The Longwood Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on sustaining and capital-supporting a signature public garden and related local community facilities. The foundation makes very large, mission-focused grants for operating support and capital/debt needs—primarily to Longwood Gardens—with additional targeted support for a community education building and early childhood programming housed there. Its giving is highly place-based and oriented toward cultural amenities and community infrastructure in the Wilmington/Delaware region.
Longwood Foundation Inc centers its giving on one place-defining institution: Longwood Gardens. In the recent grants list, the largest awards are repeated multimillion-dollar commitments to Longwood Gardens Inc for operating support and the Longwood Reimagined campaign, showing a sustained emphasis on the garden’s core operations and capital needs. That pattern extends to related local facilities as well. The foundation has backed the Community Education Building for debt service, and it has funded programming inside that building through the YMCA of Delaware’s early learning center. Beyond those anchor grants, Longwood Foundation Inc supports a broad set of Delaware nonprofits through large, catalytic awards tied to facility expansion, program growth, and organizational strengthening. Recipients include organizations serving children and families, education and workforce pathways, housing and shelter, public health, arts and culture, and community economic mobility. The scale of its recent grants is notably large, with many awards in the seven-figure range, but the pattern is less about broad dispersion than about concentrated support for local institutions and infrastructure in Wilmington and nearby Delaware communities.
A major theme in the portfolio is early childhood and family support. Longwood Foundation Inc gave $2,000,000 to YMCA of Delaware for the early learning center in the Community Education Building, and $1,800,000 to Children & Families First Delaware Inc for the Nurse Family Partnership program. Education and workforce development also appear repeatedly: the foundation awarded $1,750,000 to Delaware State University Foundation for DSU WCHBS growth and strategic expansion, and $1,200,000 to Delaware Technical & Community College Educational Foundation for a culinary arts kitchen expansion. In K–12 and school-enrichment work, it supported Newark Charter School with $1,000,000 for an auditorium and Aspira of Delaware with $1,001,442 for an academy expansion project. Cultural and community infrastructure are another clear line of support, including $1,250,000 to Joshua M Freeman Foundation for Freeman Arts Pavilion.
Typical grant size is substantial: the p25 is $107,500, the median is $250,000, and the p75 is $498,137. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the same anchor institution across multiple years, especially Longwood Gardens Inc, which received major operating and campaign support in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals. Its active grantmaking includes open, unsolicited competitive cycles for operating, program, and capital requests, plus a leadership cohort with a $10,000 capacity-building wallet. Grants are structured around catalytic support rather than routine small-dollar giving.
$40.6M
$967.5M
$15.5M
$39.4M
Most grants fall between $108K and $498K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$108K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$498K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in DE.
ELEUTHERE I DU PONT II
PRESIDENT (NON-VOTING/NON-TRUSTEE)
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Very concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of local institutions; repeat funding to the same flagship beneficiary (Longwood Gardens) and targeted capital/debt financing for community facilities rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Longwood Gardens / Longwood Gardens Inc., Community Education Building, YMCA of Delaware
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Delaware: 100% of grants in the recipient distribution are in the US, and the top state by grant count is Delaware. Wilmington appears repeatedly as the recipient city, including awards to Longwood Gardens Inc, Community Education Building, YMCA of Delaware, and Delaware State University Foundation. Recent grants also reach other Delaware places such as Milford, through Food Bank of Delaware’s Building Hope in Milford, and Lewes, through Greater Lewes Foundation’s 4th Street Preserve Project. The active grant programs also extend to the Kennett Square area in Pennsylvania within a four-mile radius of Longwood Gardens.
The recent grants point to nonprofits working on early childhood, education, workforce development, housing and shelter, arts and culture, and community economic mobility. Examples include awards for an early learning center, university expansion, a culinary arts kitchen, arts pavilion support, and a redevelopment project.
Yes. Its Responsive Grantmaking program is listed as open to unsolicited proposals, and its Grant Information Sessions are designed to help prospective applicants understand expectations and strengthen submissions.
The typical grant range is large: the p25 is $107,500, the median is $250,000, and the p75 is $498,137. Recent awards also include several multimillion-dollar grants, including recurring support for major facilities and campaigns.
Its grantmaking is local and concentrated in Delaware, with a program area that also includes the Kennett Square area in Pennsylvania within four miles of Longwood Gardens. The recipient distribution shows 100% of grants in the US, and Delaware is the top state by grant count.
Yes. The recent grant list shows repeated support for some recipients across multiple years, especially Longwood Gardens Inc, which received major operating support and campaign funding in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Longwood Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits located in and/or benefiting Delaware and/or within a four-mile radius of Longwood Gardens; organizations must wait two years between requests; not for explicitly religious purposes or routine general operating support.
Deadline: Two annual cycles: Spring deadline March 1 and Fall deadline September 1.
Who can apply: Open to prospective applicants; maximum of two seats per organization (preferably executive director and board chair). Preference to organizations eligible to apply in upcoming cycle.
Deadline: Session dates are published for each cycle; example session dates listed for Dec 5, 2025 and multiple January 2026 dates. Registration for the Spring 2026 cycle was indicated as closed for the referenced cycle.
Who can apply: Applicant must be a nonprofit organization located in and/or benefiting Delaware and/or within a four-mile radius of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. Organizations that have previously applied must wait two years before reapplying. The foundation does not fund explicitly religious purposes, events, endowments, or individual scholarships. Attendance at information sessions or pre-meetings is not required unless the request is for $500,000 or more; first-time applicants must attend an information session before a pre-meeting.
Deadline: March 1 and September 1 each year
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LONGWOOD GARDENS INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $8,000,000 | 2025 | LONGWOOD REIMAGINED CAMPAIGN |
| COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING | WILMINGTON, DE | $2,637,841 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR DEBT SERVICE. |
| YMCA OF DELAWARE | WILMINGTON, DE | $2,000,000 | 2025 | EARLY LEARNING CENTER IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING. |
| DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,750,000 | 2025 | DSU WCHBS GROWTH AND STRATEGIC EXPANSION. |
| CHEER INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,500,000 | 2025 | GATEWAY EAST ADMINISTATION BUILDING. |
| JOSHUA M FREEMAN FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,250,000 | 2025 | FREEMAN ARTS PAVILION. |
| CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,200,000 | 2025 | PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM FOR PRE AND POST NATAL CARE. |
| BRAVEN AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,200,000 | 2025 | BRAVEN AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY. |
| GREATER LEWES FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,000,000 | 2025 | 4TH STREET PRESERVE PROJECT. |
| WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,000,000 | 2025 | WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY BRANDYWINE EXPANSION. |
| ABC PARENTING INSTITUTE | WILMINGTON, DE | $925,000 | 2025 | ABC IN DELAWARE. |
| THE ROSA HEALTH CENTER | WILMINGTON, DE | $800,000 | 2025 | MAKE IT REAL FOR ROSA PROJECT. |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF DELAWARE | WILMINGTON, DE | $544,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING TO EXPAND SERVICES. |
| KENNETT LIBRARY | WILMINGTON, DE | $500,000 | 2025 | CREATE INNOVATIVE MAKER SPACES. |
| THE PETE DU PONT FREEDOM FOUNDATION LLC | WILMINGTON, DE | $500,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING INVESTMENT. |
| THE SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $500,000 | 2025 | SPRINGBOARD PALLET VILLAGE. |
| GRAND OPERA HOUSE | WILMINGTON, DE | $500,000 | 2025 | PROJECT RECOVERY. |
| LIMEN RECOVERY WELLNESS | WILMINGTON, DE | $500,000 | 2025 | 819 WASHINGTON LOCATION EXPANSION. |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $492,548 | 2025 | BACK ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION IN DOVER. |
| THE PROXIMITY PROJECT | WILMINGTON, DE | $475,000 | 2025 | HARAMBEE DELAWARE. |
| VOICES UNDERGROUND | WILMINGTON, DE | $450,000 | 2025 | NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MEMORIAL. |
| TOWER HILL SCHOOL | WILMINGTON, DE | $450,000 | 2025 | THE HIVE. |
| ZOE MINISTRIES | WILMINGTON, DE | $450,000 | 2025 | HANNAH'S HOUSE. |
| THE BRYAN ALLEN STEVENSON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE (BASSE) | WILMINGTON, DE | $450,000 | 2025 | BRYAN A. STEVENSON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE. |
| UNIONVILLE-CHADDS FORD SCHOOL DISTRICT | WILMINGTON, DE | $450,000 | 2025 | STRONGS ROOTS AND NEW GROWTH. |
| SANFORD SCHOOL | WILMINGTON, DE | $450,000 | 2025 | THE EXCEPTIONALLY SANFORD CAMPAIGN. |
| DELAWARE COLLEGE SCHOLARS | WILMINGTON, DE | $440,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT. |
| SUSSEX COUNTY HEALTH COALITION | WILMINGTON, DE | $400,000 | 2025 | FIT OUT AND LEASING OF SPACE FOR NONPROFITS. |
| SOCIAL FINANCE | WILMINGTON, DE | $400,000 | 2025 | PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM TRACKING AND EVALUATION. |
| BRONZE VALLEY FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $400,000 | 2025 | BRONZE VALLEY INVESTMENT ACCELERATOR. |
| DELAWARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $400,000 | 2025 | EXPANDING PHILANTHROPY IN SUSSEX COUNTY DELAWARE. |
| THE LORELTON FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, DE | $400,000 | 2025 | LORELTON WINDOW RESTORATION. |
| DELAWARE WILD LANDS INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $381,834 | 2025 | HQ REHABILITATION AND GCS EXPANSION. |
| DELAWARE ACADEMY OF THE VOCAL ARTS | WILMINGTON, DE | $350,000 | 2025 | ELEVATE VOCAL ARTS CAPACITY BUILDING. |
| WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE | WILMINGTON, DE | $342,715 | 2025 | THE NEXT GENERATION OF WE LEADERSHIP. |
| 50CAN INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $341,500 | 2025 | DELAWARECAN GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS. |
| GREAT OAKS CHARTER SCHOOL | WILMINGTON, DE | $325,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR INCREASED SERVICE OFFERINGS. |
| FIRST STATE EDUCATE | WILMINGTON, DE | $323,875 | 2025 | IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN DELAWARE. |
| DELAWARE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | WILMINGTON, DE | $300,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM FOR SEDI BUSINESSES. |
| TOIVA COACHING | WILMINGTON, DE | $300,000 | 2025 | PEER SUPPORT FOR ACCESSIBLE THERAPY. |
| FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $300,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL OF FSBT AT WHITEHALL. |
| JAY'S HOUSE | WILMINGTON, DE | $275,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL FUNDING FOR NEW SITE. |
| UNIVERSITY DRAMA GROUP - CHAPEL STREET PLAYERS | WILMINGTON, DE | $250,000 | 2025 | CREEKVIEW ROAD THEATER. |
| TECH IMPACT | WILMINGTON, DE | $250,000 | 2025 | STRENGTHENING DE NONPROFIT DATA MATURITY. |
| THE WARDROBE | WILMINGTON, DE | $250,000 | 2025 | KENNETT SQUARE PROGRAM SERVICES. |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER DELAWARE | WILMINGTON, DE | $250,000 | 2025 | SPOONFUL OF HOPE CHEF -LED MEAL PROGRAM. |
| DO CARE DOULA FOUNDATION INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT. |
| UPLAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | WILMINGTON, DE | $250,000 | 2025 | RENOVATION OF "THE BARN" THEATER AND GYM. |
| EDGE FOR TOMORROW | WILMINGTON, DE | $239,161 | 2025 | PROGRAM EXPANSION. |
| GAUDENZIA INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $200,000 | 2025 | CLAYMONT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PILOT. |
LONGWOOD GARDENS INC
$8,000,000LONGWOOD REIMAGINED CAMPAIGN
COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING
$2,637,841SUPPORT FOR DEBT SERVICE.
YMCA OF DELAWARE
$2,000,000EARLY LEARNING CENTER IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING.
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$1,750,000DSU WCHBS GROWTH AND STRATEGIC EXPANSION.
CHEER INC
$1,500,000GATEWAY EAST ADMINISTATION BUILDING.
JOSHUA M FREEMAN FOUNDATION
$1,250,000FREEMAN ARTS PAVILION.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST
$1,200,000PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM FOR PRE AND POST NATAL CARE.
BRAVEN AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
$1,200,000BRAVEN AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY.
GREATER LEWES FOUNDATION
$1,000,0004TH STREET PRESERVE PROJECT.
WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY BRANDYWINE EXPANSION.
ABC PARENTING INSTITUTE
$925,000ABC IN DELAWARE.
THE ROSA HEALTH CENTER
$800,000MAKE IT REAL FOR ROSA PROJECT.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF DELAWARE
$544,000CAPACITY BUILDING TO EXPAND SERVICES.
KENNETT LIBRARY
$500,000CREATE INNOVATIVE MAKER SPACES.
THE PETE DU PONT FREEDOM FOUNDATION LLC
$500,000CAPACITY BUILDING INVESTMENT.
THE SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE INC
$500,000SPRINGBOARD PALLET VILLAGE.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
$500,000PROJECT RECOVERY.
LIMEN RECOVERY WELLNESS
$500,000819 WASHINGTON LOCATION EXPANSION.
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
$492,548BACK ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION IN DOVER.
THE PROXIMITY PROJECT
$475,000HARAMBEE DELAWARE.
VOICES UNDERGROUND
$450,000NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MEMORIAL.
TOWER HILL SCHOOL
$450,000THE HIVE.
ZOE MINISTRIES
$450,000HANNAH'S HOUSE.
THE BRYAN ALLEN STEVENSON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE (BASSE)
$450,000BRYAN A. STEVENSON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE.
UNIONVILLE-CHADDS FORD SCHOOL DISTRICT
$450,000STRONGS ROOTS AND NEW GROWTH.
SANFORD SCHOOL
$450,000THE EXCEPTIONALLY SANFORD CAMPAIGN.
DELAWARE COLLEGE SCHOLARS
$440,000PROGRAM EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT.
SUSSEX COUNTY HEALTH COALITION
$400,000FIT OUT AND LEASING OF SPACE FOR NONPROFITS.
SOCIAL FINANCE
$400,000PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM TRACKING AND EVALUATION.
BRONZE VALLEY FOUNDATION
$400,000BRONZE VALLEY INVESTMENT ACCELERATOR.
DELAWARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$400,000EXPANDING PHILANTHROPY IN SUSSEX COUNTY DELAWARE.
THE LORELTON FOUNDATION
$400,000LORELTON WINDOW RESTORATION.
DELAWARE WILD LANDS INC
$381,834HQ REHABILITATION AND GCS EXPANSION.
DELAWARE ACADEMY OF THE VOCAL ARTS
$350,000ELEVATE VOCAL ARTS CAPACITY BUILDING.
WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE
$342,715THE NEXT GENERATION OF WE LEADERSHIP.
50CAN INC
$341,500DELAWARECAN GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS.
GREAT OAKS CHARTER SCHOOL
$325,000SUPPORT FOR INCREASED SERVICE OFFERINGS.
FIRST STATE EDUCATE
$323,875IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN DELAWARE.
DELAWARE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$300,000PROGRAM FOR SEDI BUSINESSES.
TOIVA COACHING
$300,000PEER SUPPORT FOR ACCESSIBLE THERAPY.
FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE INC
$300,000SCHOOL OF FSBT AT WHITEHALL.
JAY'S HOUSE
$275,000CAPITAL FUNDING FOR NEW SITE.
UNIVERSITY DRAMA GROUP - CHAPEL STREET PLAYERS
$250,000CREEKVIEW ROAD THEATER.
TECH IMPACT
$250,000STRENGTHENING DE NONPROFIT DATA MATURITY.
THE WARDROBE
$250,000KENNETT SQUARE PROGRAM SERVICES.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER DELAWARE
$250,000SPOONFUL OF HOPE CHEF -LED MEAL PROGRAM.
DO CARE DOULA FOUNDATION INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT.
UPLAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
$250,000RENOVATION OF "THE BARN" THEATER AND GYM.
EDGE FOR TOMORROW
$239,161PROGRAM EXPANSION.
GAUDENZIA INC
$200,000CLAYMONT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PILOT.
