Longwood Foundation Grant Program

Longwood Foundation Grant Program is sponsored by Longwood Foundation. Supports Delaware nonprofits with capital projects and program expansion, with a strong emphasis on high-quality education and youth development.

Guidelines - Longwood Foundation Grant Life Cycle At-A-Glance Register for an Info Session Frequently Asked Questions Exploring Funding Flexibility for Recent Grantees Catalysts Together Overview Frequently Asked Questions Catalysts Together Members We welcome applications from organizations seeking to improve the quality of life and future of the state of Delaware and/or the Kennett Square area (within a four-mile radius of Longwood Gardens).

Our vision is that nonprofits are better able to serve their communities, thereby improving quality of life. We meet our vision when nonprofits in our region meet their respective missions. Therefore, our grantmaking is geared towards helping a nonprofit get closer to their mission and goals.

Our dollars should drive impact. We are looking for catalytic proposals – those that help a nonprofit grow, strengthen, or improve their efforts and impact. In general, we choose to practice “responsive” philanthropy, which means that we assume we don’t know the best way to improve our region and therefore we welcome nonprofits to submit requests most important to them and the communities they serve.

From these distinct views of the future, we choose the most compelling in which to invest. The deadlines for our Spring and Fall cycles are March 1 and September 1, respectively. Considerations for Prospective Spring 2026 Grant Applicants Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty As many of you are aware, there is ongoing uncertainty around federal and state funding that could significantly impact nonprofit organizations in our region.

Longwood Foundation is committed to supporting a strong and resilient sector, and we encourage all organizations to be proactive in their planning. Our grantmaking aims to propel organizations to a higher, sustainable level of impact beyond the grant period.

As you consider applying for funding, please carefully assess whether this request represents the highest and best use of a Longwood request over the next two years, given the evolving funding landscape. We strongly encourage every nonprofit to engage in scenario planning, examine cash flow projections, and assess funding risks.

We have seen organizations explore a variety of pathways forward, such as adapting program design, reducing or merging operations, strengthening leadership capacity, or diversifying revenue streams. If you are still developing your plans and anticipate that the priority or urgency of your request might change as federal budget decisions become clearer, you may wish to delay your proposal until you have more certainty.

If you move forward with an application now, we will interpret it as your commitment to the project and outcomes despite funding uncertainties. Changes to outcomes, reallocation of funds, or additional funding to help organizations adjust to federal/state funding shifts will likely not be available for organizations awarded in this cycle.

Longwood Foundation Grantmaking: Prospective applicants interested in learning about the Longwood Foundation’s grantmaking and approach should review (and/or download) the information on the page linked below. What to Know about the Longwood Foundation's Grantmaking Eligibility: The Longwood Foundation’s mission is to be a catalyst to strengthen nonprofit organizations in Delaware and the Kennett Square area.

Our vision is that these same organizations are better able to serve their communities, thereby improving quality of life. The Foundation accepts grant requests from nonprofit organizations located in and/or benefiting the state of Delaware and within a four-mile radius of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Organizations that have previously applied are asked not to re-approach the Longwood Foundation with a funding request within two years of a previous request, regardless of whether the proposal was approved or declined. Therefore, if you are not eligible for Spring 2026 because of a past grant request, please reference your past grant agreement or declination letter to determine when you can return to Longwood for another request.

Information Sessions: The Longwood Foundation offers Grant Information Sessions ahead of each application deadline. These will be offered in person and via Zoom. The session provides an overview of the application and evaluation processes used by the Foundation.

If your organization is a brand-new applicant to the Longwood Foundation, you must attend an Information Session before you can attend a Pre-Meeting . Many past applicants have found that the Information Session helps them better understand the Longwood Foundation, determine when to apply, and create a strong proposal.

While new applicants can request a Pre-Meeting before attending an Information Session, the Pre-Meeting will be scheduled for after the Information Session you register for. It’s important to note that we also accept grant requests from new organizations that choose not to participate in the Information Sessions or Pre-Meetings. Attendance at these sessions is NOT required for grant requests unless the request is for $500,000 or more.

*Registration CLOSED* Spring 2026 Grant Information Sessions Pre-Meetings: All prospective applicants may request a Pre-Meeting ahead of the submission of a proposal. A Pre-Meeting provides your organization with an opportunity to meet with a grant evaluator prior to submitting your grant request.

During this meeting, organizations may update their grant evaluator on their planned request and ask questions pertinent to preparing their application. Once you request a Pre-Meeting, you’ll be assigned to meet with one of the Foundation’s grant evaluators, either Thère du Pont, Maria Stecker, Sierra Harris, Wes Davis, or Adara Scholl. First-time applicants are required to attend an Information Session before attending a Pre-Meeting.

Note that this pre-meeting is optional for requests less than $500,000. Organizations planning to request $500,000 and above must have a Pre-Meeting prior to submitting an application. Proposals will not be accepted for $500,000 and above without a Pre-Meeting.

Please note that participation in a Pre-Meeting does not obligate an organization to submit a request in the next grant cycle. While we are typically able to accommodate all requests for Pre-Meetings, given the volume requested and a relatively small number of grant evaluators, all meeting requests may not be able to be honored ahead of the application deadline.

Requests for projects that will be greater than $500,000 will be prioritized, followed by requests from organizations who have attended an Information Session, with the remaining requests handled in the order in which they are received. In order to request to schedule a Pre-Meeting, please complete the form linked below.

The Foundation will then connect you with a grant evaluator, who will reach out to you via email to schedule a date and time. *CLOSED* Spring 2026 Pre-Meeting Request Form Questions? Email Mary Lowe, Grants Manager ( mlowe@longwood.

org ) Application Process: The Longwood Foundation operates two grant cycles per year, with proposal deadlines of March 1st and September 1st . The Foundation utilizes an electronic Grants Management System for application submissions. When preparing for a proposal, please review the other pages on the website to view the Foundation’s values , grantmaking overview , FAQs , and information on the grant life cycle .

Prior to beginning an application, it is recommended that organizations visit Guidestar to either create a profile or review/update their current profile. Applications to Longwood must be submitted through the online system and late submissions will not be considered.

In-Person or Zoom Meetings: As part of the proposal evaluation, organizations submitting a request will have a meeting scheduled to discuss their proposal with the Longwood Foundation staff. These meetings assist Longwood in better understanding the organization, its leadership, and the proposal in order to support the Trustees’ decision making.

During these meetings, Longwood Foundation staff will ask many questions about the request, the requesting organization, and the proposed impact of the application. Staff may email questions in advance, with nonprofits asked to respond either during or within two weeks of the meeting. During the meeting to discuss the application, the Longwood Foundation is likely to have questions about the financials.

If the Executive Director is not familiar with the organization’s financials, please ensure that the financial expert joins the meeting. For additional information on the grant cycle, including information on grant decisions and distribution of funds, please see the Grant Life Cycle At-A-Glance document linked below.

Grant Life Cycle At-A-Glance Application Contents: The application contains separate sections asking for an executive summary, information on the current request (including proposed outcomes/impact), organization information, and financial information. A blank copy of the application can be viewed in the link below, with mandatory questions starred in red.

This document is only provided for the convenience of prospective applicants to help plan their submissions. Please note that the application must be completed electronically using the online grants management system. Late applications or those outside of the electronic grants management system will not be accepted.

The blank application linked below is indicative of Spring 2026 grant requirements and is provided for planning purposes only. Spring 2026 Blank Application (for planning purposes only) How To Apply: Applications are only accepted electronically through the Longwood Foundation online grants management system. Please note that this is a shared application portal with the Welfare and Crestlea Foundations.

While this is a shared portal, the foundations are separate entities with individual requirements and deadlines. Please ensure that you are using the Longwood Foundation application. The application deadlines are March 1 and September 1 .

Whether your application is approved or declined, you will be asked to wait a minimum of two years before approaching Longwood Foundation with another request. Apply Now : Use the link below to apply now using the Longwood Foundation grants management system. Please note that the Foundation’s grants management system’s applicant dashboard has a new look.

Before you click “Apply Now! ” below, you may want to familiarize yourself. Click here for more information .

Apply for the Spring 2026 Grant Cycle What to Know about the Longwood Foundation's Grantmaking What to Know about Outcomes (Measures of Success) Grant Life Cycle At-A-Glance *Registration CLOSED* Spring 2026 Grant Information Sessions *CLOSED* Spring 2026 Pre-Meeting Request Form Frequently Asked Questions Spring 2026 Blank Application (for planning purposes only) Questions? Email Kristen English, Grants Associate (kenglish@longwood.

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