Fair Play Foundation
Wilmington, DE · EIN 51-6017779. Reported 215 grants totalling $3,725,375 to 71 organizations across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Fair Play Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $20,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $85,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation Fund | Arlington, VA | $370,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Fauna and Flora International | Washington DC, CB2 3QZ | $355,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Delaware Wild Lands | Odessa, DE | $320,375 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Hagley Museum & Library | Wilmington, DE | $245,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wild Earth Allies (formerly Ffi) | Chevy Chase, MD | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Delaware Museum of Nature and Science | Wilmington, DE | $197,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends of First State Inc | Wilmington, DE | $175,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | $165,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Delaware Museum of Natural History | Wilmington, DE | $130,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| University of Virginia Law School Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $125,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Winterthur Museum | Winterthur, DE | $85,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| US Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation | Columbus, OH | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wild Earth Allies | Chevy Chase, MD | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Down Syndrome Association of Delaware | Middletown, DE | $65,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Trout Unlimitedcoldwater Conservation Fund | Arlington, VA | $57,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Faithful Friends Animal Society | New Castle, DE | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| 1103 Market Street Foundation | Wilmington, DE | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Charlottesville, VA | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Stroud Water Research Center | Avondale, PA | $45,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Camp Arrowhead | Lewes, DE | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| University of Virgina College Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Brandywine Red Clay Alliance | West Chester, PA | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Bright's Creek Conservancyinc | Canadensis, PA | $37,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Delaware Community Foundation | Wilmington, DE | $37,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Historic Odessa Foundation | Odessa, DE | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| St Michael's School and Nursery | Wilmington, DE | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Virgina Law School Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Yale School of the Environment | New Haven, CT | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Thomas Jefferson Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $33,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Challenge Program | Wilmington, DE | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Urban Promise | Wilmington, DE | $30,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Ducks Unlimited - Brandywine Chapter | Wilmington, DE | $27,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Limen House Recovery | Wilmington, DE | $27,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Delaware | Millsboro, DE | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ocean View Historical Society | Ocean View, DE | $21,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Ashley Addicition Treatment | Havre De Grace, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ashley Addiction Treatment | Havre De Grace, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kalmar Nykel Foundation | Wilmington, DE | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Native Roots Farm Foundation | Brooklyn, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Nature Conservancy Dekaware Chapter | Wilmington, DE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Blandy Experimental Farm | Boyce, VA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Greater Lewes Community Village | Lewes, DE | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Native Roots Farm Foundation | Wilmington, DE | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Outward Bound USA | Boulder, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Atlantic Salmon Federation | Calais, ME | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wild and Scenic Film Festival | Glen Mills, PA | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Saxis Island Museum | Saxis, VA | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Andre Harvey Creative Fellowship Longwood Gardens | Kennett Square, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek | Dagsboro, DE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Delaware Center for Horticulture | Wilmington, DE | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| First State Squash | Wilmington, DE | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lenape Indian Tribe of Delware | Dover, DE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mary Campbell Center | Wilmington, DE | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Paige S Tibbetts Legacy Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Waterfowl Festivalwaterfowl Chesapeake | Easton, MD | $9,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Chadds Ford Historical Society | Chadds Ford, PA | $8,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Amboselli Trust for Elephants | Newburyport, MA | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Chesapeake Media Service | Seven Valleys, PA | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends of Cooch Bridge | Mountchanin, DE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Horn Point Laboratory | Cambridge, MD | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society | Salisbury, MD | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservancy Delaware Chapter | Wilmington, DE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Amboseli Trust for Elephants | Newbury, MA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation | Annapolis, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Chesapeake Media Service | Mayo, MD | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Delaware Historical Society | Wilmington, DE | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Delware Botanic Gardens | Dagsboro, DE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Historic Preservation & Education Fund of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Amboseli Trust for Employees | Newbury, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Endangered Wolf Center | Eureka, MO | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Bayard Kennett Library | Kennett Square, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
56 of 71 (79%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 81%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Conservation Fund
TO HELP ESTABLISH THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS FUND (IN HONOR OF PATRICK F. NOONAN) - Fauna and Flora International
SUPPORT PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS WITHIN DISCRETION OF CEO - Delaware Wild Lands
TO SUPPORT MILFORD NECK PRESERVE LAND ACQUISITION PROJECT - Wild Earth Allies
SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING WORK AND NEW INITIATIVES TO INCREASE PROTECTION FOR ENDANGERED WILDLIFE AND HABITATS - Delaware Museum of Nature and Science
MUSEUM METAMORPHOSIS: CONNECTING DELAWARE TO OUR WORLD - Delaware Museum of Natural History
MUSEUM METAMORPHOSIS:CONNECTING DELAWARE TO OUR WORLD
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 107 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 38 | $694,875 | $8,750 |
| 2021 | 44 | $754,500 | $8,750 |
| 2022 | 46 | $781,000 | $8,750 |
| 2023 | 44 | $746,000 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 43 | $749,000 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 48% of this one's giving went to organizations in Delaware. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Delaware.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Fair Play Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 100 West 10TH Street Suite 1010, Wilmington, DE, 19801. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 51-6017779 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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