Delaware 250
Grants for Museums, Heritage Groups, and Non-Profits

Notice of Funding Opportunity

 

About Delaware 250

The year 2026 will see the United States Semiquincentennial, the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s (and Delaware’s) independence. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on Delaware’s unique history and its contributions over the course of the nation’s history. This is a story that begins millennia before 1776 and continues to the present day. Although this anniversary is rooted in early American military history, this moment in time allows us to reflect upon and celebrate the plurality of histories within the Nation and State. Delaware 250 is an undertaking of the Delaware Heritage Commission, which is housed within the Delaware Public Archives and is part of the Delaware Department of State.

 

Purpose

The purpose of Delaware 250 grants is to support museums, libraries, non-profit organizations, historic sites, heritage groups, and other such groups in developing programs or other public-facing ventures that help to commemorate the 250th anniversary for Delawareans and Delaware’s visitors. Funding may also be used to conduct research into archival collections, in order to tell a fuller, better researched, or more inclusive story of the past. Grant funding may also support on-site improvements and other efforts to get sites “visitor-ready” for the Semiquincentennial. A potential project or undertaking need not be tied specifically to the history of the Revolutionary War, but it should contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Delaware’s rich history and heritage.

 

Applicants are encouraged to consider a full and inclusive interpretation of this anniversary, in keeping with Delaware 250 Overarching Themes:

• Tell the full and honest story of Delaware’s past, which allows more people to see themselves reflected in our State’s history.
• Frame 1776 as a beginning, not the end, of our American story, as we continually strive toward creating “a more perfect union.”
• Cultivate a deeper appreciation for Delaware’s history among state residents and visitors, so that we may celebrate our history and inspire the next generation of caretakers of the rich and diverse histories of our State.

All undertakings must include a public-facing element, which should be clearly articulated in the grant narrative.

Potential applicants with questions about their projects are encouraged to contact Margaret Hughes, Delaware 250 Coordinator, at margaret.hughes@delaware.gov or (302) 744-5067.

 

Eligibility

Eligible entities must be registered non-profit organizations with a board of trustees and must be open to the public on a regular basis or must regularly offer programs or provide a service to the public. Entities must be based in the State of Delaware, and proposed undertakings must benefit or be in service of Delawareans. Individuals are not eligible to apply for grants on their own, although organizations may include individuals as researchers, speakers, artists, creators, etc. within a grant application.

Eligible expenses include (but are not limited to):

• The development or implementation of programs or resources for the public related to the Semiquincentennial
• The research, development, or mounting of special exhibits or cultural or artistic undertakings related to the Semiquincentennial
• Honoraria for speakers, performers, or other outside experts
• Purchasing of materials related to such undertakings
• Hiring of temporary workers or wages for part-time staff, specifically for a program, project, or research directly tied to the Semiquincentennial
• Physical or infrastructure improvements to get sites “visitor ready” for the public
• Taking steps necessary to make collections accessible to the public, whether through digital means, allowing for on-site access, or other means of access
• Archival or archaeological research, for purposes of telling a fuller, better-researched, or more inclusive story of the past
• Materials, supplies, or part-time wages incurred for training of part-time staff and/or volunteers on new interpretive plans, relevant to the 250th anniversary

Ineligible expenses include (but are not limited to):

• Salaries for full-time staff or for regularly-scheduled part-time staff as part of their ongoing work (i.e., staffing for regularly scheduled tours)
• Ongoing operational expenses
• Programs that advance a political agenda or advocate for a public policy

Organizations may be eligible for more than one Delaware 250 grant between January 2024 and December 2026, although they may submit only one application at a time and must finish one grant and submit a final report before applying for another.

 

Funding Amounts

We encourage applicants to consider the ranges of:

• Up to $5,000
• $5,001 to $10,000
• $10,000 and above

There is no match required, and Delaware 250 grants may be eligible to be used as matching funds for grants that require a match (for example, federal grants).

 

Timeframe

Applications will be considered in quarterly cycles, beginning in Spring 2024 and continuing through 2026.

For Funding In	Application Deadline	Grant Review	Grant Notification	Grant Report
Spring 2024	April 1, 2024	April/May 2024	By May 30, 2024	No later than August 31, 2025
Summer 2024	July 15th, 2024	July/August 2024	By August 31, 2024	No later than November 30, 2025
Fall 2024	October 15, 2024	October/ November 2024	By November 30, 2024	No later than February 28, 2025
Winter 2025	January 15, 2025	January/February 2025	By February 28, 2025	No later than May 31, 2026

Subsequent years will follow a similar schedule.

All funds must be spent within twelve months of receiving funds and a final report submitted within three months of the program’s conclusion or of funds being spent. Failure to file a final report may result in ineligibility for subsequent funding. Unspent funds must be returned to Delaware 250.

 

To Apply

Applications must include:

• Grant narrative explaining the purpose of the proposed program or undertaking, the need or interest it fills, anticipates the audience, and how it relates to the 250th anniversary and to the Delaware 250 themes, as outlined above. Please be sure to include a description of the public-facing elements of this undertaking. The narrative should be in the range of three (3) to five (5) pages, although applicants requesting larger funding amounts should take care to explain their projects in full detail and may use additional pages as necessary to do so.
• Description of the group or organization’s work, including its mission and vision statements, as relevant, and the services, opportunities, or programming that the group or organization typically offers to the public.
• Itemized budget, explaining all expenses for which funding is requested. For budgets that include wages of part-time staff or contracted work, please identify the rate of pay and the hours of work the grant will cover. For proposals that include collaboration between two or more entities, the budget should clearly identify how funds will be allocated among the collaborators.
• Two (2) letters of support from community members knowledgeable about the organization and endorsing the proposed project or program. Letters of support may not come from board members, staff/volunteers, or their immediate family.
• In the event that an application includes a collaboration between two or more entities, each partner must submit a letter testifying to their participation and to the financial allocations as presented in the itemized budget.

 

In addition, applicants may include any supplemental materials that they feel helps to support their application. Please include descriptions of these materials in narrative or as a separate document.

Applications should be emailed as a Word document or PDF to Margaret Hughes at margaret.hughes@delaware.gov.

Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Delaware 250 Steering Committee. The Executive Committee will make recommendations to the full committee in the quarterly committee meetings (held in February, May, August, and November).

Successful applicants will be required to enroll in the State of Delaware’s vendor system in order to receive grant monies. Details about this process will be provided upon notification of grant funding approval. All Delaware 250 grant funding will go through this system.

Potential applicants with questions about their projects are encouraged to contact Margaret Hughes, Delaware 250 Coordinator, at margaret.hughes@delaware.gov or (302) 744-5067.

You can download these guidelines here.

 

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Kent Conservation District announce grants are available for homeowners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Kent County who wish to have their residential septic tanks pumped out for routine maintenance. Funding for the new grant initiative is made available by DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship through a Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant.

Regularly pumping out a septic system prolongs the life of the system as well as protects surface and ground waters from potential contamination. Up to $200 in grant funds are available to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding for the project is provided by a Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant through the DNREC Nonpoint Source Program in partnership with the Kent Conservation District, administering the program.

More than $68,000 in grant funding – or enough to pump out roughly 300 Kent County residential septic systems – is available. The homeowner must live in the home to qualify for grant funding. The pump-out project runs through June 30, 2024 or as long as funding lasts.

For more information, interested homeowners may contact the Kent Conservation District at 302-608-5370 or visit kentcd.org for a grant application.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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DOVER, Del. (July 24, 2023) — The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) today announced it is awarding $665,872 in funding to 12 projects through the First State Food System Program. The program, managed by the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, strengthens the local food system by supporting the broad food supply chain spectrum.

“We have had an outstanding response to the funding available through the First State Food System Program, demonstrating the continuing need to strengthen Delaware’s food supply chain infrastructure and create new and expanded markets for our farmers and producers,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse.

The First State Food System Program is designed to highlight the interconnection of systems and processes that shape nutrition, food security, health, community development, and agriculture. Since this program began in 2022, nearly $350,000 has been awarded to projects addressing community food access and approximately $500,000 to projects improving processing capacity across the state.

T.A. Farms, LLC received Cycle 1 funding for their “Poultry Revamping Project.” Producer Elizabeth Carter shared, “We would process roughly 450 birds in about five hours with our old system. Our new system can process about 700 birds in the same amount of time. Especially during our holiday season, this allows us to process the birds efficiently, allowing for a fresher product. The beneficiaries are all the consumers looking for fresh local meat, the organizations we have donated to, and our family members. Creating a physically easier work environment allows our family members to think about the future. It allows us the mindset to think long-term in the meat business.”

Awards are approved to support projects in each county. Each awarded project is designed to help Delaware’s food supply chain. The planned work will focus on one or more of the following: food processing, distribution, community access, and food production. In this year’s funding for Cycle 2:

• 50% of projects were awarded to Delaware farms.
• 34% of the projects were awarded to community organizations focused on community development, nutrition education, and food access.
• Many of the projects related to processing, storage, and distribution include the collaboration of two or more food supply chain operators.

The First State Food System Program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), championed by Delaware’s Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, along with Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. Passed by Congress, ARPA was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021.

Projects funded in Cycle 2 include the following:

Production
Bennett Orchards LLC, Wind Machine Freeze Protection to Mitigate Climate Change Effects and Strengthen Local Fruit Supply

Transportation
Marvelous Produce, Strengthening Delaware’s Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chain – Farm to End User

Markets and Industry
Powers Farm, Farm Store Expansion

Food Waste
Food Bank of Delaware, Compact Membrane Fresh Produce Preservation Phase 2

Processing
Fifer Orchards, Local Food System – Farm-to-Table Kitchen
Dittmar Family Farms LLC, Vegetable Processing and Cold Storage Expansion (Also includes storage and distribution)
D & J Custom Cutting, Ready-to-Eat Meat Processing
TA Farms LLC, Value-added Products

Storage and Distribution
Love-in-Deed Community Development, Food Closet Capacity Building & Super Foods Urban Garden Project

Community Access
La Red Health Center, Sussex County Community Fridge Program
Teach a Person to Fish Society, Milton Pantry Garden Beds
Wilmington Alliance, Growing West Center City: 7th & West Streets Community Garden

Last year, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market (HLFM) received funding for their project – Strengthening the Farm to Pantry Food System in Sussex County. HLFM Volunteer Nancy Staisey stated, “Volunteers and farmers both embraced the expansion of this program. The small farms are very enthusiastic about this program as they can sell more product while being able to feed those in need.”

The Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy plans to open the window for the last round of funding under the First State Food System Program beginning in February 2023. Complete program information can be found at https://farmandfood.delaware.gov.

The Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy strives to facilitate and support a local food system where farmers can access viable markets, Delaware households can access nutritious and wholesome food options within their communities, and where the impacts of supply chain disruptions can be diminished.

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New Castle County to Read and Celebrate “The Best We Could Do” by Thi Bui From September 2023 to March 2024

 

June 28, 2023—New Castle—New Castle County Libraries is one of 62 organizations nationwide selected to receive a 2023-2024 NEA Big Read grant. A grant of $20,000 will support a community reading program focusing on “The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir” by Thi Bui between September 2023 and March 2024. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.

“New Castle County Libraries is excited to bring the NEA Big Read to our community. Thi Bui’s graphic memoir ‘The Best We Could Do’ was selected for its poignant portrayal of immigration, assimilation, culture, and the lasting effects that displacement can have on a family,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “The book’s evocative illustrations draw the reader in and bring Bui’s story to life. The Big Read program will allow our community members to engage with important topics while considering how historical events and issues of cultural and self-identity shape our present and future.”

“The NEA Big Read brings the transformative experience of reading to an entire community,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “This year’s grantees are taking themes off the page and using creative programming to navigate difficult topics, explore new perspectives, and strengthen bonds between neighbors.”

The NEA Big Read offers a range of titles that reflect many different voices and perspectives, aiming to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community. The main feature of the initiative is a grants program, managed by Arts Midwest, which annually supports dynamic community reading programs, each designed around a single NEA Big Read selection.

“Using the captivating power of literature, NEA Big Read events unleash the creative spirit that resides within all of us,” said Torrie Allen, President and CEO of Arts Midwest. “We’re thrilled to support the work of grantees across the nation, including New Castle County Libraries, as they inspire conversations and artistic expressions through shared reading experiences.”

“We are immensely grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for their generous grant to Delaware, which will allow New Castle County to engage our community in meaningful conversations and inspire artistic responses,” said Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “Through ‘The Best We Could Do,’ we hope to deepen our communities’ understanding of the immigrant experience and the resilience of families seeking a better future.”

The NEA Big Read grant is part of a nationwide initiative that invests in nonprofit organizations to develop innovative programming around a contemporary book. This year, the NEA is investing a total of $1,075,000 to support 62 organizations, with New Castle County Government being one of the selected grantees.

Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,800 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $25 million to organizations nationwide. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 15+ years, grantees have leveraged more than $57 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 6 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, over 100,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible. For more information about the NEA Big Read, including book and author information, podcasts, and videos, visit arts.gov/neabigread.

The mission of New Castle County Libraries is to enrich our community by providing library resources and services to meet the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of the citizens of New Castle County Libraries. Libraries serve as community centers where people come together to discuss, learn, grow, and share. Learn more at newcastlede.gov/libraries.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit arts.gov to learn more. 

Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates Midwestern creativity. We build community and opportunity across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond. As one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations, Arts Midwest works to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, private funders, and many others. Learn more at artsmidwest.org.

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Contact: Catherine Wimberley, 302-395-5478 / catherine.wimberley@newcastlede.gov

Contact: Andy Truscott, 302-577-8280 / andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

DOVER, DE – Young Delaware companies in need of funding to help expand their business can now apply to compete for an Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) grant from the Division of Small Business (DSB). The division will be accepting EDGE grant applications between now and March 31 from promising early-stage businesses throughout Delaware.

Businesses that are less than seven years old and employ no more than 10 employees are eligible to apply for an EDGE grant. In previous rounds, businesses were required to be less than five years old, but DSB chose to expand this requirement to provide more small businesses with the opportunity to apply for funding.

“We know that it may take a few years for some small businesses to get off the ground, especially the businesses in our STEM category,” said DSB Director Regina Mitchell. “By expanding the number of years that eligible EDGE grant applicants have been in business, we are hopeful that even more Delaware start-up companies will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to apply.”

EDGE grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. Five STEM-based companies can receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses while five Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can receive up to $50,000.

EDGE is a matching grant program. DSB matches a winning business’s investment on a 3-to-1 basis. The business can spend grant funds on expenses that help improve the company’s long-term chances of success, such as a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers or purchasing a needed piece of equipment that can increase production capacity.

Applications for the competition round will be accepted until March 31 at 5 p.m. Finalists will pitch their grant proposals to a panel of expert judges. Winners will be announced in the summer.

“Delaware entrepreneurs are passion-driven individuals ready to either start or grow their small business,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Our role is to encourage and support them by providing significant capital through the EDGE grants program so that they reach their highest potential.”

Since EDGE launched in 2019, $4.3 million has been awarded to 70 promising Delaware small businesses in industries ranging from renewable energy technology to fitness centers to restaurants. This will be the seventh round of the program since its launch.

Businesses should visit the Division of Small Business website for eligibility requirements, to download the grant application and to connect with a Regional Business Manager for application assistance.

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Media contact
Andrea Wojcik
Communications Director
Division of Small Business
(302) 672-6840
andrea.wojcik@delaware.gov