Lloyd L. and Helen R. Dilworth Foundation Grant Program

The Lloyd L. and Helen R. Dilworth Foundation is a private philanthropic entity managed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. through its Trust Philanthropic Services. Established in 1987, the foundation was created by Lloyd and Helen Dilworth, originally from Chicago and later residents of Miami Beach. Known for their active engagement in charitable causes, the Dilworths designed the foundation to continue their legacy of supporting a broad range of nonprofit activities. Administration and grant management responsibilities are handled by Wells Fargo’s Trust Philanthropic Services team, which ensures that applications are reviewed in alignment with the foundation’s original mission and governing instruments. The foundation's mission is to support diverse charitable endeavors, with a primary focus on organizations operating within the state of Florida. While the foundation does not enforce strict geographic limitations, priority is given to applicants based in Florida. The grant program is open to a wide array of sectors, including arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment and animal welfare; health; human services; public and societal benefit; and religious initiatives. Organizations must align their proposals with one or more of these designated program areas to be considered for funding. Eligible applicants must hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation does not consider proposals from individuals, and it refers individuals seeking scholarship aid to an external scholarship platform, csascholars.org. The foundation does not explicitly list additional restrictions on applicant types, but compliance with standard nonprofit eligibility criteria is required. There is no matching requirement indicated, and applications are open to all qualifying nonprofits regardless of size or affiliation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, but to be considered for the annual review cycle, submissions must be completed by September 30. The foundation conducts a single review meeting annually, and decisions are typically communicated by the end of the calendar year. All submissions are confirmed via email upon receipt, and no pre-application or letter of inquiry phase is mentioned. The foundation does not publish formal evaluation criteria but implies a preference for Florida-based work and alignment with its seven programmatic areas. Average grant awards range from $2,500 to $5,000, and the foundation typically awards between five and six grants per year, amounting to approximately $25,000 in total annual disbursements. These figures suggest a competitive process with modest funding available per applicant, most likely intended for small-scale projects or capacity-building efforts. The relatively low total disbursement and average award size indicate that the foundation likely funds grassroots or localized initiatives. For assistance or inquiries regarding the application process or technical support, applicants can contact Wells Fargo’s grant administration support team via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com or by phone at 1-888-235-4351. It is recommended that organizations ensure alignment with the foundation’s mission and geographic focus before applying, and submit well before the September 30 deadline to avoid processing delays or technical issues.