Walls & Turner Charitable Fund: Fulfillment of Terminally Ill Children's Wishes Grant

The 2026 Walls & Turner Charitable Fund: Fulfillment of Terminally Ill Children’s Wishes Grant is an initiative of the Delaware Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization committed to strengthening communities in Delaware through strategic grantmaking and donor engagement. This particular fund supports a narrow and highly focused objective: providing small grants to nonprofit organizations that design and deliver educational programming aligned with the heartfelt goal of fulfilling the wishes of terminally ill children. This mission-specific grant reflects the Walls & Turner Fund’s compassionate investment in vulnerable youth and their unique educational aspirations during life-limiting illnesses. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations whose missions or programs align closely with the defined purpose of the fund. These organizations may request support either for general operations or for specific programs, depending on the nature of their alignment with the fund's objective. The grant review process places primary emphasis on this alignment as well as the measurable impact the organization has within its community. Applicants are expected to provide concrete data about their outcomes, including relevant metrics such as the number of children served, educational sessions conducted, or specific wishes fulfilled. Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $10,000. The application process is conducted online, and submissions must include several critical documents to be considered complete. These include the organization’s most recent budget, a detailed program budget showing how the DCF dollars will be spent, a list of board members, and a copy of the IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. If the applicant is using a fiscal sponsor, a verified fiscal sponsorship agreement must also be provided. Failure to submit required documents will result in disqualification. Applications are currently open and must be submitted no later than February 20, 2026. There is no indication that this is a recurring grant opportunity, and the materials do not reference a cycle or annual reissuance. Therefore, it should be treated as a single-cycle opportunity unless additional information becomes available. There is also no mention of pre-application steps such as a Letter of Intent or Concept Paper, so applicants may proceed directly to submission. In addition to standard organizational data, applicants are asked to submit demographic information about their board, including race, ethnicity, and gender identity, and to reflect on their internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. This includes describing cultural sensitivity training, program design informed by the perspectives of populations served, and other DEI strategies. Though not scored, this information supports DCF’s broader equity goals and informs their grantmaking practices. Funding will be disbursed via ACH transfer, with bank verification required at the time of application. Required electronic signatures must confirm the organization does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. Contact information and direct grant officer names are not provided; applicants are instructed to use the online portal for submission.