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 2022 Grant Applications can be directed to grants@defundforwomen.com
2023 Grant Application is now closed
The 2023 Grant application window is now closed. Applicants will be notified with additional information prior to May. We look forward to announcing this year's recipients.
2022 Grant Awards
The Fund for Women (FFW) at the Delaware Community Foundation is pleased to announce the nonprofit recipients for the 2022 grant cycle. Since 1994, the FFW has awarded 376 grants totaling over $3.4 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 2022 grant cycle, the FFW has awarded $198,600 to 15 nonprofits. The agencies listed below will utilize the grant funding for critical projects related to housing, health care, career training, and education programs.
THIS YEAR'S GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE LISTED BELOW:
| Delaware Nonprofit Organization | Area in Delaware Serves | 2022 Grant Awarded | Program Title | Overview of Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware | Statewide | $7,500 | Bigs in Blue | Bigs in Blue is a one-to-one mentoring program that connects girls with police in communities throughout the State of Delaware, building strong, trusting, lasting relationships. These relationships can help children develop into confident adults |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | Girls On The Run (GOTR) | The Boys & Girls Club will expand their Girls On The Run program in at least 10 Clubs statewide during the 2022-2023 school year, impacting 150 girls by inspiring them to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. |
| Claymont Community Center | New Castle | $15,000 | The Feed Her Future - women's empowerment program | Claymont Community Center’s Feed Her Future program is a trauma-informed, comprehensive case management initiative to empower single mothers who access our Claymont Food Closet to move beyond crisis assistance and achieve a future of economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their children. |
| Delaware Center for Justice | Statewide | $15,000 | Institution-based Women in Transition (WIT) program with its Community Reintegration Services Program (CRSP) | Delaware Center for Justice creates a continuum of care for re-entering women that more than double their likelihood of re-entry success. Moving On helps incarcerated women make better decisions, while the Community Reintegration Services Program fosters successful re-entry through dynamic case management. |
| Delaware Nature Society | New Castle | $15,000 | Neighborhood Naturalists (NHN) program with Serviam Girls Academy | Delaware Nature Society’s Neighborhood Naturalist (NHN) is a free program for Serviam Girls Academy students in 5th – 8th grade to encourage knowledge and care of the environment while developing leadership skills. Through biweekly sessions, they promote environmental exploration and advocacy. |
| Food Bank of Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | Postpartum Support Group | The Food Bank of Delaware will create a virtual support group for post-partum women, including guest speakers from relevant community organizations, nutrition education, cooking demos, and promotion of the Delaware WIC Program. Providing an open forum, as they navigate life with a newborn. |
| Jewish Family Services of Delaware | New Castle | $15,000 | RISE Program | The Refugee and Immigration Support Effort (RISE) is the only one of its kind in Delaware. FFW support will provide up to 20 refugee women with the English skills they need to integrate and find success here. |
| La Red Health Center, Inc. | Kent & Sussex | $15,000 | Prenatal health care access and services for pregnant women | This project entails the expansion of contracted OBGYN perinatal physician services to address the unique needs of high-risk pregnant women. Many of these women are adversely affected by multiple social determinants of health including transportation barriers, food insufficiency, limited or no English proficiency. |
| The Latin American Community Center | New Castle | $15,000 | Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program | The program provides pregnant and breastfeeding mothers with a peer who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement. FFW’s support of this program will provide diapers to 1980 mothers who will be participating in this program. |
| Lewes Public Library | Sussex | $6,500 | Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots - Essential Care Kits | Teens will create sustainable hygiene kits, curate the supply list, order supplies, package the kits, and finally distribute them to young women. Teens will partner with local charities and nonprofits to ensure the kits reach the proper demographic. |
| Literacy Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | Literacy Delaware | FFW’s support will help the 64% of Literacy Delaware learners who are women become more confident and self-sufficient community members by improving their ability to help with schoolwork, communicate with medical professionals, and advocate for themselves and their families. |
| National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delaware Chapter, Inc. | Statewide | $15,000 | 100 Bridges Mentoring & STEAM Program | This funding will help re-launch the “100 Bridges” Mentoring and STEAM Career Readiness program in partnership with Delaware State University, Early College High School, selected schools in the Capital School District, Kuumba Academy Charter School and the Delaware Adolescent Program, specifically targeting 7th-9th graders |
| Ronald McDonald House of Delaware | Statewide | $15,000 | Housing & Support Services for Delaware Mothers with Infants in Area Neo-Natal Intensive Care Units | The program provides housing and support services to Delaware mothers with pre-term infants, who must travel 25 miles or more to the Wilmington area, in order to access the level of Neo Natal care their children require. |
| STEHM, Inc. | New Castle & Kent | $4,600 | Financial Independence Program | STEHM provides housing and customized programs for women experiencing homelessness.The Financial Independence Program focuses on improving savings, credit and debt, and gives residents the confidence they need to move into independent housing. |
| Ubuntu Black Family Wellness Collective | New Castle & Kent | $15,000 | The Ubuntu Community Doula Project Food Pantry | This program will add a food pantry that can provide access to healthful foods that mothers need to be well fed and well-nourished in pregnancy and prevent the complications that arise from having a poor diet. |
COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiative
Fund for Women's 2020 Grant allocation of $200,000 is making a greater impact as part of the Delaware COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiative.
- $100,000 was allocated to the COVID 19 Strategic Response Fund which targets evolving and longer term needs of the state's most impacted communities. Philanthropy Delaware is working with the Delaware Community Foundation to house and manage this fund.
- $100,000 was allocated to the Delaware Does More: COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, launched by the United Way to address immediate needs and near-term impact of COVID-19. United Way Delaware will work with Philanthropy Delaware and UWDE will house and manage this fund.
Grant News
Email communications sent regarding Grant allocation to COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiative are archived below.
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.
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 |
| TOTAL | 376 | $3,479,384.30 |