Nonprofit community needs grants applications due April 1

Delaware nonprofits are invited to apply for general operating grants of up to $10,000 from the Community Needs Grants Program at the Delaware Community Foundation.

The deadline is 5 p.m., Thurs., April 1, with recipients announced by early May.

The Community Needs Grants Program is part of the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund, a partnership of the DCF and Philanthropy Delaware. In this round, the program – which awarded more than $3 million in pandemic-related grants in 2020 – will award a total of approximately $250,000 in grants to small and mid-sized organizations serving Delaware communities.

To be eligible: In 2020, the organization must have had operating expenses of at least $25,000, but not more than $750,000; be actively providing services; and be a 501(c)(3) public charity in good standing. A full 100 percent of the requested amount must benefit Delaware communities. Organizations are eligible to apply even if they received funding previously from the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund from March to September 2020.

The following types of nonprofit organizations are not eligible for this program: Sports clubs, leagues or facilities; public or tuition-based educational institutions; and fundraising entities for programs and organizations that are primarily supported through government funding.

Endowments, religious organizations for their sectarian purposes, and projects that serve the entire community, regardless of religious affiliation, are eligible to apply.

Priority consideration will be given to smaller organizations and those with a board of directors that represents the diversity and demographics of the clients and communities they serve.

To apply, go to delcf.org/covid-grants.