Updates

Attention First Time Grant Seekers – LOI

For the upcoming 2024 grant season, Delaplaine Foundation is implementing an LOI phase for first-time grant applicants and former applicants who have not received a grant previously. Nonprofits fitting this description will be required to submit answers to some initial questions in order to determine whether the nonprofit’s mission and program goals align with ours. This action is being taken in order to streamline our grant process, save valuable time for nonprofits, and to help ensure future sustainability. All first-time applicants must submit answers to these questions no later than September 1, 2024. The answers will be reviewed in a timely fashion and notification as to whether a nonprofit can continue with the grant process will be received within two weeks. Nonprofits who do receive approval to proceed must then submit a full grant application prior to the October 1st deadline. Approval to proceed with submission of an application will in no way reflect on the ultimate decision or whether or not the Board will approve funding. For questions regarding this process, please email Program Manager Blair Wilson at bwilson@delaplainefoundation.org.

Attention Grant Seekers – Updated Grant-Making Practices

Beginning with the 2024 grant cycle, per unanimous consent of its Board of Trustees, Delaplaine Foundation will narrow the geographical reach of four of the six funding sectors, and will limit the number of grant applications an organization can submit within the one-year grant cycle. Specifically, Delaplaine Foundation will limit grant awards in the following four sectors of our giving focus to program or projects that impact Frederick County residents: Cultural Arts, Education, Health and Human Services. Grant applications for Historical Preservation and Spiritual Enlightenment programs or projects in Frederick County AND surrounding regions will continue to be considered. Also starting in 2024, nonprofit organizations will be limited to submitting ONE grant application in the upcoming grant cycle. We take these actions in order to increase local impact, and to ensure sustainability.

We understand that these new policies might negatively impact certain long-term partnerships that have been established since the founding of Delaplaine Foundation. However, after receiving a record number of grant applications for 2023, it became clear that Board action was necessary to make sure Delaplaine Foundation can continue supporting the local community in ways that are meaningful. Please know that if your nonprofit organization offers programming that benefits Frederick County residents, you will still be able to submit a single grant application in our upcoming grant cycle. For questions regarding these new policies, please email Program Manager Blair Wilson at bwilson@delaplainefoundation.org.

Sponsorships

Sponsorship Request Protocol: Because we receive a large volume of sponsorship requests throughout the year, we purposely keep our annual sponsorship budget low in order to reserve our major resources for grant making to non-profit organizations whose missions are closely aligned with ours. We are, however, pleased to support our nonprofit partners and will accept one request per nonprofit organization per calendar year for consideration. All sponsorship opportunities/requests should be routed directly to Administrative Assistant Jessica Wareham at jwareham@delaplainefoundation.org. All requests will be reviewed by Marlene Young, President, to make the final decision.