The Welfare Foundation awards grants to promote the social welfare of people and communities in Delaware and southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The foundation's primary strategy is grantmaking, typically awarding $4 million to $5 million in grants annually, and has distributed approximately $130 million to nonprofits over the past 25 years. This aligns with its mission to support social welfare initiatives within its defined geographic focus areas.
The foundation primarily targets capital grants (excluding endowments) across seven nonprofit sub-sectors: Social Services, Housing, Health/Hospitals, Education, Environment, Civic, and Arts/Humanities. Eligible beneficiaries are 501(c)(3) organizations that do not discriminate based on various protected characteristics. The impact goals are to support organizations that provide direct benefits to these communities within the specified focus areas.
The Welfare Foundation's priorities and focuses are clearly outlined through its chosen sub-sectors. It avoids funding political activities, advocacy, religious organizations, fundraising events, individual needs, pass-through grants, travel, and publications. This strategic focus ensures that funds are directed towards initiatives with a clear social welfare impact, aligning with the foundation's theory of change which emphasizes direct support to established non-profits working in critical areas.
While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the foundation's consistent grantmaking in specific sub-sectors over an extended period suggests an expectation of positive, tangible contributions to the social welfare of the target communities. The large volume of grants awarded indicates a strategic commitment to fostering long-term improvements in the quality of life within its service areas.
