Delaware Education Grants

This funding opportunity supports Delaware schools and not-for-profit agencies in bringing professional artists into classrooms to enhance student learning through creative arts experiences.

This program provides funding for events that raise awareness about the restoration and protection of natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's watersheds, targeting nonprofits and community organizations.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in select states that focus on economic empowerment through initiatives like affordable housing, job training, and financial literacy.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region that focus on improving financial literacy, developing future leaders, and enhancing personal and professional development for individuals and communities.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by supporting collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry to develop sustainable research infrastructure.

About This Grant The Paul J. Rickards, Jr. Teaching Innovation Grant program is designed to support instructors with developing and implementing novel teaching strategies. Experimentation, collaboration and the exploration of new approaches to teaching are encouraged. The deadline for submitting a 2024-2025 proposal is May 1, 2024. Program At-a-Glance Focus: This grant program promotes teaching innovation with initial funding up to $5,000 and project support. Eligibility: Any “instructor of record” at the University of Delaware can apply. We welcome proposals from instructors of record across all disciplines and areas of expertise and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. Support: Along with funding, successful applicants will receive technical support and project management assistance from UDIT Academic Technology Services. Requirements: Grant recipients are required to share what they learn from their project through a presentation, project report, or other method of their choosing. The project team may also be asked to participate in a video interview about the project. Grant renewed every year.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations in the Delaware Valley that offer direct services to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Welfare Foundation offers grants primarily focused on seven nonprofit sub-sectors including social services, housing, health/hospitals, education, environment, civic, and arts/humanities, to promote social welfare in Delaware and southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, with eligibility restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations that do not discriminate and do not use funds for activities such as political advocacy, religious institutions, fundraising events, and individual needs.

The Excellence in Education Fund (EIE Fund), managed by the CenDel Foundation, is currently accepting applications for its 2024 grant cycle. Established in 2019 through contributions from Statewide Workforce Development, the Kent Economic Partnership, Greater Kent Committee, Delaware State News, and the Kent County community, the EIE Fund's mission is to support programs that enhance workforce development and stimulate economic growth within Kent County, Delaware. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the CenDel Foundation administers the fund with the guidance of the Excellence in Education Advisory Board, ensuring alignment with its core mission of fostering community prosperity through strategic investments in education and economic opportunity. The EIE Fund targets public institutions, nonprofits, and civic/community organizations that are focused on educating and training individuals to meet the demands of current and future businesses in Kent County. The primary impact goal is to create a more skilled workforce, broaden perspectives through educational components, and drive measurable economic and community development. This includes generating employment opportunities and potentially attracting new residents to Kent County. The program prioritizes initiatives that enhance the regional workforce, emphasizing the quality, impact, and duration of programs, as well as the number of individuals impacted. It also focuses on educating and broadening perspectives, requiring applicants to detail the educational component, the number of participants, and the knowledge gained. Furthermore, a key focus is on economic and community development, looking for programs that cultivate special skill sets, generate measurable economic impact, and promote employment. Applications are reviewed for clarity and strong evidence supporting the achievement of stated goals. The EIE Fund's strategic priorities align with a theory of change that posits that targeted investments in education and workforce training will directly lead to enhanced economic vitality and improved community well-being in Kent County. By supporting programs that build relevant skills and create opportunities, the fund aims to strengthen the local economy, increase employment rates, and foster a more knowledgeable and engaged citizenry. Eligible institutions and organizations can be awarded up to $50,000, with a requirement to submit proposals on the official 2024 application form and demonstrate their status as a public institution or 501(c)3 organization.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that develop innovative resources and services to help adults in the middle or late stages of their careers with reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed.

This funding opportunity supports innovative bioscience research projects in Delaware that have the potential for significant economic impact, targeting researchers and businesses in the developmental stage.

This grant provides funding to Delaware public school districts and charter schools to implement evidence-based early literacy instruction for students in pre-kindergarten through third grade, particularly in schools with low literacy proficiency.

The 2024 Sustainable Communities Grant Program, a collaborative effort between Delmarva Power and the Delaware Nature Society (DelNature), aims to distribute $35,000 to support open space and resiliency projects within Delmarva Power's service area in Delaware and Maryland. This program continues Delmarva Power's commitment to sustainability, having already provided over $235,000 in grants for similar projects since 2020. The initiative aligns with both organizations' missions to foster environmental well-being and community strength. The program targets municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits operating within the Delmarva Power service area. The grants, each up to $10,000, are designed to fund projects demonstrating significant impact across several key areas. The overarching impact goals are to strengthen natural systems and provide reliable community resources in emergencies, thereby addressing the realities of climate change and increasing extreme weather events. The grant program prioritizes projects focusing on Open Space Preservation, Conservation & Habitat Improvements, Environmental Conservation, and Community Resiliency. Community Resiliency is a broad focus, encompassing community engagement and education regarding resiliency, the purchase of energy storage solutions, and solar installations, including mobile solar units. This holistic approach ensures that projects can address various facets of environmental and community preparedness. Expected outcomes include enhanced natural systems, increased community preparedness for severe weather, and innovative solutions for emergency resource provision. The program encourages initiatives that not only mitigate the effects of climate change but also build resilience within communities. By funding projects that strengthen natural systems and offer reliable resources during emergencies, the program aims to achieve measurable improvements in local sustainability and safety.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Kent County, Delaware, that provide educational and job training programs to enhance workforce readiness and economic development in the community.

This funding opportunity provides up to $50,000 for organizations to implement urban forestry projects in underserved communities, enhancing green spaces and environmental quality on public lands.

The Preschool Development Grant is a three-year federal initiative designed to bolster Delaware's early childhood system, ensuring it is inclusive and integrated to support the development and learning of all children and their families from birth through age 5. With an $8 million award for its first year, following a $4.2 million PDG B-5 grant received in December 2018, the grant aims to provide high-quality early learning experiences and facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten for children. Approximately $4.8 million of the grant is allocated to expand home-visiting services and state-funded preschool seats, while $3.2 million is dedicated to enhancing support for professionals, including technological advancements delayed by the pandemic. Key initiatives funded by the grant include expanding state-funded preschool programs, piloting the Family Connects home visiting model, updating family materials for resource and referral, enhancing workforce support for early childhood professionals, developing a mental health consultation program for home visitors, and updating the state’s strategic plans for a cohesive birth to five strategy.

This grant provides funding to partnerships and organizations working to improve water quality and habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through innovative practices that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is offering matching grants through its Surface Water Matching Planning Grant program. This initiative, developed by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council (WIAC), aims to improve water quality in developed landscapes within Delaware's impaired watersheds. The program aligns with a mission to assist local governments in proactively addressing water quality challenges, particularly through planning and preliminary engineering efforts for surface water improvement projects. The grants target Delaware county and municipal governments, conservation districts, and estuary programs. While non-profit organizations, educational institutions, community organizations, and homeowner’s associations cannot apply directly, they are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants. The primary impact goal is to enhance water quality in impaired watersheds by supporting planning, preliminary engineering, and feasibility analysis of surface water improvement projects. These projects can include retrofitting stormwater systems, establishing green technology practices, restoring streams and wetlands, conducting small watershed studies, and developing master surface water and drainage plans. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrate clear benefits to water quality within impaired watersheds. Specific focuses include planning and/or preliminary design for projects associated with watershed management plans, community stormwater management improvements in existing developments and municipalities, and restoration or retrofit projects designed to yield water quality benefits. This strategic approach ensures that funding is directed towards foundational planning and design efforts that are critical for long-term water quality improvement. Expected outcomes include the preparation of surface water projects for future funding through the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF). Measurable results will be seen in the successful completion of planning, preliminary engineering, and feasibility analyses, leading to actionable project designs ready for loan applications. The funding, capped at $50,000 with a 1:1 cash match requirement, is designed to jumpstart projects, laying the groundwork for significant water quality improvements across Delaware. The grant duration is two years, emphasizing a focused and efficient planning period to achieve these preparatory outcomes.

iHIT – Ideas – High-return, Innovative, Transformative o Supports ideas in bioscience research that are in the development stage and promise to have a high economic return for innovative and transformative research projects. o This mechanism intends to support applicants to develop novel lines of multidisciplinary research different from their ongoing research. o Up to $75,000 for 1 year.Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.

This funding opportunity supports Delaware schools, arts organizations, and artists in creating engaging arts education programs for pre-K–12 students, enhancing their learning experiences through the arts.