Welfare Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5,000,000 (approximately)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2 weeks after trustee meetings (early June and early December)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000
• Geographic Focus: Delaware statewide and southern Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Total Assets: $79,032,992 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 71 awards in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 100 West 10th Street, Suite 1109, Wilmington, DE 19801

Phone: 302-250-4966 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST)

Email: info@welfarefoundationde.org

Website: www.welfarefoundationde.org

Key Contact: Kristin Sommers, Grants Associate

Overview

The Welfare Foundation was originally formed in 1930 by Pierre S. du Pont, the renowned engineer, industrialist, and conservationist who served as President of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and Chairman of General Motors. The foundation received its 501(c)(3) status in 1947. Over the past 25 years, the foundation has distributed approximately $130 million in grants to nonprofits across Delaware and southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The foundation operates as a private foundation with assets totaling approximately $79 million and distributes between $4-5 million annually through two competitive grant cycles. The foundation remains true to its founder's vision of promoting social welfare through strategic capital investments in infrastructure that serves communities across its service area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Biannual Grant Cycles:

• Spring Cycle: Applications due April 15; trustee review in early June
• Fall Cycle: Applications due October 15; trustee review in early December

The foundation operates through an online application portal that requires a mandatory pre-application meeting with staff to obtain access.

Priority Areas

The Welfare Foundation focuses on capital projects (approximately 90% of funding) across seven nonprofit sub-sectors:

1. Social Services - Community programs and service delivery infrastructure
2. Housing - Affordable housing construction and rehabilitation projects
3. Health/Hospitals - Healthcare facility expansion and modernization
4. Environment - Conservation and environmental protection infrastructure
5. Education - Educational facility improvements and expansions
6. Arts - Cultural venue renovations and facility upgrades
7. Civic - Community-serving infrastructure and public benefit projects

Program and Capacity-Building Grants (less than 10% of funding): The foundation occasionally considers program or capacity-building requests, but these remain the exception rather than the norm. Organizations seeking operating support must contact staff to discuss their need prior to submitting an application.

Recent Grant Examples (December 2024 cycle):

• Amanecer Counseling & Resource Center: Safety and comfort improvements to their N. Van Buren Street facility
• Bayhealth Foundation: New childcare center construction on Sussex Campus
• First State Squash, Inc.: Building repairs including roof replacement
• Green Beret Project: Van purchases for youth transportation
• Historic Lewes: Restoration of the Cannonball House
• Vision to Learn: Mobile vision clinic and glasses for Delaware children
• YMCA of Delaware: New Early Learning Academy construction
• Lutheran Community Services: LCS Food Hub warehouse construction (3,400 sq ft)
• Rosa Health Center: Building addition and reconstruction in Georgetown
• Grand Theater: Elevator modernization (first major renovation since 1970s)
• North Wilmington Library: 13,000 square foot expansion
• Sussex County Habitat for Humanity: 10-home revitalization in Georgetown's Kimmeytown neighborhood plus warehouse construction

What They Don't Fund

• Endowments - Capital grants only, not endowment funds
• Routine/Operating Funding - Does not provide ongoing operational support
• Geographic Restrictions - Organizations outside Delaware and southern Chester County, Pennsylvania (as defined by United Way of Southern Chester County)
• Frequent Reapplications - Organizations must wait minimum 3 years between funded grants

Governance and Leadership

Founder: Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954), industrialist and philanthropist who established the foundation in 1930

Current Staff:

• Kristin Sommers, Grants Associate - Primary contact for grant inquiries and pre-application meetings

Governance Structure: The foundation operates with a board of trustees who meet twice annually (early June and early December) to review and approve grant applications. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed on readily available sources.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Mandatory Pre-Application Meeting Requirement (NEW as of 2025): A meeting with foundation staff is required before submitting an application. Applicants will not be able to access the online application portal without an access code provided during this meeting. The foundation recommends in-person meetings to discuss opportunities.

Important: Due to extremely high volume of meeting requests, the foundation cannot guarantee that meeting requests made within one week of the application deadline will be honored. Plan ahead and request meetings well in advance.

Application Submission:

• All applications must be submitted through the online application portal
• Access code obtained during pre-application meeting
• Portal accessible through the "Apply for a Grant" button on their website

Application Deadlines:

• Spring Cycle: April 15
• Fall Cycle: October 15

Eligibility Requirements:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Primary service area in Delaware or southern Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Seeking capital project funding (building construction, renovation, equipment, vehicles)
• OR seeking program/capacity-building support (contact staff first to discuss)

Decision Timeline

1. Application Submission: April 15 (Spring) or October 15 (Fall)
2. Trustee Review: Early June (Spring) or Early December (Fall)
3. Decision Notification: Within 2 weeks of trustee meeting
4. Grant Distribution: Check issued shortly after notification to approved applicants

Total Timeline: Approximately 6-8 weeks from deadline to decision notification

Success Rates

• 2023: 71 grants awarded from total applications (specific number of applications not disclosed)
• 2022: 58 grants awarded
• 2021: 70 grants awarded

The foundation does not publicly disclose its application-to-award ratio, making the precise success rate unavailable. However, given the competitive nature and the mandatory pre-application meeting requirement introduced in 2025, it's clear the foundation seeks to work with organizations that are strong fits for their capital-focused mission.

Reapplication Policy

Three-Year Waiting Period: Organizations that have previously received funding from the Welfare Foundation must wait a minimum of three years before submitting another request. The foundation does not provide routine funding.

Emergency Exceptions: If an organization has an "emergency need" and it has been less than three years since their last grant, they must contact foundation staff to set up a meeting to discuss the situation.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

Capital Project Focus: The foundation's organizational charter directs approximately 90% of funding toward capital projects. Successful applications clearly demonstrate how physical infrastructure improvements will enhance the organization's ability to serve the community. Recent funded projects show preference for:

• Building construction and major renovations
• Facility expansions that increase service capacity
• Critical infrastructure repairs (roofs, elevators, accessibility improvements)
• Equipment and vehicle purchases that enable service delivery
• Historic preservation with community benefit

Geographic Alignment: The foundation has adopted the United Way of Southern Chester County's map to define eligible Pennsylvania townships and zip codes. Delaware organizations receive priority, with Pennsylvania funding being more limited. Ensure your service area clearly falls within these boundaries.

Pre-Application Meeting Strategy: The mandatory meeting requirement (introduced 2025) is designed to ensure alignment before application submission. Use this meeting to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the foundation's capital focus
• Present compelling case for infrastructure need
• Show capacity to complete capital project
• Discuss timeline and budget realism
• Build relationship with grants staff

Three-Year Rule Compliance: The foundation strictly enforces its three-year waiting period between grants. Organizations should plan their capital needs strategically and consider whether to pursue smaller projects more frequently with other funders or larger, transformational projects less frequently with Welfare Foundation.

Program and Operating Support Applications: If seeking the rare program or capacity-building grant (less than 10% of funding), you must contact staff BEFORE applying. These grants are exceptions and require special justification. The foundation needs to understand why operating support is critical and not routine funding.

Sector Alignment: Applications should clearly align with one of the seven priority sectors (social services, housing, health, environment, education, arts, or civic). Multi-sector impact can strengthen applications - for example, a childcare center construction project serves both education and social services sectors.

Patterns in Recent Grants

Analysis of December 2024 recipients shows the foundation funds:

• Healthcare infrastructure expanding access (Bayhealth childcare center, Rosa Health Center expansion, Vision to Learn mobile clinic)
• Youth development facilities (Green Beret Project vans, YMCA Early Learning Academy, First State Squash roof repairs)
• Food security infrastructure (Lutheran Community Services Food Hub warehouse)
• Historic preservation with ongoing community use (Historic Lewes Cannonball House)
• Social services facility improvements (Amanecer Counseling safety upgrades)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Schedule your pre-application meeting early - The mandatory meeting requirement and access code system means you cannot wait until the last minute. Request meetings at least 2-3 weeks before the deadline.

• Capital projects are the priority - With 90% of funding directed to capital improvements, program grants are rare exceptions. Frame your project as infrastructure that enables long-term community impact.

• Think transformation, not maintenance - Recent grants support expansion, construction, and major renovations rather than routine repairs. Show how your project significantly enhances organizational capacity.

• Geographic eligibility is strictly defined - Verify your organization falls within Delaware or the specified southern Chester County townships before investing time in the application process.

• The three-year waiting period is firm - Plan your capital campaign timeline accordingly. This is likely a once-every-three-years opportunity, so make it count with your most significant capital need.

• Use the pre-application meeting strategically - This is your opportunity to get direct feedback from staff about your project's alignment with foundation priorities before submitting. Come prepared with clear project scope, budget, and timeline.

• Demonstrate community impact across seven sectors - Pierre du Pont's original vision encompassed broad social welfare. Projects serving multiple priority areas (e.g., education + social services, or health + environment) may be particularly compelling.

References

• Welfare Foundation official website: www.welfarefoundationde.org (accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/516015916 (accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/516015916 (accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/welfare-foundation,516015916/ (accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/ipfunders-geo/grants-delaware/welfare-foundation (accessed February 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=WELF001 (accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/welfare-foundation-inc (accessed February 2026)