Longwood Gardens Inc.

Longwood Gardens Inc. operates as a private operating foundation with $1.46 billion in assets, functioning primarily as a world-class public garden and horticultural institution rather than a traditional grantmaking foundation. Its philanthropic strategy is deeply intertwined with its educational mission as the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont. The foundation distributes relatively modest grants (approximately $440K-$489K annually across 23 awards in 2024) compared to its vast asset base, focusing on organizations that align with its core pillars of horticulture, education, arts, and community engagement. Longwood Gardens also administers a Title I School Grant program providing free admission coupons and transportation reimbursement for qualifying schools with 30%+ Free or Reduced Lunch eligibility. The closely related Longwood Foundation (a separate entity) handles substantially larger grantmaking, distributing over $40 million across 81 awards in 2024, serving Delaware and the Kennett Square area within a four-mile radius of the Gardens.

Longwood Gardens Inc. has shown a steady upward trend in grantmaking activity: from 9 grants in 2021 to 20 in 2022, 23 in 2023, and 23 in 2024 with approximately $440K distributed. The typical award range spans $500 to $250,000, with most grants clustering at the lower end for community organizations and event sponsorships, while larger awards go to strategic partners like Seed Your Future ($250,000 for operational support) and Kennett Library ($250,000 for capital campaigns). Recurring support is common, particularly for the Longwood Fire Company ($100,000-$126,175 annually). Grant purposes include operational support (most frequent), capital campaigns, event sponsorship, student travel support, and community initiatives. The foundation's primary geographic focus covers Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, with funds reaching organizations in 8 states total (AL, CA, DE, MD, NY, PA, VA, VT). The related Longwood Foundation operates on a biannual cycle with March 1 (Spring) and September 1 (Fall) deadlines, receiving approximately 70 requests per cycle and funding roughly $1 for every $2.50 requested.

Compared to similar horticulture-focused private operating foundations, Longwood Gardens has an exceptionally large asset base but modest direct grantmaking. Below is a comparison with peer organizations:

Longwood Gardens' grantmaking-to-asset ratio is notably low (~0.03%) because it is a private operating foundation—the vast majority of its $101.5M annual expenses go toward operating the 1,077-acre public garden, education programs (including a tuition-free two-year Professional Horticulture Program), and arts programming. When combined with the Longwood Foundation's $40M+ in annual giving, the du Pont legacy ecosystem represents one of the most significant philanthropic forces in the Delaware Valley region.

In 2024, Longwood Gardens distributed 23 grants totaling approximately $440K-$489K. The largest single award was $250,000 to Seed Your Future (Alexandria, VA) for operational support, reflecting Longwood's commitment to national horticulture education pipeline development. The Longwood Fire Company in Kennett Square received recurring operational support of $100,000-$126,175, demonstrating the foundation's investment in local community infrastructure. The related Longwood Foundation celebrated 48 Spring 2024 grantees at a June 7, 2024 ceremony held at Longwood Gardens, followed by a Spring 2025 Grantee Celebration on June 10, 2025. The Title I School Grant program for Spring 2026 opened January 21, 2026 with applications accepted through May 13, 2026, though transportation reimbursement funds were already depleted by early 2026, indicating strong demand. Longwood's $27M+ Meadow Garden expansion and other capital improvements continue to position it as one of the world's premier public gardens, with annual revenue of approximately $72 million against $101.5 million in expenses—the gap funded by investment returns on its $1.46 billion endowment.

For the Title I School Grant: Schools must have 30%+ of students qualifying for Free/Reduced Lunch. Start early—submit your field trip request form first (allow 3 business days for confirmation), then obtain a Title I documentation letter on school letterhead dated within 90 days and signed by the principal. Applications are electronic only; late submissions are not accepted. Contact schoolandyouth@longwoodgardens.org or call 610-388-5377 with questions. For the Longwood Foundation (the related, larger grantmaker): Ensure your organization is located in or directly benefits Delaware or is within the four-mile radius of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. Apply through the electronic grants management system by March 1 (Spring) or September 1 (Fall). Do not resubmit within two years of a previous request regardless of outcome. The Foundation funds approximately $1 for every $2.50 requested, so present a compelling, well-documented case. Operational support, capital projects, and program funding are all eligible. For either entity, emphasize alignment with horticulture, education, arts, environmental stewardship, or community engagement. Longwood values innovation in these domains, so highlight how your project advances knowledge or access in these areas.