COMPETITIVE GRANTMAKING

New! Partners in Giving RFP

Partners in Giving RFP or read more below

This collaborative effort between The Community’s Foundation (TCF) and The Foundation for Delaware County (the Foundation) is designed to support nonprofits serving Delaware County by reducing duplication, improving access to resources, and creating a more seamless funding experience. Through greater alignment of processes, shared expertise, and coordinated opportunities, nonprofits can more easily navigate support systems, strengthen their organizational capacity, while maximizing the collective benefit to the community.

Rather than duplicating efforts, TCF and the Foundation will work side-by-side to identify where joint action can yield greater results, whether through shared tools that make grant applications more accessible, coordinated timelines that reduce administrative burden for grantee partners, or aligned funding priorities that direct resources toward the community’s highest needs.

This approach fosters stronger relationships between the two foundations and with the nonprofit sector, builds mutual understanding of local challenges and opportunities, and reinforces the shared commitment to equitable, high-impact philanthropy in Delaware County.

This spirit of partnership is reflected in specific initiatives that make it easier for nonprofits to engage with both foundations and focus more of their energy on delivering impact.

FUNDING PRIORITIES

For the 2026 Partners in Giving Grant cycle, this collective effort will consider awarding grant funds to organizations that focus on community development, health, hospice and homecare, support for cancer survivors, and youth development.

CANCER SURVIVORS

The 2026 Partners in Giving initiative will consider awarding non-clinical grants of up to $15,000 to organizations that provide education and supportive services to assist cancer survivors living in Delaware County.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The 2026 Partners in Giving initiative will consider awarding grants of up to $10,000 to organizations working alongside Delaware County residents to address community-identified needs and strengthen local connections. Grants may support efforts such as community engagement, planning, or coordination activities, adult education, including English as a Second Language (ESL), and other learning opportunities that expand access, build skills, and elevate resident voice. These grants are intended to help organizations pilot ideas, respond to emerging needs, and lay the groundwork for longer-term community impact.

HEALTH

The 2026 Partners in Giving initiative will consider awarding grants of up to $10,000 to organizations that improve the health and well-being of children, families, and vulnerable populations living in Delaware County, including through LGBTQIA+ inclusive and affirming approaches. Funding may support health education, prevention, supportive services, coordination, and advocacy efforts that strengthen access to behavioral health (including mental health), health care, maternal and child health services, preventive care, nutrition, and food security, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for low-income and historically marginalized communities.

HOSPICE AND HOME HEALTHCARE

The 2026 Partners in Giving initiative will consider awarding grants to organizations providing hospice and home healthcare services for low-income individuals with disabilities and vulnerable senior citizens living in Delaware County, including programs that support seniors in aging safely and with dignity in their own homes. The maximum request amount has not been pre-determined.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The 2026 Partners in Giving initiative will consider awarding grants of up to $10,000 to support advocacy efforts, initiatives, interventions, and collaborations that enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors, promote positive outcomes, and prepare young people to reach their full potential. Requests can include musical, theatrical, performance, visual, and other arts, as well as arts education, for youth in Delaware County.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Eligible organizations may apply for funding under any of the funding priorities outlined above, selecting one area that aligns most closely with their mission and proposed activities. The application should demonstrate outcomes within at least one of the following types of outcomes:

TYPES OF OUTCOMES

Safety Net – Provide basic assistance to ensure well-being and prevent dire outcomes for individuals facing economic hardship, health issues, or other challenges.

Preventive – Intervene before problems arise, reducing factors that lead to negative outcomes and enhancing protective factors that contribute to well-being and success. This can include Out-Of-School Time programming.

Systems Change – Target the root causes of social issues to change structures, such as public policies and regulations that enable systems to function better.

Organizational Development – Strengthen effectiveness and capacity through planned change in an organization’s processes, systems, structures, or leadership.

Eligible organizations may submit one application to support their efforts in advancing the funding priorities outlined above. Organizations can apply for a single year only.

TYPE OF GRANTS

PROGRAM OR PROJECT SUPPORT – Available to nonprofits serving Delaware County to advance, operate, expand, and/or improve programs or projects working in one or more of the funding priorities outlined above.

Grant preference will be given to agencies that:

• Are located in Delaware County.
• Have completed their organization’s GuideStar (Platinum level Seal of Transparency preferred) profile
• Have a strong and proven record of collaborating with other entities serving residents of Delaware County.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to diversity and cultural competency in staff and board composition, including employing bilingual staff where existing and potential clients are non- English speakers.
• Have embedded or are in the process of embedding a trauma-informed care approach to services and programs.
• Can provide evidence of commitment to capacity strengthening and succession planning where appropriate.
• Address the most vulnerable populations’ needs, including families living in poverty, immigrants, non-English speakers, and minority-led organizations.

Timeline:

• Application Opens – January 15, 2026
• Application Due – February 19, 2026
• Award Announcements – May 29, 2026

Eligibility Criteria:

Who Can Apply:

• Tax-exempt organizations under any part of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Grassroots organizations, collaboratives, or coalitions may apply under the auspices of a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor.
• All grant proceeds must be used to provide programs and services in and for Delaware County residents.

Note: Applicant organizations must comply with local, state, and federal regulations.

Virtual Information Session for interested nonprofits: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Delaware County Rapid Response Fund (As of 11/14/25, the application is closed) 

The Foundation for Delaware County and The Community’s Foundation activated the Delaware County Rapid Response Fund in November. The Response Fund is an emergency grantmaking initiative established to provide immediate financial support to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations responding to urgent, time-sensitive needs affecting Delaware County residents.

This fund supports nonprofits addressing basic human needs, including but not limited to emergency food assistance, housing stability, and the continuity of essential services for vulnerable residents, in response to economic disruptions that threaten access to critical supports.

Through this activation, the Foundation will:

• Provide direct relief to residents through trusted nonprofit intermediaries addressing basic human needs.
• Support the emergency operational needs of nonprofit organizations delivering frontline services.

When activated, the fund prioritizes rapid, equitable, and collaborative action, enabling the Foundation to quickly mobilize resources, reduce barriers for grantee partners, and coordinate with local government, businesses, and other funders to ensure that relief reaches those most impacted.

You can find a list of the organizations given funding in 2025 here.

FY25 Impact Grants awards were announced in late April, 2025. You can find a list of grants awarded here. Last summer, the Foundation shared the unfortunate news that we would have to pause our Impact Grants funding in FY26.

The Associates Board 2025 Community Grants Program application is closed. Grant announcements were made in December.

You can find the full list of Associates Board grants awarded here.

Please sign up for the Foundation’s e-newsletter to stay up to date on all opportunities and connect with us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube @delcofdn.

Questions? Contact grants@delcofoundation.org or schedule a meeting with the foundation’s Vice President of Nonprofit Services, Mischico Warren for more information.