The Rosemary and Ted Lassiter Foundation prioritizes Catholic and Catholic-adjacent education and social services in Delaware while also supporting environmental and animal-conservation causes nationally. They fund K–12 and scholarship programs, local emergency social services (food banks, shelters), and select national advocacy and conservation organizations, often making program-support grants. Their portfolio mixes local institutional partners with a handful of cause-driven national recipients, reflecting both community-focused philanthropy and personal interest giving.
A defining feature of the Rosemary and Ted Lassiter Foundation is its sustained support for Catholic and Catholic-adjacent education in Delaware, paired with grants to community-serving nonprofits and select conservation groups. In the recent grant list, that pattern shows up in a $125,000 award to Serviam Academy and repeated support for schools and scholarship funds such as Salesianum School for Boys, Nativity Prep, and the Father Trainor Scholarship Fund. The foundation also backs institutions that meet immediate needs in Wilmington and Newark, including food assistance, shelter, and youth services. Beyond Delaware, it extends support to a small set of national and international organizations tied to environmental advocacy and wildlife protection. Its portfolio is dominated by support grants, and the recipients range from local schools and social-service providers to advocacy groups like Greenpeace USA and conservation organizations such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald. The overall picture is of a funder with a strong Delaware core and a narrower set of cause-driven grants outside the state.
Education is a central thread in the foundation’s giving. Recent grants include $100,000 to Salesianum School for Boys for support, $60,000 to Nativity Prep for support, and $25,000 to the Father Trainor Scholarship Fund. The foundation also gave $125,000 to Serviam Academy for support, reflecting continued backing for Catholic and independent K–12 and scholarship programs in Delaware. Community social services are another clear area. The foundation gave $40,000 to the Food Bank of Delaware for support, $40,000 to the Salvation Army for support, and $30,000 to Sunday Breakfast Mission for support. It also supported Limen House Inc with $30,000 in 2023 and $15,000 in 2024. Its environmental and conservation giving reaches beyond Delaware. Grants include $110,000 to Greenpeace USA, $30,000 to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, and $20,000 to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald.
Typical grants cluster around the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $18,000, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $50,000. The recent list shows repeated support for several recipients across more than one year, including Greenpeace USA, University of Delaware, The Little Sisters of the Poor, Nativity Prep, Food Bank of Delaware, Father Trainor Scholarship Fund, Kids With Confidence, Limen House Inc, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. Grant records in the file are labeled as support, which suggests general operating or program support rather than restricted project-only awards. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$0
$0
$7K
$41K
Most grants fall between $18K and $50K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$18K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Moderately concentrated: a mix of mid-to-large one-time and repeat grants with several organizations receiving multiple grants (many grantees have 2 awards). Funding leans toward institution-level program support rather than project-restricted gifts, combining local concentrated giving in Wilmington/Delaware with selective national grants tied to the founders' interests.
Notable grantees: University of Delaware, Salesianum School for Boys, Greenpeace USA, Food Bank of Delaware, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Giving is heavily centered in Delaware: 68% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and Delaware is also the top state by grant count. Wilmington and Newark appear repeatedly, including grantees such as Salesianum School for Boys, Nativity Prep, the Food Bank of Delaware, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. Outside Delaware, grants also reached Washington, DC; Clearwater, Florida; Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Hohenwald, Tennessee; Tucson, Arizona; and New York, New York. All recorded grants in the file went to US recipients.
The recent grants point to Catholic and Catholic-adjacent education, Delaware community services, and a smaller set of conservation and environmental organizations. Examples in the file include Serviam Academy, Salesianum School for Boys, Nativity Prep, the Food Bank of Delaware, Sunday Breakfast Mission, Greenpeace USA, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.
The grant size distribution centers on mid-five-figure awards: p25 is $18,000, median grant size is $30,000, and p75 is $50,000. Recent awards also include larger support grants such as $125,000 to Serviam Academy and $110,000 to Greenpeace USA.
Yes. Delaware is the top state by grant count, and 68% of grants go to recipients in Delaware. Wilmington and Newark appear frequently among recipient cities, alongside a smaller number of grants to organizations in other US locations.
Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Greenpeace USA, University of Delaware, The Little Sisters of the Poor, Nativity Prep, Food Bank of Delaware, Father Trainor Scholarship Fund, Kids With Confidence, Limen House Inc, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. That pattern indicates recurring support for a portion of the portfolio.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECKERD CONNECTS | CLEARWATER, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SERVIAM GIRLS ACADEMY | WILMINGTON, DE | $75,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| GREENPEACE USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $55,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FLORENCE IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT | TUSCON, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SAHAR EDUCATION | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | NEWARK, DE | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SALESIANUM SCHOOL FOR BOYS | WILMINGTON, DE | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SALESIANUM SCHOOL FOR BOYS | WILMINGTON, DE | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| NATIVITY PREP | WILMINGTON, DE | $30,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | NEWARK, DE | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FATHER TRAINOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND | WILMINGTON, DE | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE | WILMINGTON, DE | $18,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | WILMINGTON, DE | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SUNDAY BREAKFAST MISSION | WILMINGTON, DE | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| ARTISTS SPACE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| LIMEN HOUSE INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SUNDAY BREAKFAST MISSION | WILMINGTON, DE | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DELAWARE | WILMINGTON, DE | $12,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | WILMINGTON, DE | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE | WILMINGTON, DE | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| NATIVITY PREP | WILMINGTON, DE | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN HOHENWALD | HOHENWALD, TN | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| LIMEN HOUSE INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DELAWARE | WILMINGTON, DE | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FATHER TRAINOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND | WILMINGTON, DE | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| ARTISTS SPACE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| URSULINE ACADEMY | WILMINGTON, DE | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| URSULINE ACADEMY | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SERVIAM ACADEMY | NEW CASTLE, DE | $125,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| GREENPEACE USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $110,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | NEWARK, DE | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| SALESIANUM SCHOOL FOR BOYS | WILMINGTON, DE | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| ECKERD CONNECTS | CLEARWATER, FL | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| NATIVITY PREP | WILMINGTON, DE | $60,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | WILMINGTON, DE | $40,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DELAWARE | WILMINGTON, DE | $40,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| FATHER TRAINOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND | WILMINGTON, DE | $40,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $40,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE | WILMINGTON, DE | $36,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| ARTISTS SPACE | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| LIMEN HOUSE INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $30,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL | ATLANTA, GA | $30,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| SUNDAY BREAKFAST MISSION | WILMINGTON, DE | $30,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN HOHENWALD | HOHENWALD, TN | $20,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| THE NATIONAL AUDBORN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
SERVIAM GIRLS ACADEMY
$75,000SUPPORT
GREENPEACE USA
$55,000SUPPORT
SAHAR EDUCATION
$50,000SUPPORT
SUPPORT
THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$50,000SUPPORT
SALESIANUM SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$50,000SUPPORT
SALESIANUM SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$50,000SUPPORT
NATIVITY PREP
$30,000SUPPORT
THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$25,000SUPPORT
FATHER TRAINOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$25,000SUPPORT
KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE
$18,000SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$15,000SUPPORT
LIMEN HOUSE INC
$15,000SUPPORT
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DELAWARE
$12,000SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$10,000SUPPORT
KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE
$10,000SUPPORT
NATIVITY PREP
$10,000SUPPORT
THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN HOHENWALD
$10,000SUPPORT
LIMEN HOUSE INC
$10,000SUPPORT
FATHER TRAINOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$10,000SUPPORT
URSULINE ACADEMY
$5,000SUPPORT
URSULINE ACADEMY
$1,000SUPPORT
SERVIAM ACADEMY
$125,000SUPPORT
GREENPEACE USA
$110,000SUPPORT
THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$100,000SUPPORT
SALESIANUM SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$100,000SUPPORT
ECKERD CONNECTS
$100,000SUPPORT
NATIVITY PREP
$60,000SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$40,000SUPPORT
FATHER TRAINOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$40,000SUPPORT
KIDS WITH CONFIDENCE
$36,000SUPPORT
LIMEN HOUSE INC
$30,000SUPPORT
THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN HOHENWALD
$20,000SUPPORT
THE NATIONAL AUDBORN CENTER
$20,000SUPPORT