The Nemours Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $33,875,831 (2023)
Grant Awards: 60 awards in 2023
Grant Range: $24,000 - $50,000 (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: Central Florida, Delaware Valley, and North Florida
Total Assets: Over $5 billion (Alfred I. duPont Testamentary Trust)
Application Method: Rolling basis (for Ginsburg Institute programs)

Contact Details

Main Website: https://www.nemours.org

Ginsburg Institute Contact:

Email: ginsburginstitute@nemours.org

Headquarters: Jacksonville, FL

Foundation EIN: 59-0634433

Overview

The Nemours Foundation was established in 1936 through the last will and testament of philanthropist Alfred I. du Pont, created by his widow Jessie Ball duPont. The Foundation serves as the primary beneficiary of the Alfred I. duPont Testamentary Trust, valued at over $5 billion in 2015, with the trust making an annual disbursement of approximately 3% of its value. Nemours' mission is to provide leadership, institutions, and services to restore and improve the health of children through care and programs not readily available, with one high standard of quality and distinction regardless of the recipient's financial status. In 2023, the Foundation contributed $33,875,831 in grants across 60 awards, focusing on pediatric health research, community health equity, and initiatives addressing social determinants of health. The Foundation operates Nemours Children's Health, a major pediatric healthcare system with facilities in Florida and Delaware. In recent years, Nemours has expanded its community-facing grant programs through the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity, launched with a $25 million gift from the Ginsburg Family Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Ginsburg Research and Practice Grant Program

Amount: Up to $50,000 per award
Focus: Pilot funding for health equity research
Eligibility: Nemours Children's researchers in Central Florida
Application: Rolling basis via InfoReady4 portal

Ginsburg Resident and Fellow Health Equity Research Grant Program

Amount: Not specified, smaller grants
Focus: Pediatric residents and fellows developing innovative models addressing health disparities
Application: Rolling basis via InfoReady4 portal

Ginsburg Community Grants

Amount: Approximately $24,000 per organization (based on 2024 awards of $120,000 to 5 organizations)
Focus: Community-based projects addressing quality education, economic stability, healthy food and nutrition, and mental health
Eligibility: External community organizations in Central Florida
Application: Proposal submission for projects aligned with Institute focus areas

Nemours Community Funding Program (Delaware Valley)

Amount: Varies, totaling over $310,000 in recent cycle
Focus: Community pilot projects in audiology screening, maternal child health, mental health, equity, autism awareness, stress reduction, and infant safety
Geographic Focus: Delaware Valley region

Priority Areas

Health Equity: Addressing social determinants of health in vulnerable populations
Community Collaboration: Multi-stakeholder partnerships that foster community engagement and sustainability
Pediatric Health Innovation: Traditional research, implementation science, and community-based participatory research
Quality Education: Programs that support educational opportunities and literacy
Economic Stability: Initiatives that strengthen economic foundations for families
Food Security and Nutrition: Projects combating food insecurity and promoting healthy nutrition
Mental Health: Maternal mental health, pediatric mental health services, and access to counseling
Leadership Development: Programs building leadership skills in young people

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation's primary focus is pediatric health and community health equity initiatives. Based on available information, they do not appear to fund:

Projects outside their geographic service areas (Central Florida, Delaware Valley, North Florida)
Organizations not aligned with children's health and well-being
Individual requests for medical care or patient support (though they have a separate Financial Assistance Program for patients)
General operating support for large institutions

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

R. Lawrence Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP – President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2018)

Over 25 years as academic surgeon and physician executive
Named to Nemours Foundation Board of Directors in May 2025
Recognized as one of the nation's 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives by Modern Healthcare in 2024 (third time receiving this honor)
Quote: "transforming the definition of children's health and fundamentally changing the financial incentives determining their care"

Mark Mumford – Chief Operating Officer

Caswell L. Samms III, MBA – Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Matthew Davis, MD, MAPP – Executive Vice President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer

Sean D. Baptiste – Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer

Jane Mericle, DNP, MHS-CL, RN, CENP – Executive Vice President, Enterprise Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Patient Operations Officer

Regional Presidents:

Aaron Carpenter, DNP – President, North Florida
Martha McGill, MBA, MHA – President, Central Florida
Laura Kowal, MPT, JD – Interim President, Delaware Valley

Board Leadership:

James "Jim" Hunt – Chair, Board of Directors (member since 2016)
Sharon Mills Higgins – Chair, Board of Managers (Delaware and Florida)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Ginsburg Institute Research and Practice Grants: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the InfoReady4 portal. Junior investigators must have a mentor for their project. Principal Investigators are required to present their findings at the annual Ginsburg Symposium.

For Ginsburg Community Grants: Organizations submit proposals for community-based projects that align with the Institute's focus areas: quality education, economic stability, healthy food and nutrition, and mental health. Proposals are evaluated based on:

Innovation
Community engagement and sustainability
Emphasis on fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration

Grant recipients are required to attend the Ginsburg Institute's annual Symposium (held in October).

Contact: ginsburginstitute@nemours.org

For Nemours Community Funding Program (Delaware Valley): Application information is not publicly available. Contact Nemours Children's Health, Delaware Valley community benefit department for more information.

For Other Grant Programs: The Nemours Foundation makes grants to various organizations as documented in their Form 990 filings (60 awards totaling $33.9 million in 2023), but application processes for general grant-making are not publicly disclosed. These may be board-directed or invitation-based grants.

Decision Timeline

For Ginsburg Institute programs: Applications accepted on a rolling basis, with specific timelines not publicly disclosed. Funded projects are typically announced and presented at the annual symposium in the fall.

For other grant programs: Decision timelines are not publicly available.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available for any of the grant programs.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated in publicly available materials. For Ginsburg Institute programs, contact ginsburginstitute@nemours.org for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on recent grant awards and stated priorities, successful applications to Nemours Foundation demonstrate:

For Community Grants:

Multi-stakeholder Collaboration: The Foundation explicitly emphasizes fostering partnerships between multiple organizations. Recent successful projects include collaborations like Cristo Rey High School + Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, and Boys & Girls Clubs + REED Charitable Foundation.
Alignment with Social Determinants of Health: Projects addressing quality education, economic stability, healthy food and nutrition, or mental health are prioritized.
Innovation: The Foundation seeks creative approaches to addressing health disparities and community needs.
Sustainability and Community Engagement: Projects should demonstrate plans for long-term impact and meaningful community involvement.
Clear Connection to Children's Health: Even community projects should have a clear link to improving outcomes for children and families.

Recent Successful Community Projects:

Wolomi: Digital platform connecting mothers to mental health counselors and resources
Boys & Girls Clubs + Cristo Rey: After-school enrichment and leadership development
Boys & Girls Clubs + REED Foundation: High-quality literacy materials and student support
4Roots + HEBNI Nutrition + Second Harvest Food Bank: Food insecurity combat program
UCF College of Medicine + ELEVATE Orlando: Hands-on medical career introduction for students

For Research Grants:

Projects addressing health equity and disparities in vulnerable populations
Implementation science and community-based participatory research approaches
Clear research methodology examining social determinants of health
Willingness to present findings at the Ginsburg Symposium
For junior investigators: strong mentor support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Partnership is key: The Ginsburg Institute community grants explicitly favor multi-stakeholder collaborative projects over single-organization applications. Consider forming partnerships before applying.
Focus on the four pillars: Align your project clearly with one or more of the Institute's focus areas: quality education, economic stability, healthy food and nutrition, or mental health.
Think beyond medical care: Nemours funds community-based interventions addressing social determinants of health, not just clinical programs. Projects can be educational, economic, or social in nature as long as they connect to child and family health.
Rolling applications offer flexibility: Ginsburg Institute programs accept applications year-round, allowing you to apply when your project is ready rather than rushing to meet a fixed deadline.
Symposium participation required: Budget time and resources to attend the annual Ginsburg Symposium (typically October) if you receive funding—this is a requirement, not optional.
Geographic focus matters: Community grants primarily support Central Florida organizations, while Delaware Valley has a separate community funding program. Ensure your organization is in a served region.
Demonstrate innovation and sustainability: Show how your project brings a creative approach to a persistent problem and how it will continue to create impact beyond the initial grant period.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.