Grant Information
The FFW accepts applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations for programs that address the needs and enhance the worth and potential of women and girls in Delaware by helping them to lead productive, self-sufficient lives. The FFW's one-year grant offers organizations an opportunity to obtain seed money for innovative, creative programming or funding to continue or expand programs where effectiveness has been demonstrated. Grants will not be awarded to individuals.
Questions regarding 2026 Grant Applications can be directed to grants@defundforwomen.com
Grant Application Workshops
Review this document to prepare your answers in advance and streamline the online Grant Application.
Review the slides from the Grant Workshop.
Grant Application Information
The grant application link follows. It will be active January 1 – January 31 annually.
Only online applications will be accepted. Completed applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, January 31.
Serve on the Grants Committee
If you are a Fund for Women Founder who is interested in serving on the 2026 Grants Committee, let us know by sending the Grant Committee an email. Grants@defundforwomen.com.
2026 Grant Awards
The Fund for Women (FFW) at the Delaware Community Foundation is pleased to announce the nonprofit recipients for the 2026 grant cycle. Since 1994, the FFW has awarded 474 grants totaling over $4 million dollars to nonprofits serving women and girls in Delaware. The FFW’s one-year grant offers organizations an opportunity to obtain seed money for innovative, creative programming or funding to continue or expand programs where effectiveness has been demonstrated. For the 2026 grant cycle, the FFW has awarded $234,145.70 to 17 nonprofits. The agencies listed below will utilize the grant funding for critical projects related to housing, healthcare, career training, education, and recovery programs.
THIS YEAR'S GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE LISTED BELOW:
| ORGANIZATION | COUNTY | GRANT AMOUNT | GRANT PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | This grant will support the implementation of 3 Fall and 3 Spring Girls on the Run teams, one in each county. |
| Central Delaware Housing Collaborative | Kent County | $15,000 | The Central Delaware Housing Collaborative’s House of Hope is the only women-only emergency shelter in Kent County. This grant will help fund a Case Manager at their single women transitional housing. |
| Christina Cultural Arts Center | New Castle County | $9,400 | This grant will support the Chasing the Blues Away program, an innovative program designed to support women/families in Wilmington through trauma-informed, arts-based activities. |
| Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education | New Castle County | $10,500 | This grant will support the Early Childhood teacher instruction for Early Learning Through the Arts. |
| Do Care Doula Foundation | Kent County | $15,000 | This grant will help provide pre & post pregnancy support with food, baby supplies, education, and group mental health support. |
| Fighting Abuse Through Education (FATE) | Statewide | $15,000 | This Grant will help fund a part-time caseworker and resources to help moms & their children who have experience domestic violence FATE prevents child abuse through education, advocacy, and support for families navigating domestic violence. |
| Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation | Statewide | $15,000 | This grant will help fund low-income Delaware women by providing college tuition and one-on-one mentorship. |
| Girls Scouts of Chesapeake Bay | Statewide | $15,000 | This grant will help fund immersive training for Girl Scout leaders including mental and emotional health and programming. |
| Girls Inc of Delaware | New Castle County | $15,000 | This grant will help fund college and career readiness via college persistence training, career exploration, financial literacy, mentorship and job shadowing and internships. |
| Latin American Community Center | New Castle County and Sussex County | $15,000 | This grant will help fund the Breastfeeding Peer Support Program recently expanded to Sussex county and serves Spanish-speaking WIC-eligible mothers with one-on-one counseling, groups, workshops, baby supplies, and community baby showers. |
| Leading Youth Through Empowerment Inc (LYTE) | Statewide | $15.000 | This grant will help fund mentoring, practical guidance for high schools and coursework. |
| Read Aloud Delaware | New Castle County and Sussex County | $15,000 | This grant will provide bilingual help for mothers of 0-3 yrs to master and teach literacy skills. |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | This grant will help fund housing and support services for Delaware NICU and Advanced Delivery Mothers of NICU newborns at Nemours Children’s Hospital or ChristianaCare, as well as expectant mothers enrolled in Nemours’ Advanced Delivery Program. |
| Serviam Girls Academy | New Castle County | $15,000 | This grant will help fund small group instruction in math and language arts for low income middle school girls. |
| Sojourners Place | Statewide | $15,000 | This grant will help fund the Trauma-informed Empowerment and Nutrition Program for homeless women, many in substance abuse recovery. |
| Supportive Transition and Emergency Housing Ministry (STEHM) | New Castle County | $4,245.70 | This grant will help fund the Financial independence program for women in transitional housing. |
| YWCA Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | This grant will help provide training and supplies for women to provide court accompaniments for women who have been sexually assaulted. |
| 2026 TOTAL | GRANTS AWARDED | $234,145.70 |
The Annual Grant Process
The Fund for Women is able to award grants to non-profits in Delaware each year through the support of our Founders. Every year in January the Fund for Women begins accepting Grants from non-profits through a formal submission process. A committee of approximately 30 Fund for Women members on the Grant Committee score these applications. The applications are scored by various metrics; however, of utmost importance is that the funds be used to help empower women and girls in Delaware.
Grant News
Email communications sent regarding Grant allocation to COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiative are archived below.
Collaborative Grant Update: $25,000 to Delaware Girls Circles
The Fund for Women recently released the third payment of $25,000 to Delaware Girls Circles (DGC). DGC is a private, not-for-profit collaboration funded by the FFW, whose purpose is to provide assistance and support to high school girls (grades 9-12) and their adult caregivers, resulting in increased and on-time high school graduation rates. Begun in 2018 as a special collaboration in honor of its 25th anniversary, DGC has been awarded $75,000 in grants from the FFW over the past three years. Read the full press release here.
| Year | # of Grants | Total Giving |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2 | $2,500.00 |
| 1995 | 7 | 15,000.00 |
| 1996 | 11 | 25,000.00 |
| 1997 | 13 | 37,143.08 |
| 1998 | 11 | 49,257.00 |
| 1999 | 18 | 60,000.00 |
| 2000 | 12 | 69,995.00 |
| 2001 | 14 | 79,988.00 |
| 2002 | 11 | 108,765.00 |
| 2003 | 18 | 132,950.00 |
| 2004 | 19 | 143,000.00 |
| 2005 | 20 | 143,000.00 |
| 2006 | 18 | 107,428.00 |
| 2007 | 27 | 119,607.00 |
| 2008 | 14 | 139,486.22 |
| 2009 | 15 | 145,989.00 |
| 2010 | 13 | 130,000.00 |
| 2011 | 13 | 125,000.00 |
| 2012 | 11 | 125,000.00 |
| 2013 | 12 | 128,904.00 |
| 2014 | 17 | 165,162.00 |
| 2015 | 13 | 143,545.00 |
| 2016 | 16 | 178,926.00 |
| 2017 | 18 | 190,046.00 |
| 2018 | 16 | 200,000.00 |
| 2019 | 12 | 168,595.00 |
| 2020 | 2 (COVID-19) | 200,000.00 |
| 2021 | 15 | 209,998.00 |
| 2022 | 15 | 198,600.00 |
| 2023 | 18 | 249,575.00 |
| 2024 | 18 | 243,070.00 |
| 2025 | 18 | 227,343.00 |
| TOTAL | 394 | $4,262,872.00 |