Grantmaking Programs

Competitive Grants

The Fund's competitive grantmaking program responds to individual proposals initiated by the eligible organizations. This program funds, on a competitive basis, the very best ideas that come forward. The objective of the proposal is determined by the applying organization. Quality of the idea, relevance to the organization's constituency and community, and consistency with the grantmaking goals of the Fund are the principal criteria that inform the trustees’ grantmaking.

Feasibility Grants

The Fund recognizes that programmatic excellence is defined both by an organization's vision and by its capacity to accomplish that vision. Feasibility grants, by providing limited, short-term funding, allow eligible organizations to ask and answer fundamental questions before undertaking new work. The typical feasibility grant ranges from $2,000-$5,000.

Technical Assistance Grants

The Fund recognizes that achieving and sustaining organizational excellence requires continuous improvement in operations. The Fund provides technical assistance grants of up to $5,000 once every four years to help support strategic planning, consultancies, staff and board professional development, or technology.

ELIGIBILITY
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund makes grants only to a defined universe of organizations. An organization is eligible if it received a contribution from Mrs. duPont between Jan. 1, 1960 and Dec. 31, 1964. Proof of eligibility is determined by examining Mrs. duPont's personal or tax records or by the applicant presenting written, verifiable evidence of having received a contribution during the eligibility period.

Independent Schools Initiative

The Fund supports 17 independent, pre-collegiate schools and has established one program under this initiative.

  1. Independent School Discretionary Fund for New Heads of School - The new head of an independent school with an endowment of less than $40 million may receive a discretionary grant of $10,000 for three consecutive years upon his/her appointment.

Nonprofit Initiative

Nonprofit organizations comprise the largest group of the Fund's eligible organizations – about 150 out of roughly 330. The majority of these nonprofits are eligible for support through this initiative (excluded are 16 hospitals and four foundations). These nonprofits are eligible for an Executive Director’s Discretionary Fund and for the opportunity to attend the Jessie Ball duPont Fund Nonprofit Institute.

  1. The Executive Director's Discretionary Fund awards grants of $10,000 to one third of the eligible nonprofits each year on a rotating basis.
  2. The Jessie Ball duPont Fund Nonprofit Institutes are residential seminars conducted by the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership at Georgetown University. Institute curricula are designed for nonprofit executives and their board chairs and for an emerging leader from within an eligible nonprofit organization. Institute alumni convene annually for continuing education opportunities.

Religion Initiative

Among the religious organizations eligible for Fund support are religious judicatories, a synagogue and churches ranging from small rural congregations to large urban cathedrals. The Fund supports these institutions through three grantmaking programs:

  1. People In Need Grants allow organizations to provide charitable services to society's poorest members. Churches may apply annually for grants of $7,500. The institutions then redistribute 100 percent of these funds to the needy in their communities. Under no circumstances may these funds be used to support a special program, event or the general operations of the church.
  2. Repair and Restoration Grants provide much-needed capital improvement dollars for church buildings. The Fund recognizes that a church's greatest and most urgent need often can be to maintain and repair the buildings that provide the place for ministry to happen. Under this program, churches with annual incomes of $150,000 or less are eligible for a 3:1 matching grant of up to $50,000. For projects whose total cost exceeds $75,000, the Fund also offers interest-free loans of up to $25,000.
  3. Diocesan Enrichment Funds support the seven Episcopal Dioceses and one Catholic Archdiocese that are duPont eligible organizations. Bishops and Archbishops are eligible for up to $10,000 a year, half of which must be used to support clergy who serve financially assisted congregations (mission churches) as discretionary funds. The other half may be used to support needs determined at the Bishop’s or Archbishop’s discretion.

Small Liberal Arts College Initiative

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund considers the small private and public liberal arts college to be among the nation's most vital assets. To support these institutions – 42 of which are eligible for duPont funding – the Fund created two programs:

  1. Discretionary Fund for New Presidents — The new president of a private small liberal arts college with an endowment of less than $50 million may receive a discretionary grant of $10,000 for three consecutive years upon his/her appointment.
  2. Jessie Ball duPont Fund/National Humanities Center Summer Seminar is a three-week summer session for college professors teaching at the 42 small private and public colleges. It is held each June at the National Humanities Center campus in North Carolina.

Relief Grants

The trustees occasionally make, on an unsolicited basis, relief grants in response to disasters or other extraordinary events. These grants are made solely at the discretion of the trustees.

Awards

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund bestows three awards recognizing excellence on the part of individuals and institutions:

  • Jessie Ball duPont Fund Award — Honors selected individuals chosen for vision, courage, integrity, creativity, perseverance and compassion, whose life work focuses on promoting justice, equality and compassion in their communities.
  • Jessie Ball duPont Fund Turnaround Award — Recognizes the critical difference one individual can make in the health and relevance of an institution.
  • Jessie Ball duPont Fund Making A Difference Award — Recognizes an individual, group or institution for creating a program that meets a critical societal need.


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