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Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.5M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,499,016 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $10,000 (FACES grants); $35,000+ (Legacy grants)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 2 months
  • Geographic Focus: Sussex County, DE and Montgomery County, MD
  • Total Grants Since Inception: Over $60 million to 1,100+ organizations

Contact Details

Website: https://carlmfreemanfoundation.org

Phone: 302-654-8500

Email: info@freemanfoundation.org

Address: 31255 Americana Parkway, Selbyville, DE 19975

Overview

The Carl M. Freeman Foundation was established in 1960 by Carl and Virginia Freeman with the belief that "to whom much is given, much is expected." As a private family foundation based in Selbyville, Delaware, it has distributed over $60 million to more than 1,100 organizations since its inception. In 2023, the foundation awarded $5,499,016 across 156 grants. The foundation assists nonprofit organizations throughout Maryland and Delaware, focusing on communities where Carl M. Freeman Companies' customers, employees, and vendors live, work, and play. Led by Michelle DiFebo Freeman and her children Nicholas, Benjamin, and Juliana, the foundation practices a grassroots "table-top giving" approach where family members collaboratively determine which organizations to support. The foundation's primary focus areas include education, arts, healthcare, human services, athletics, cultural heritage, and environmental efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

FACES (Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support) Grants: Twice-yearly grant program founded in 2000

  • Grant amounts: $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000
  • Total annual FACES fund: $100,000 per county
  • Application process: Online via foundation website
  • Deadlines: March (Sussex County); September 1 (Montgomery County)

Legacy Grants: Occasional unique funding opportunities

  • Typically $35,000 or more
  • Generally by invitation only for organizations with special relationships to the Foundation
  • Often awarded in honor of Freeman Family members
  • No open application process

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations across multiple sectors:

  • Education: 31 organizations supported (includes literacy programs, school projects, and the Freeman Real Estate Scholarship at Delaware Technical Community College)
  • Arts: 16 organizations supported (includes Kennedy Center, Freeman Arts Pavilion)
  • Healthcare: 20 organizations supported (recent example: multi-year $250,000 grant to Beebe Healthcare's Mobile Health Unit)
  • Human Services: 55 organizations supported (includes food access, housing stability, mental health resources)
  • Other areas: Athletics, cultural heritage, environmental efforts, disaster relief

Recent grant recipients demonstrate the foundation's commitment to grassroots community impact, including organizations like Read Aloud Delaware, Clothing Our Kids, Milton Community Food Pantry, Sussex Community Crisis Housing Services, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, Sussex Land Trust Foundation, and Delaware Center for Inland Bays.

What They Don't Fund

  • Religious organizations for direct religious work (though religious organizations can receive grants for secular community service projects)
  • Organizations outside of Sussex County, DE and Montgomery County, MD (geographic restriction)
  • Organizations exceeding budget caps: over $500,000 in Sussex County or over $750,000 in Montgomery County (for FACES grants)

Governance and Leadership

Michelle DiFebo Freeman - Chairman & President

  • Owner and CEO of Carl M. Freeman Companies
  • Became Chairman of the Board of Trustees following the loss of Joshua M. Freeman in December 2006
  • Founding Chair of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation
  • Minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment
  • Received 2014 Irene and Abe Pollin Humanitarian Award
  • Named Coastal Style Magazine's Business Woman of the Year (2015-2017)
  • Named one of 10 Most Influential Women in Washington, D.C. by Elle Magazine in 2013
  • Mother of three children: Nicholas, Benjamin, and Juliana Freeman

Michelle Freeman on the foundation's approach: "Our founder, Carl Freeman, grew this foundation on the idea of table-top philanthropy and decisions of where to give in the local community being made at the kitchen table as a family."

Michelle Freeman's philosophy on commitment: "If you love something, you have to give time, money, and talent to ensure it remains."

On selecting grantees: "We look for organizations that will be good stewards...you know your support will be taken to heart and leveraged to support [beneficiaries]."

Nicholas (Nick) Freeman - Trustee

  • Leader at Carl M. Freeman Companies, overseeing strategic initiatives in real estate investment and property management
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University
  • Serves on multiple boards including National Links Trust Auxiliary Board and Advisory Board for Athletes for Hope
  • Previously served on the Board of Trustees at Landon School in Bethesda, MD
  • Manages financial analysis for the Freeman Fund

Benjamin Freeman - Involved with foundation alongside mother and siblings

Juliana Freeman - Involved with foundation alongside mother and siblings

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

FACES Grants (Public Application Process):

Applications are submitted online through the foundation's website at carlmfreemanfdn.smapply.io/prog/faces/

Sussex County, DE:

  • Application deadline: March 3 at 5 p.m. (annual cycle)
  • Eligibility: Nonprofits with operating budgets of $500,000 or less

Montgomery County, MD:

  • Application opens: August 1
  • Application deadline: September 1 at 5 p.m.
  • Eligibility: Nonprofits with operating budgets of $750,000 or less

The foundation offers "Meet the Funder" workshops that provide an overview of the FACES grant process and the online application software.

Legacy Grants: No open application process. These are generally by invitation only for organizations with special relationships to the Foundation. Interested parties can fill out a form on the website for grant information.

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed by volunteer advisory boards composed of community leaders, business professionals, students, and nonprofit ambassadors who live or work in the respective counties. Advisory board members evaluate applications and recommend funding based on community needs and priorities.

  • Sussex County: Applications due in early March; winners announced in May (approximately 2 months)
  • Montgomery County: Applications due September 1; announcement timing varies

Grant reports are due six months after receiving funds, with extensions available if needed.

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the foundation awarded 156 grants in 2023 and has shown consistent growth in grantmaking over the years (105 awards in 2015; 122 in 2020; 156 in 2023). Recent FACES cycles have awarded grants to 11-15 organizations per cycle.

Reapplication Policy

  • No limit on the number of times an organization can apply
  • Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in future cycles
  • Affiliate organizations can apply even if another branch of the organization has received a grant

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's guidance, the most effective applications include:

Clear Organizational Description:

  • Describe your organization, history, and mission clearly
  • Explain what's unique about your group or project

Specific Fund Usage:

  • Explain exactly how funds will be used
  • Grant requests must be made in amounts of $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000
  • If requesting an amount but only needing a portion, indicate what the remaining funds would support (e.g., general operating support)
  • Funds can be used for staff salaries, capital projects, or any purpose making the biggest community impact

Demonstrable Impact:

  • Include the number of people served
  • Explain the project's impact on the community
  • For existing programs: Discuss lessons learned from previous implementations
  • For new programs: Detail how you're funding it beyond the Freeman Foundation and what partners you've already recruited

Community Connection: The foundation prioritizes "small organizations with deep community ties and a commitment to serving those most in need." They seek organizations doing "critical and hands-on work" in areas such as:

  • Helping families stay in their homes
  • Offering mental health resources
  • Distributing fresh food
  • Enriching lives of local youth through education and engagement
  • Promoting wellness, literacy, food access, housing stability, and youth engagement

Good Stewardship: When choosing entities to support, the Freeman family looks for "organizations that will be good stewards" who will take support "to heart and leverage" it effectively.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Budget size matters: Ensure your organization's total operating budget falls below the threshold ($500,000 for Sussex County; $750,000 for Montgomery County) before applying to FACES
  • Geographic focus is strict: Only organizations located in Sussex County, DE or Montgomery County, MD are eligible
  • Request exact amounts: Grant requests must be for precisely $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 - plan your budget accordingly
  • Community-driven evaluation: Applications are reviewed by volunteer advisory boards of local community leaders, so demonstrate deep community ties and local impact
  • No reapplication restrictions: If unsuccessful, you can apply again in future cycles without penalty or waiting period
  • Demonstrate stewardship: The Freeman family values organizations that will be "good stewards" of funding and leverage support effectively
  • Attend workshops: Take advantage of the "Meet the Funder" workshops to better understand the application software and process
  • Family-driven philanthropy: Remember this is a family foundation practicing "table-top giving" - they value personal connection to the community and hands-on impact

References

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