Delaware Science and Technology Grants

This grant provides funding to Delaware-based nonprofit organizations and government entities for community-focused arts projects that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This funding opportunity supports Delaware schools, arts organizations, and artists in creating engaging arts education programs for pre-K–12 students, enhancing their learning experiences through the arts.

This grant provides financial support and training to emerging arts organizations in Delaware to strengthen their management and operational capabilities.

This grant provides financial support to Delaware artists for professional development and presentation opportunities to help advance their careers.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit arts organizations in Delaware to help cover their annual operating expenses and ensure ongoing access to the arts for the community.

This funding opportunity provides up to $50,000 for organizations to implement urban forestry projects in underserved communities, enhancing green spaces and environmental quality on public lands.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, community groups, and homeowners' associations in Delaware for projects that improve water quality in developed areas through innovative and sustainable practices.

The Delaware Community Foundation offers grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 through Highmark's BluePrints for the Community fund, prioritizing health-related projects and services that address healthcare access, economic stability, social and community context, and neighborhood and built environment in Delaware.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is now accepting proposals from Delaware county and municipal governments, conservation districts and estuary programs for matching grants for surface water project planning. Donor Name: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) State: Delaware County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council (WIAC) developed the Surface Water Matching Planning Grant program to assist Delaware counties and municipalities improve water quality on the developed landscape in Delaware’s impaired watersheds.  The grants support planning, preliminary engineering, and feasibility analysis of surface water improvement projects and activities that focus on the developed landscape to improve water quality in impaired watersheds in Delaware. They can be used for a variety of projects, such as: Retrofitting stormwater systems Establishing green technology practices Restoring streams and wetlands Small watershed studies Developing master surface water and drainage plans The program is designed to assist counties and municipalities to prepare surface water projects for funding through Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF). The available funding can be used to assist with surface water planning in general, and for specific project planning and designs necessary to submit a loan application to the WPCRLF for funding consideration. Program Goals Grant applicants should focus their proposals on one or more of the following program goals: Providing benefits to water quality within an impaired watershed Planning and/or preliminary design for projects associated with a watershed management plan Planning and/or preliminary design for community stormwater management improvements in existing developments and municipalities Restoration or retrofit projects to provide water quality benefits Funding Information Funding for projects receiving a grant award in any grant cycle will be capped at $50,000 with a 1:1 cash match requirement. Project Period The project shall not exceed 2 years. Eligibility Criteria Applicants may be any Delaware county or municipal government, conservation district, or Delaware estuary program. Applicants must have the matching funds available at the time of application. Non-profit organizations, educational institutions, community organizations, and/or homeowner’s associations within the State of Delaware that do not have taxing authority are ineligible to apply directly but may partner with an eligible applicant.  Agricultural operations, non-profit organizations, and private for-profit firms are not eligible for these funds. Interested parties may enter into working arrangement with eligible applicant. For more information, visit DNREC.

The Excellence in Education Fund (EIE Fund) is now accepting grant applications for the 2024 cycle, aimed at supporting programs that promote workforce development and drive economic growth within Kent County. Donor Name: CenDel Foundation State: Delaware County: Kent County (DE) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Excellence in Education was created in 2019 through a generous contribution by –Statewide Workforce Development, as well as support of members of the Kent Economic Partnership, Greater Kent Committee, Delaware State News and the Kent County community. The Fund’s assets are managed by the Cendel Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and are administered by the Excellence in Education Advisory Board. EIE Fund invites public institutions, nonprofits, and civic/community organizations to submit their proposals. The Excellence in Education is interested in: Enhancing the workforce throughout the region: This includes quality and impact of the program. How many will be impacted? What is the duration of the program? Educating and broadening perspectives: What is the educational component to the program? How many will be impacted? What will those impacted learn? Economic and Community Development: Will this program serve or create a special skill set? Will this program generate some measurable economic impact? Will this promote employment opportunities in Kent County or possible relocation? Clarity of Application – The panel reviews dozens of applications each year. Applications which do not clearly outline the program, answer the questions, or are difficult to score may not be considered. Objectives and Outcomes – Does this program provide strong evidence to support achievement of stated goals? Funding Information The EIE fund will award up to $50,000 to eligible institutions and organizations. These include entities focused on educating and training individuals to fulfill the demands of present and future businesses in Kent County. Eligibility Requirements Must be a public institution or 501c3 organization with proper IRS documentation. Grant requests must be submitted on a 2024 Excellence in Education application form. For more information, visit CenDel Foundation.

The Community Reinvestment Fund, a capital grant program, shall be used for community redevelopment, revitalization and investment capital projects which will improve the economic, culture, historical, and recreational health of Delaware communities. Donor Name: Delaware General Assembly State: Delaware County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Project Eligibility Eligible project funding requests include preconstruction costs, land acquisition, building construction or other capital costs. Such projects may include, but are not limited to, the following: Preconstruction costs, to include development of plans and specifications for the capital project. The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or restoration of buildings. The acquisition or installation of apparatus or equipment permanently attached to the building. The acquisition of land required as sites for such buildings, including land or rights to land needed to provide access to sites, and the grading or other improvements of such sites, land or rights in land. The construction of sidewalks where authorized by law. The construction of any sewers or water mains needed to connect such buildings to any publicly owned sewer system or water system. Eligibility Criteria Eligible entities include county and local governments, community-based nonprofit, and private sector nonprofit organizations. All nonprofit organizations must hold a 501(c)3 designation in order to be considered eligible. Designation must be held at the time of application. State agencies, school districts, charter schools, private schools, institutions of higher education, childcare facilities, churches, fire companies, fiscal agents, and for-profit organizations are not eligible for funds from the Community Reinvestment Fund. For more information, visit Delaware General Assembly.

The Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails (ORPT) Program, formerly known as the Delaware Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund (DTF), is a matching grant program assisting with public park land acquisition and outdoor recreation facility development in Delaware. Donor Name: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control State: Delaware County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: 05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Eligible Projects ORPT grant assistance is available for the following types of projects: Fee simple acquisition of parkland, open space, or conservation areas Purchase of development rights for public parkland, open space, or conservation areas Replacement of outdated and unsafe outdoor facilities Outdoor recreation facility engineering and design Outdoor recreation facility construction for example: Athletic fields and courts Playground equipment Swimming pools Picnic tables and pavilions Park maps for information boards or kiosks Park infrastructure such as entrance roads, parking, restrooms, and way finding Municipal or countywide park/open space comprehensive plans Universal accessibility upgrades to outdoor recreation facilities Professional services for park master planning Eligibility Criteria County and municipal governments and park districts may request and receive ORPT grant assistance. Projects sponsored by municipalities and counties may receive up to fifty percent (50%) in ORPT assistance of an approved project’s total costs; park districts, municipalities that have not received ORPT funds in the past, and projects located in or serving Census Tracts identified as highest vulnerability by the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI score range 0.75 – 1.00) are eligible to receive up to seventy-five percent (75%) in ORPT assistance of an approved project’s total costs. The Sponsor may obtain its share through partnerships with other governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and other non-traditional recreation providers. Partnerships with other agencies and organizations are encouraged however, only the municipalities and counties are eligible to apply for ORPT assistance. For more information, visit DNREC.

This funding opportunity supports collaborative bioscience research projects between Delaware academic institutions and businesses, aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth in the state.

ARC supports bioscience research projects that involve collaboration between Delaware academic institutions and business partners. It is designed to enhance applied research collaborations, and single PI proposals may request up to $100,000; multi-PI proposals may request up to $150,000 for one year. The program requires matching funds from the collaborating industry partner. Grant renewed every year.

iHIT – Ideas – High-return, Innovative, Transformative o Supports ideas in bioscience research that are in the development stage and promise to have a high economic return for innovative and transformative research projects. o This mechanism intends to support applicants to develop novel lines of multidisciplinary research different from their ongoing research. o Up to $75,000 for 1 year.Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.

This funding opportunity supports innovative bioscience research projects in Delaware that have the potential for significant economic impact, targeting researchers and businesses in the developmental stage.

EPoC – Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept o Supports proof of concept research towards establishing a new Delaware-based business by the end of the grant period. o Up to $75,000 for 1 year . Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.Proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF document at the link provided on the CAT website https://cat.dbi.udel.edu. Please note that submission and award processes have changed.

This funding opportunity provides up to $75,000 to researchers in Delaware to develop innovative ideas into marketable products or services, fostering the growth of new businesses and high-tech jobs in the state.

TAP provides Delaware bioscience businesses access to high-end research technologies at reduced rates. Eligible facilities include Bioimaging, DNA Sequencing & Genotyping, Bioinformatics, NMR, and Mass Spectrometry. This program supports the technological advancement of Delaware's bioscience sector by making cutting-edge resources more accessible, with funding up to $5,000 per year per core facility.

The Preschool Development Grant is a three-year federal initiative designed to bolster Delaware's early childhood system, ensuring it is inclusive and integrated to support the development and learning of all children and their families from birth through age 5. With an $8 million award for its first year, following a $4.2 million PDG B-5 grant received in December 2018, the grant aims to provide high-quality early learning experiences and facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten for children. Approximately $4.8 million of the grant is allocated to expand home-visiting services and state-funded preschool seats, while $3.2 million is dedicated to enhancing support for professionals, including technological advancements delayed by the pandemic. Key initiatives funded by the grant include expanding state-funded preschool programs, piloting the Family Connects home visiting model, updating family materials for resource and referral, enhancing workforce support for early childhood professionals, developing a mental health consultation program for home visitors, and updating the state’s strategic plans for a cohesive birth to five strategy.