    nonprofitsyouth-leadershipmental-healthhomelessfood-securityaddiction-recovery

    Categories

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