cendel foundation

What cendel foundation does

CenDel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation headquartered at 101 West Loockerman St, Suite 2C, Dover, Delaware, serving Kent County and Central Delaware. Originally founded in 2008 as the Greater Dover Foundation by Jennings Hastings and later rebranded, the foundation's stated mission is to increase philanthropic giving and action in Central Delaware. It provides grants, scholarships, and charitable fund management services to donors and nonprofit organizations, and addresses needs across three programmatic pillars: Education and Workforce Development, Human Services, and Community Development and Environment. The foundation also manages the Kent County Fund for the Arts, the Excellence in Education Fund, and several named scholarship and donor-advised funds.

The foundation's core service portfolio includes six charitable fund types (Designated, Donor-Advised, Field-of-Interest, Nonprofit Endowment, Scholarship, and Unrestricted) with a $10,000 minimum (or $2,000 Fund Builder option with $2,000/year commitment) plus acceptance of cash, securities, real estate, life insurance, and bequests. Beyond fund management, CenDel operates the CenDel Community Building — a renovated former bank building acquired with support from the Longwood and Welfare Foundations that houses six nonprofit tenants at below-market rates — and runs the monthly Nonprofit Forum at Christ Episcopal Church for nonprofit professional development. Signature events include the annual Gourmet Dinner FUN'd Drawing and Reception, which raised over $60,000 from 200+ attendees in 2025.

CenDel's revenue is generated through individual donations, recurring giving programs (March to 100 Founders at $5,000 over five years and a $2.73/day pledge tier), fundraising events, administrative and investment management fees on managed funds, and grants from institutional funders including the Welfare Foundation, Longwood Foundation, Delaware Community Foundation, and Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance. Since 2008, the foundation has distributed over $3.5 million in grants; in 2025 alone it distributed $213,341 across its three pillars, launched two new funds totaling $71,000, and welcomed a new nonprofit tenant to the Community Building in 2026.

Name

cendel foundation

Legal name

CenDel Foundation

Website

https://cendelfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CenDel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation in Dover, Delaware that distributes grants, manages charitable funds, and operates the CenDel Community Building to support nonprofits across Kent County, Central Delaware.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Charitable grantmaking
• Donor-advised funds
• Scholarship administration
• Nonprofit support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Fundraising: The foundation raises funds through individual donations, annual campaigns (Circle of Friends), the annual Gourmet Dinner FUN'd Drawing and Reception event, the March to 100 Founders Program, and the Match to 100 campaign ($2.73/day pledge). Donors contribute cash, securities, real estate, life insurance, or bequests to establish or grow funds.
2. Administrative and Fund Management Fees: CenDel charges administrative and investment management fees on funds it manages, as outlined in its Fee Schedule document. Fee tiers are based on asset size and fund type, covering services such as fund accounting, grant processing, and donor reporting.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: The Gourmet Dinner FUN'd Drawing and Reception is the foundation's largest annual fundraising event, raising over $60,000 in 2025 with 200+ attendees. Ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities, and raffle entries generate revenue supporting operations, grants, and the Community Building.
4. Grants and Capital Support from Foundations: CenDel receives grant funding from institutional funders including the Welfare Foundation, Longwood Foundation, Delaware Community Foundation, and Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance. These funds support capital improvements (e.g., CenDel Community Building renovation), operational capacity, and community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CenDel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation in Central Delaware that raises and manages charitable funds, distributes grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students, operates the CenDel Community Building as a nonprofit workspace hub, and runs educational programming (such as the Nonprofit Forum) for the local nonprofit sector.

Product overview

Cendel Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization offering a portfolio of philanthropic services rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include various fund types (Designated Funds, Donor-Advised Funds, Field-of-Interest Funds, Nonprofit Endowment Funds, Scholarship Funds, and Unrestricted Funds) that enable donors to structure charitable giving according to their philanthropic goals. Additional services include grant programs supporting Kent County nonprofits, the CenDel Community Building providing below-market office space to nonprofit tenants, and the monthly Nonprofit Forum providing educational workshops for the nonprofit community. The organization facilitates philanthropy in Central Delaware by connecting donor passions with community needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donor-Advised Funds (DAF) A charitable fund established by donors to support 501(c)(3) organizations while retaining an active role in directing contributions; minimum gift of $10,000 (or $2,000 Fund Builder option with annual commitments).
• Designated Funds Funds that allocate support to multiple named charities or to make grants within a predetermined field of interest or specific project; minimum gift of $10,000.
• Field-of-Interest Funds Funds that direct grants toward a specific cause or purpose specified by the donor, such as education or environmental conservation.
• Nonprofit Endowment Funds Endowment funds established by charitable institutions to secure their long-term financial stability.
• Scholarship Funds Monetary awards aimed at assisting students in covering the costs of pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees, including funds such as Dr. C. Edward Graybeal (2017), Parkview Family (2020), and Snow Family (2024).
• Unrestricted Funds Funds that entrust philanthropic decision-making to volunteer leaders and professional staff to address the community's most pressing needs over time.
• Grant Programs Grant funding provided to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Kent County residents in education and workforce development, human services, and community development and environment. Applications accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by the Board of Directors.
• CenDel Community Building A renovated facility in downtown Dover (101 West Loockerman St) offering below-market office space to nonprofit tenants, serving as a collaborative hub for community programs. Current tenants include The Green Beret Project, Women Beyond Measures, Communities in Schools: Delaware, Downtown Dover Partnership, and Delaware Parents Association.
• Nonprofit Forum A monthly educational workshop series for nonprofit leaders, staff, and volunteers featuring expert-led sessions on fundraising, grant writing, governance, advocacy, and organizational sustainability.
• Kent County Fund for the Arts Annual grant program supporting arts and culture organizations in Kent County, including museums, theater, music, and choral groups.
• Gourmet Dinner FUN'd Drawing and Reception Annual flagship fundraising event featuring an elegant cocktail reception, fine dining, and a signature raffle drawing with a private gourmet dinner for eight as the top prize. Tickets are $125 per person with sponsorship packages also available.
• March to 100 Founders Program A multi-year recurring donor program recruiting long-term founders pledging $5,000 total ($1,000/year over 5 years or single payment), or $2.73/day ($997.45/year) as a daily pledge option.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3 million in grants distributed to charitable organizations in Central Delaware since 2008
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Joe and Tonda Parks (Gourmet Dinner FUN'd)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Joe and Tonda Parks founded the annual Gourmet Dinner FUN'd Drawing and Reception event, hosting it at their private Shortwood Gardens property (740 Bicentennial Blvd., Dover, DE). The event is CenDel's largest annual fundraiser, raising over $60,000 in 2025. They also host the signature gourmet dining experience raffle prize for eight guests, including a custom menu, fine wines, and private transportation.
• The Green Beret ProjectcoreOthersA Delaware-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2016, occupying Suite 1A of the CenDel Community Building. Its mission is to combat violence, crime, and hopelessness in inner-city communities through workforce development, healthy lifestyles, academic assistance, and life skills programs for underprivileged youth and families.
• Women Beyond MeasurescoreOthersA 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Kent and Sussex counties, occupying Suite 1B of the CenDel Community Building. The organization supports women navigating life transitions, trauma, and systemic barriers through mentorship, wellness programming, workforce development, and case management, helping participants move from survival to stability.
• Communities In Schools: DelawarecoreOthersA 501(c)(3) nonprofit occupying Suite 2A of the CenDel Community Building, with a mission to envelop students in a network of support, empowering them to persist in school and succeed in life.
• Downtown Dover PartnershipcoreOthersA 501(c)(3) nonprofit occupying Suite 2B of the CenDel Community Building, devoted to revitalizing the Downtown Dover District in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center and Delaware Main Street Initiative.
• Delaware Parents AssociationcoreOthersA 501(c)(3) nonprofit occupying Suites 3A-B of the CenDel Community Building, with a mission to assist parents in constructing stronger families.
• Kent Economic PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKent Economic Partnership co-founded the Excellence in Education Fund in 2019 alongside the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance and Daily State News. The fund has awarded more than $17,000 in grants to workforce development programs including NeighborGood Partners' The Scoop and the Biggs Museum's Visual Arts Workforce Pathway.
• Christ Episcopal Church (Dover)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChrist Episcopal Church in Dover provides the Parish House venue for CenDel's monthly Nonprofit Forum sessions, which are held on the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m., providing nonprofit leaders with educational workshops, networking, and best-practice discussions.
• Delaware REALTORS® Care FoundationminorOthersThe Delaware REALTORS® Care Foundation maintains a fund at CenDel that provides emergency assistance to members of the Delaware Association of REALTORS® and the broader Delaware community in times of natural disaster and critical need.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• York County Community Foundation: Pennsylvania-based community foundation serving a similarly sized county, administering donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, and competitive grants. Comparable as a peer community foundation of similar scale and structure.
• Erie Community Foundation: Community foundation serving Erie County with a comparable mix of donor-advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants for regional nonprofits. Directly comparable scale, geography type, and product mix.
• Longwood Foundation: Major Delaware-based private foundation supporting nonprofits in the region. Comparable as a Delaware grantmaking institution and a current institutional funder of CenDel, with overlapping capital partners and grantees.
• Delaware Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation serving Delaware, including Kent County. Directly comparable to CenDel as a community foundation administering donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, and grant programs; also a current institutional funder of CenDel.
• Welfare Foundation: Regional Delaware foundation funding nonprofit capacity, capital projects, and community initiatives. Directly comparable as a major regional grantmaker with overlapping beneficiary geography and current co-funder relationship with CenDel.

Emerging players

• Schwab Charitable Fund: Major national donor-advised fund sponsor competing for individual philanthropist giving. Comparable as a substitute product to CenDel's local donor-advised fund offering, particularly for donors with multi-state giving interests.
• National Philanthropic Trust: Independent national donor-advised fund sponsor offering charitable giving infrastructure. Comparable as a competing DAF provider whose national scale and investment options can attract donors who might otherwise establish funds at community foundations like CenDel.
• Fidelity Charitable: National donor-advised fund sponsor offering a competing giving vehicle for individual philanthropists. Comparable as an alternative to CenDel's donor-advised funds; represents competitive pressure on CenDel's ability to retain donors seeking national-scale DAF sponsors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6qqkxGLgQzGFu4pC7YKsmg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/CenDelFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cendel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cendel foundation