First State nonprofits can tap into an estimated $200,000 available from the Delaware Community Foundation though its 2020 Capital Grants.
Applications for the grants can be submitted between Sept. 30, 2020 and November 6, 2020.
The Foundation’s president and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay says they want to maintain the support they regularly provide to the state’s non-profits.
“We do these grants every year," said Comstock-Gay. "And while we have been buried with COVID work - just like everybody - we realized it was really important to get back to some of the basic things. Because in spite of all the COVID changes in our world, nonprofits are still doing their every day work and they need support like this to keep going.”
Comstock-Gay says the grants are one way it can help nonprofits dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The challenges for many organizations - it really is basic - how do we keep the doors open?" said Comstock-Gay. "And in particular, if you think of organizations that require ticket sales or people coming through their doors - folks can’t do that. So how do you create programming that serves people when you don’t have money to run the programs?”
Comstock-Gay says social service organizations also face major challenges, specifically healthcare requirements that mean increased costs for things like face masks and other items.
And those costs come as many groups see donations slow during the pandemic.
The Delaware Community Foundation’s Grants Committee - composed of about two dozen volunteers - will review the application and awards will be made early in 2021.
Comstock-Gay says over the years the foundation has awared more than $5 million dollars in capital and equipment grants, funded through the State of Delaware Fund and other field-of-interest endowments.
Last year, it allocated more than $279,000 in capital grants.
Guidelines and an application can be found at DCF's website.
