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Delaware nonprofits need support now

July 6, 2020

Many thanks to Sheila Bravo and Cynthia Pritchard for their Commentary article June 23 extolling the virtues of Delaware’s nonprofits. With so many destructive and irrational activities roiling the civility of society, this article was a breath of fresh air and a call to the better nature of the human spirit. 

Bravo and Pritchard’s article was especially timely as nonprofits throughout the state are busy scrambling for grant dollars being made available by both the federal and state government. As a member of the Delaware Humanities board of trustees, I have been privileged to be part of the effort that has distributed over $200,000 to museums, historical societies and other cultural institutions located throughout the state. Most of the successful applicants received our maximum grant of $10,000 and will be eligible for bonus grants of an additional $5,000 as well as second-round money for those that have shown how successfully they used their initial grant.

 All in all, Delaware Humanities will have $404,000 it received through the National Endowment for the Humanities to distribute to those societies and museums whose grant applications showed the vision and innovation so necessary for success in what could be the new normal of operations for such institutions. 

Combined with the great news that state grant-in-aid funds will not be reduced in the budget, Delaware Humanities’ grants will serve as a bridge to sustainability for those nonprofits that add such an important cultural dimension to our lives. Please consider what you can do to support that bridge.

Richard Claypoole
Lewes
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