Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Delaware County, with a population of 560,000, is a county with residents who face serious challenges. While the county is ranked fourth highest in the Commonwealth in per capita income, it is home to more than 50,000 people living in poverty and to neighborhoods where multi-generational poverty is endemic. Although the county compares well with peers nationally on many measures — from educational attainment to primary care access — it ranks unfavorably on others, including certain crimes, teen pregnancy, low birth weight, death from HIV, heart disease and stroke. In order to build a healthier community and fight for the well-being of the people who make this place their home, we must deliver services to those in need and fund nonprofit partners across the county who offer promising solutions. We envision a Delaware County where all of us have the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Healthy Start – Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health
Between 2019 and 2021 in Delaware County, the infant mortality rate for Black infants (11.7/1,000 live births) was nearly double the rate of white infants (6.4/1,000 live births). For 20 plus years, Healthy Start, a federally-funded program, has been successfully reducing the infant mortality rate and improving birth outcomes in the Chester City target area. Services include the following: intensive outreach, engagement and recruitment of pregnant women; tiered case management based on assessed need and home visiting; education that focuses on health, pregnancy, parenting, early childhood development, life skills, financial literacy and management; and civil legal information and leadership development. Healthy Start serves a minimum of 700 participants annually, using quality improvement, performance monitoring, and program evaluation to track and improve results.
Baby’s 1st Project – Partners for Perinatal Health in Delaware County
Baby’s 1st Project is a collective impact initiative designed to improve birth outcomes in Delaware County and reduce infant deaths. Through this project, a cross-sector group of community partners is working to reduce disparities in birth outcomes and improve the infant mortality rate in Delaware County. Through the Perinatal Periods of Risk study, a formal subcommittee of the Delaware County Child Death Review Team, we have learned more about the unique reasons why babies die in Delaware County and have formalized a five-year community action plan, with six key strategies to address them.
Nurse-Family Partnership
Nurse Family Partnership is a unique research-based nurse home visiting program for first-time, low-income mothers that has been replicated in 42 states and 594 counties across the U.S. due to its strong evidence of effectiveness. Research has demonstrated proven results for children and their families, including healthy pregnancy outcomes, increased healthy child development and increased economic self-sufficiency. With funding provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the NFP goals are to: 1. Improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good preventive health practices, including thorough prenatal care from their healthcare providers, improving their diets, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances; 2. Improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care; and 3. Improve the economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education and find work. NFP nurses enroll women as early as possible during pregnancy and continue home visits until her child’s second birthday. They help guide first-time mothers through the emotional, social and physical challenges they face as they prepare for a healthy birth. Nurses continue to serve their clients after the mother delivers her child, teaching parenting and life skills that foster positive growth for both the mother and child. One of the hallmarks of the program is the transformational relationship that develops between the mother and the nurse. This partnership helps break the cycle of poverty by empowering mothers to become confident, skilled parents able to prepare their children for successful futures.
Cribs for Kids
Cribs for Kids® is a safe-sleep education program for low-income moms that helps reduce the risk of injury and death of infants due to unsafe sleep environments. Delaware County Cribs for Kids partners with the national Cribs for Kids organization to educate families about how to keep their infants safe and provide safe cribs to those most in need in the county. Our staff are experts in educating Delaware County families about the importance of safe sleep practices in preventing infant deaths in the first months of life. While there has been a major decrease in the incidence of SIDS since 1992 due to educational campaigns at the national, state and local levels, preventable deaths are still occurring in Delaware County. The project receives funding through donations from the public.
El Centro de Recursos Hispanos – Center for Hispanic Resources
The Hispanic Resource Center was developed in response to the largely unmet needs of Spanish-speaking individuals in the Chester City and Delaware County community. Its mission is to help local Hispanic residents learn about and obtain community resources. The Hispanic Resource Center is a one-stop-shop that connects program participants and other individuals with a wide range of services, including case management, translation, appointment scheduling, health education, assistance with applications and agency referrals. El Centro, which is part of the women’s and children’s programs of The Foundation for Delaware County, is designed to meet a broad array of needs within the Hispanic population.
Women, Infants and Children’s Program (WIC)
Our Women, Infants and Children’s Program (WIC) program has served Delaware County for over 40 years. WIC’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of families during critical stages of growth and development and to improve their long-term health. Services are delivered to about 9,500 participants monthly at 3 locations in Delaware County, including Springfield, Upper Darby, and Eddystone. To qualify for WIC, applicants must have a medical or nutritional risk, a household income less than 185 percent of poverty and be either: 1) pregnant, 2) a woman who has given birth within the last six months, 3) a woman who is breastfeeding an infant under 12 months old, or 4) an infant or child less than 5 years old. WIC participants receive an electronic benefit card that can be used to purchase nutritious foods at any WIC authorized store. Participants also receive nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding information/support, health/nutrition screenings, referrals, and more.
Health Resource Center
The Foundation for Delaware County's Health Resource Center is located at Chester High School and STEM Academy in the Chester Upland School District and funded by Access Matters. The Health Resource Center provides a confidential setting for students to ask about teen pregnancy prevention and risk reduction, healthy relationships, and birth control and other related issues. Services at the center are provided by a health educator who makes referrals as needed to nearby healthcare providers including the local Federally Qualified health Center ChesPenn Health Services. The program helps young people in Chester make responsible choices to stay safe and healthy; supports their overall health and well-being; and plays an important role in reducing the number of school dropouts. This year, more than 300 counseling sessions will be offered, and more than 60 percent of students will receive referrals for family planning and adolescent-focused primary care health.
Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP)
Participants in Healthy Start and Nurse-Family Partnership also have access to services through our Medical-Legal Partnership program, a partnership with the Widener University School of Law. Two attorneys work as a part of the case management/care coordination team to meet the often-complex needs of program participants. The attorneys advocate for participants on civil legal matters and help clients enroll in health coverage, access and maintain eligibility for public benefits and entitlements, improve housing conditions, increase access to childcare and early childhood development services.
Housing Opportunities Program for Equity (HOPE)
The Foundation for Delaware County’s Housing Opportunities Program for Equity (HOPE) provides an innovative and comprehensive suite of services, including case management, civil legal services, placement, access to housing vouchers, tenant rights education, financial literacy, support in accessing benefit/assistance programs, and direct financial assistance. HOPE also works to build a more equitable housing system in Delaware County through advocacy, convening, and collaboration.
Where we work
Accreditations
Community Accredited Foundation 2021
Affiliations & memberships
Council on Foundations Community Foundations Accrdiatation 2021
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of donor-advised funds
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Families, Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The mission of The Foundation for Delaware County is to create a vibrant future for Delaware County by:
promoting generosity in and for the people of our county,
improving the well-being of our residents,
and energizing participation and partnership across our communities.
At The Foundation for Delaware County, we fulfill our mission by
Investing in nonprofits that advance our aims and enrich life for the people of Delaware County.
Providing philanthropic services that allow our donors and fund holders to make a real impact.
Delivering vital services where there are gapsproviding high-quality, results-based public health programs to county residents in need.
Serving as a positive force in the community, a convener and problem-solver, drawing partners including businesses, nonprofits, government and the community into effective collaboration.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Established as an independent community foundation in 2016, the foundation has built a record of success, emerging as a strong leader in Delaware County and demonstrating the potential to have a transformational impact.
Five strategic goals will direct the efforts and investments of The Foundation for Delaware County during the years 2023- 2026. The goals, key objectives, and strategic initiatives reflect our tremendous optimism for Delaware County and the role that we promise to play in helping all in our community to thrive.
1. Serve as a Unifying Catalyst for Delaware County
2. Increase Resources to Strengthen Delaware County
3. Advance Opportunity and Equity in Delaware County
4. Align All Foundation Programs and Services
5. Invest in Our People and Infrastructure
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Board is comprised of 17 members chosen for their passion for serving the needs of Delaware County residents, their business and professional expertise, and their commitment to operate at the highest level of ethics in governance.
The Foundation for Delaware County's President, Frances M. Sheehan, is a proven leader and experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the philanthropy and nonprofit industry. Ms. Sheehan is a strong business development professional skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Capital Campaigns, Philanthropy, Fundraising, and Community Organizing. Our Chief Impact Officer, Joanne Craig, provides leadership of our internal service programs as well as for nonprofit services including grant-making, the Vice President for Advancement and Philanthropic Services, Monika Collins, provides leadership for fund development, and Laura DeFlavia, Chief Financial Officer, provides leadership in managing finances and oversees accounting and investment activity.
The staff of The Foundation for Delaware County are experienced employees with deep roots in the communities we serve, which helps build trust with clients. The staff have benefited from being a part of large research-based federal and state grant programs and the exposure to the latest research and learning communities this brings. They have also received extensive training and professional development in their fields, building considerable expertise that benefits their clients.
Investment advisory services are provided by Public Financial Management (PFM).
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
1. Improved the lives of more than 10,000 children and families through our internal womens and childrens programs with service sites in Upper Darby, Eddystone, and Springfield;
2. Launched our formal grant-making process invested in Delaware Countys nonprofits with more then $12M in grants, scholarships and charitable care to support critical services since 2016;
3. Established philanthropic services that provide meaningful options for charitable giving and estate planning to help generous families make our community a great place to live - no matter which neighborhood we call home or how much we earn;
4. Facilitated discussions and reviewed issues important to county life, including a housing coalition, the new public health department and the 2020 census;
5. Launched the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to provide capacity building opportunities for nonprofit professionals serving Delaware County;
6. Initiated a partnership with WHYY Public Radio, underwriting Delaware County reporting to keep their listeners informed about important local issues because we believe that an informed citizenry is critical to a thriving democracy; and
7. Promoted arts and culture through an inaugural sponsorship of Delco Arts Week, involving over 70 arts organizations and 70 events throughout the county.
10. Provided scholarships for local nursing students; and
11. Sponsored educational and networking opportunities for Delaware County nonprofit organizations.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THE FOUNDATION FOR DELAWARE COUNTY
Board of directorsas of 02/01/2024
Cyrise Dixon
Board Chairperson
Term: 2022 - 2024
Michael B. Adesman, M.D.
Cardiologist
Corliss Boggs
Retired Banker
Donald W. Delson, Esq.
Retired Investment Banker; President of the Board, Chester Charter School for the Arts
Daniel C. DuPont, M.D.
Pulmonologist
H. Edward Hanway
Retired CEO and Chairman Emeritus, CIGNA Corp.
The Honorable Dominic F. Pileggi, Esq.
Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas; Past PA Senate Majority Leader
Joan K. Richards
Retired CEO & President, Crozer-Keystone Health System
Robert N. Speare, Esq.
Partner, Speare and Hughey
Ted Peters
Secretary, Chairman and CEO, Bluestone Financial Institutions Fund
Michael B. Magnavita
Vice Chairperson, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union
Cyrise L. Dixon
Chair, Community Violence Intervention Coordinator for CASA Youth Advocates
Kate Zidek
Argo Capital Group
Nicholas A. Aponte
Retired PNC Bank
Kelly Thornton
Board Treasurer, Partner, PwC
Malcolm J. Yates
Director Law and Policy, Public Health Management Company (PHMC)
Michael N. Mattise
Radnor Financial
Mia I. Mendoza
Mendoza Group
James N. Harper
Business Manager, Laborers Local #413
Steven Scott Bradley
Principal and Senior Client Executive, OneDigital
Robert Dumont
Robert J. Bruce
President Emeritus, Widener University
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/16/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.