Delacy Family Foundation

The DeLacy Family Foundation is a young, well-capitalized private foundation established in September 2023 after Pamela De Lacy's landmark sale of Shenandoah Biotechnology to FujiFilm. With $18.2 million in assets and an intimate family governance structure — six board members, all De Lacys or close family associates — it operates as a proactively-curated giving vehicle rather than a traditional open grantmaker. Understanding this distinction is the single most important strategic insight for any prospective grantee.

The foundation's mission, "Nurture compassion and enrich the lives of all living beings through mutual respect and understanding," maps precisely to its FY2023 grantee list: service dog trainers (Can Do Canines, $45,000; Southeastern Guide Dogs, $20,000), animal rescue operations (LaCrescent Animal Rescue, $15,000; Coulee Region Humane Society, $5,000), disability services with human-animal components (Horse Sense for Special Riders, $10,000; Cares Inc, $22,000), and youth mentoring programs (Big Brothers Big Sisters, $45,000; Junior Achievement, $10,000). Every grant reflects genuine family experience and values, not a committee checklist.

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals. The website states this directly, and the /apply page requires login credentials — meaning only organizations already in a relationship with the board can submit. This is an invitation-only ecosystem, and relationship cultivation is the only viable pathway to funding.

The key relationship nodes are Sarah De Lacy (Executive Director, 28-year banking career, pet therapy volunteer, Jefferson Award recipient, La Crescent community leader) and Pamela De Lacy (Secretary, biotechnology entrepreneur, active animal rescue volunteer currently residing in North Carolina). Gary Beardmore (Board Member) brings a wildlife and conservation orientation through his work with Friends of the Upper Mississippi and Ducks Unlimited.

First-time applicants should focus on genuine community presence before any direct outreach. The De Lacy family has deep roots across La Crescent, MN; western Wisconsin; and Iowa. Organizations operating in these regions with missions that touch the human-animal bond, disability services, veterans' wellbeing, or STEM education at the local high school level are best positioned. The foundation's inaugural year (14 organizational grants, 5 scholarships) suggests a calibrated, relationship-first approach that will grow gradually rather than through a sudden expansion of open solicitation.

FY2023 — the foundation's inaugural full year of grantmaking — produced $224,500 in organizational grants across 14 awards and total giving of $524,151 (the additional $299,651 covers scholarship distributions and other disbursements). Net investment income of $784,765 on $18.2 million in assets (approximately 4.3% yield) provides a sustainable and growing funding base that will likely support higher annual giving in subsequent years.

Grant sizes ranged from $4,500 (Hurricane Pets Rescue) to $45,000 (Can Do Canines and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 7 Rivers Region). The median grant was $10,000, and the average was $16,036. No single organization received more than one grant, indicating deliberate diversification rather than concentration on a flagship partner.

By thematic area, the human-animal bond and service animal work captured the largest share: Can Do Canines ($45,000) and Southeastern Guide Dogs ($20,000) together account for $65,000, or 29% of organizational grants. Youth-focused grants (Big Brothers Big Sisters $45,000 and Junior Achievement $10,000) totaled $55,000 (24%). Animal rescue and shelter operations (LaCrescent Animal Rescue $15,000, Crossed Paws Rescue $8,000, Coulee Region Humane Society $5,000, Hurricane Pets Rescue $4,500) totaled $32,500 (14%). Disability services (Cares Inc $22,000) represented $22,000 (10%). Animal-assisted and equine therapy programs (Horse Sense for Special Riders $10,000, Touching Moments $5,000) added $15,000 (7%). Veterans services (Healing 4 Heroes $15,000) and community anti-poverty work (Hope Center Waukesha $10,000) and nature-connection for children with special needs (Zachariah's Acres $10,000) each rounded out the portfolio.

Geographically, Wisconsin dominated with 6 grants — reflecting Thomas De Lacy's Waterford, WI residence and the family's La Crosse-area roots. Minnesota received 3 grants (the foundation's home state). Florida received 2 (Pamela De Lacy's current region in North Carolina/Southeast). Georgia, Kansas, and New Jersey each received 1 grant. The foundation does not restrict geographically in its stated mission, but proximity to board members' communities is a consistent predictor of funding.

Officer compensation of $250,000 in year one exceeded total organizational grants of $224,500, signaling a commitment to professional infrastructure — consistent with Sarah De Lacy's full-time Executive Director role and the foundation's ambition to become "a self-sustaining, impactful organization." As operational costs stabilize, organizational grant volume is expected to grow.

The following foundations were identified as peers based on comparable assets (approximately $18.75 million) and shared NTEE classification (Philanthropy & Grantmaking, T22).

DeLacy is the most transparent peer in this cohort by a wide margin. Unlike the other four — none of which maintain active public websites with named recipients and board biographies — DeLacy has built a full public-facing site with a named board, scholarship recipients, and organizational grantees. This visibility signals a deliberate community identity that peers lack, and suggests the foundation is open to learning about aligned organizations through community channels even if it cannot accept cold applications. DeLacy also distinguishes itself with an unusually specific thematic identity (the human-animal bond, disability services, biotechnology-rooted STEM scholarships) in contrast to the generalist giving mandates typical of similarly-sized family foundations.

The DeLacy Family Foundation is among the newest large foundations in Minnesota, having received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in September 2023 — less than three years ago. Its capitalization traces directly to the March 2022 sale of Shenandoah Biotechnology to FujiFilm, representing the culmination of Pamela De Lacy's 16-year venture building a leading manufacturer of cytokines and recombinant proteins for the cell and gene therapy markets.

The foundation's inaugural Form 990-PF (FY2023) reflects 14 organizational grants totaling $224,500 and 5 named scholarship recipients: Samantha Fabian, Noah Schroeder, Lori Haack (Bethel University), Kamryn Jorgenson (University of Minnesota), and Lexi Loberg (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse). All scholarship recipients appear to be from the La Crescent-Hokah area.

No press releases, news coverage, or social media activity from 2025-2026 were located in public search results. The foundation maintains no public social media presence. Its website (delacyfamilyfoundation.org) was active and maintained as of June 2026, with board profiles updated to reflect Gary De Lacy's 2024 Iowa School Educator's TEAM Award — suggesting the site receives periodic updates even without formal news announcements. The foundation's posture is consistent with a family-run organization that builds relationships quietly rather than through public broadcasting. Researchers should expect minimal press coverage and should monitor the foundation's website and IRS filings directly for the most current activity signals.

Because the DeLacy Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, the playbook for prospective grantees is fundamentally different from standard grant-seeking. These tips are specific to this funder's documented behavior and board structure.

Relationship before request. No cold outreach. The foundation's /apply portal requires a login that must be granted by the foundation — meaning you need an existing relationship before you can even submit. Begin cultivating community touchpoints 12-18 months before you expect any grant consideration.

Target the right board members. Sarah De Lacy (Executive Director) is the operational hub and most reachable entry point. She chairs the La Crescent Economic Development Commission, volunteers in youth sports, and has a pet therapy background. Organizations active in La Crescent or the La Crosse, WI area have natural overlap. Gary Beardmore is engaged with wildlife and river conservation via Friends of the Upper Mississippi and Ducks Unlimited — organizations with environmental or animal conservation overlaps should note this.

Frame work around the human-animal bond, not just animal welfare. Generic animal shelter pitches are underdifferentiated. The foundation's top grants went to Can Do Canines ($45,000 for service dog placement with disabled individuals) and Southeastern Guide Dogs ($20,000). The intersection of animals and human wellbeing — particularly for people with disabilities, children, or veterans — is the sweet spot.

Scholarship applicants: apply by March 31. The one structured, open-application channel is the annual scholarship for La Crescent-Hokah High School seniors pursuing science-related bachelor's degrees. Past recipients have enrolled at Bethel University, University of Minnesota, and UW-La Crosse. Align your application essay with the founding family's scientific background — Pamela De Lacy holds a B.S. in Biology and built a biotech company; science-as-vocation framing resonates.

Align language precisely with the mission. Proposals (when invited) should use the specific language: "nurturing compassion and enriching the lives of all living beings through mutual respect and understanding." This is not boilerplate — it reflects the family's core identity.

Lead with data. The founding family has a hard-science background. Outcome metrics — service dog placement rates, mentoring retention statistics, adoption counts, academic persistence data — are more persuasive than narrative testimonials alone.

Budget expectations realistically. FY2023 grants ranged from $4,500 to $45,000 with a median of $10,000. First-time organizational grantees should calibrate asks in the $10,000-$20,000 range; larger requests are possible but require demonstrated track records with the foundation.