Next Gen North and South Award $12,500 in 2026 Grants
Emily Mais, the Chamber’s Membership & Programming Director, actively serves on the Board of Directors for The Next Generation – Southern Delaware, helping to drive lasting change in our communities.
The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), a top-100 community foundation nationwide and one of the largest charitable organizations in the state, today announced $12,500 in awards from two of its giving circles, The Next Generation – Southern Delaware (Next Gen South) and The Next Generation – Northern Delaware (Next Gen North).
“We are proud to support Reach Out and Read Delaware and Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids as part of Next Gen North’s commitment to advancing early childhood development in Northern Delaware,” said Christopher Renaud, President of Next Gen North. “We are confident these grants will empower both organizations to further deepen their impact and drive lasting change in our communities.”
Next Gen North and South, established in 2007 and 2012 respectively, give young professionals the opportunity to learn about membership on a nonprofit board, study community issues, raise money and award grants. Next Gen members work together to respond to needs in their communities. The two giving circles have granted more than $100,000 since their inception.
“Next Gen is important because it helps ensure that philanthropy remains strong, relevant, and sustainable for the future,” says Sean Flanigan, President of Next Gen South. “Many people want to give back but don’t always know where their support is most needed or how to get involved beyond writing a check. Next Gen creates an entry point for individuals who want to be intentional about their giving and engagement. It builds confidence, knowledge, and relationships.”
Next Gen North Grantees for 2026:
- Reach Out and Read Delaware (RORDE) – $6,000 to purchase 1,500 discounted children’s books through RORDE’s national partnerships. RORDE clinics support an evidence-based model integrated into every well-child visit from birth through age five. During these visits, trained clinicians use age- and culturally appropriate books to support developmental screening, strengthen the parent–child relationship, and coach caregivers on shared reading. Each child takes a book home, building early literacy while empowering families to support learning at home.
- Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) – $1,500 to support HFHK’s Early Learners Education Cultivation Program for children ages 3–5 by covering supplies and program implementation costs. HFHK a nonprofit founded in 2008 that has spent nearly two decades using school gardens to teach children how to grow, harvest, prepare, and enjoy fresh vegetables. Through its Education Cultivation Program, students participate in hands-on classroom and garden lessons that connect science concepts to real-world experiences, including tasting produce grown in their own school gardens.
Next Gen South Grantee for 2026:
- Redemption City – $5,000 for Redemption City’s Steps to Stability program, a transitional housing program for men and women in Sussex County experiencing homelessness, many of whom also struggle with substance abuse, trauma and family instability. Through structured housing, personalized case management and daily routines that promote accountability, the program helps participants address root causes of homelessness and prepare for long-term stability. The program supports approximately 75 individuals each year in building healthier lives, reducing reliance on emergency services, and improving outcomes for future generations.
Young professionals seeking to join Next Gen North can reach out to Cassie DiSabatino at cdisabatino@delcf.org. Those seeking to join Next Gen South can email Jess Gordon at jgordon@delcf.org.