Please read through all of the information below before applying or contacting us. If you still have questions after reading through everything, we welcome you to reach out to us with questions or clarifications on any of the guidelines or priorities, so that we can give you a tailored answer or advice based on your specific circumstances. Thank you for your partnership!
To Apply:
- An organization must have a current 501c3 and be in good standing with the IRS.
- Crestlea will be prioritizing organizations in these geographic areas in the following order:
1. New Castle County, Delaware.
2. PA organizations within a 5-mile radius of Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square,
and Chadds Ford.
3. Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware.
- Please note: Due to overwhelming volume, for the time being, Crestlea will not be accepting applications from new organizations in Kent and Sussex Counties that we have not communicated with previously.
- Crestlea requires a Zoom (or in-person) meeting prior to applying. You will not be able to access the application without the code that we will provide during the meeting. Due to the extremely high volume of meeting requests, we cannot guarantee that requests for meetings within 10 days of the application deadline will be honored. Please plan ahead.
Guidelines:
- If you have been funded by Crestlea previously, your organization is eligible to apply again once another full funding cycle is complete. (Every other cycle minimum wait – meaning that you cannot receive funding in two consecutive cycles/years.)
- Grantees are capped at 2 grants in a row (with a cycle skipped in between, per the general guideline above). After that, organizations must wait two full cycles to return with another application. Exceptions will be made on an emergency basis only. As an example, if you received a grant in 2023 and again in 2025, you will not be able to come back in 2027, but need to wait one additional cycle to apply until 2028 under these new guidelines.
- Priority will be given to organizations who have waited longer to apply than the minimum required time period after their previous grant.
- There is no wait period for declined organizations. If you were declined in a previous grant cycle, your organization is eligible to apply again in the next funding cycle unless you have been advised by us not to do so. With that said, please note that you will need to reach out to us for a new access code before applying again. We are also happy to provide you with feedback on why you were previously declined if you have not received that information previously.
Priorities:
- Crestlea has and will continue to prioritize organizations that serve children.
- Crestlea prioritizes organizations that apply for their highest, unfunded need, as well as an organization looking to fill a small gap that has gone unfunded by other funders.
- Crestlea will not be prioritizing large organizations that have steady funding streams or large capital projects where its dollars will not be as impactful, given that the average grant size is $15,000 and that there are many other pressing needs in the community.
- Crestlea will not be accepting applications from organizations that have not first applied to other local foundations. Crestlea is not an incubator and/or early-stage funder.
Applying organizations must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, disability, handicap, age, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, marital status, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.
Funds must not benefit:
- Political candidates, causes, organizations, or campaigns
- Advocacy or lobbying activities
- Churches, synagogues, and temples
- Fundraising activities, such as galas, benefits, dinners, and sporting events
- Goodwill advertising, souvenir journals, or event programs
- Individual needs, including scholarships, sponsorships, and other forms of financial aid
- Pass-through grants
- Investment Funds
- Travel for individuals or groups
- Books, magazines or articles in professional journals
- Any other activities deemed not appropriate for support