The Carl M. Freeman Foundation is proud to announce the opening of grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations located in and serving Sussex County, Delaware. Funding is available through the FACES (Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support) Grants Program, which targets small organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less, which are often overlooked by funders.

The FACES program uses a volunteer advisory board composed of citizens who live or work in Sussex County. Typically, these people are community and business leaders, activists, students, and nonprofit executives. Advisory board members evaluate the applications and recommend where funding should be awarded based on the needs and priorities of the community. The grant cycle will open on February 15th, and applications are due by March 16th at 5 p.m. Grant guidelines and applications can be found at www.carlfreemanfoundation.org. As well, a Meet the Funder Workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 1st at 4 p.m. at the Georgetown Public Library in Georgetown, Delaware. This workshop will focus on an overview of the FACES grant process as well as the E-Grant system, which is used during the FACES grant application process. Those with questions about the application process may contact Melissa Rizer, Carl M. Freeman Foundations Grant Manager at 302-436-6310 or melissa@freemanfoundation.org. The winners will be announced in May.

“This is our seventeenth year of giving FACES grants in Sussex County,” stated Patti Grimes, Executive Director of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. “We’re so proud to be able to serve the most vulnerable organizations serving our community. We are committed to doing everything we can to help support and continue the vital work they do.” Organizations that received a FACES grant in 2016 include: Frankford Public Library, Girls on the Run of Delaware, Inc., Harry K Foundation, Immanuel Shelter Inc., New Hope Recreation and Development Center, Inc., John M. Clayton Elementary School, North Georgetown Elementary School, 21st CCLC, Selbyville Middle School, Supporting Kidds, and West Side New Beginnings, Inc.

The Carl M. Freeman Foundation commits its time, talent and treasure to facilitate, support and promote innovative community-based leadership and giving. It has been involved in the Sussex County community since the Freeman Companies began developing Sea Colony in the 1960s. As the Freeman Companies developed the communities of Bayside and Bear Trap Dunes, the Foundation expanded its outreach with the FACES program. In 2008, the Foundation began supporting The Freeman Stage at Bayside, an open air performing arts venue operated by the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation located near Fenwick Island, which will open its tenth season this summer.