Resources for Community Program Partners

Resources for Community Program Partners

Red Blocl with stripes test Lets Get Ready Together

Resources for Community Program Partners to help with Planning

Preparing for 250th

Funding Your 250th Program

  • National Endowment for the Humanities Celebrate America! Grant Opportunity Through this program, NEH will award 250 challenge grants of up to $25,000 each for projects that focus on the founding of the American nation, key historical figures, and milestones that reflect the exceptional achievements of the United States. The agency aims to award Celebrate America! grants in every U.S. state and jurisdiction. Celebrate America! NEH Chairman’s grants will support a wide variety of public-facing humanities projects and activities that honor the founding of the country and the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Eligible proposals might include speakers, film screening, or discussion series; exhibitions and site interpretations; community events and family programs; educational or curricular materials and resources; digital projects, websites, and virtual tours; meetings, conferences, or symposia; professional development and training; or research for books, documentary films, exhibitions, or other products that reach the general public. Successful applicants will be required to match every dollar of NEH Celebrate America! grant funding with a dollar of nonfederal funds. Deadline is rolling.
  • NEA "Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes"  The NEA will offer grants for arts projects in any discipline that celebrate the contributions to American history of one or more of the national heroes listed in Executive Order 13978. We are accepting proposals for works of art in a range of formats: plays, operas, literary arts, concerts, visual arts, museum exhibitions, etc. that honor these individuals. Projects may take place in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. We anticipate making between 15-20 awards through this program. Applicant organizations must have completed at least 5 years of arts programming prior to the application deadline. Applicants may request $25,000. No cost-share is required. Deadline July 14, 2025.
  • National Parks Service Semiquincentennial Grant. For historic preservation of buildings, structures, sites, districts, and objects listed in the National Register of Historic Places considered significant for their association with or commemoration of people, places, or events between the earliest known resources and through 1815 may be considered as associated with the "founding of the nation." Applications are due March 18, 2025.
  • National Park Service Network to Freedom Grant Program. Grants for preservation, interpretation, and education of Underground Railroad history. Anyone can apply for a grant to develop a Network to Freedom historic site application. Only current Network to Freedom members can apply for preservation and interpretation grants. The application can be found here: ASALH PARTNERS | Apply (wpengine.com)
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation

    Upcoming Deadlines:

  • The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (PHMC) administers multiple funding programs. Grant programs are available to nonprofit organizations and local governments. Applications Due March 3.

  • America250PA Semiquin Grants. Grant wards are $2,500-$20,000, a 50/50 match of cash or in-kind is required. This grant competition was made possible with generous funding support from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Legislature, at the $1 million award funding across two grant periods during the PA Commonwealth 2024-25 Fiscal Year.  Stay tuned to see if additional funding becomes available in the 2025/2026 PA Commonwealth budget. Learn More 

  • Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. The Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial exists to support Philadelphia-area programs celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Philadelphia has long enjoyed pride of place for the observation of major national milestones. The Centennial of 1876 was a massive success, attracting more than 10 million visitors to Philadelphia. We hope to build on that proud legacy by providing financial support to eligible nonprofits that are planning and hosting programs related to the 2026 commemorations. At this time, the Funder Collaborative is not accepting new Letters of Inquiry. Rolling applications
  • William J. Pomeroy Foundation- Historical Marker Grant Programs. If you have an idea for a marker but the PHMC marker program is not for you, the Pomeroy Foundation has several other options, including National Register sites.
  • The Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Memorial Fund (Wells Fargo fund manager) Grants are awarded for capital projects, operating expenses, and special programs in amounts that are meaningful to the success of the individual endeavors of the organizations. Grants are awarded in the areas of medical, educational, cultural, arts, health and human services, and in such other areas as the trustee shall identify and determine from time to time, to be responsive to changes in the needs of Delaware County.  Nonprofit 501(c)(3) are eligible. Average grant size: $5,000 to $25,000. Applications are accepted year-round, however applications must be submitted by March 1 and September 1 to be reviewed at the semi-annual grant meetings. More info
  • Sun East Federal Credit Union Foundation. To support non-profit organizations throughout the Greater Brandywine Valley. Grants will be awarded to Natural, Cultural, & Historic Preservation programs, such as land conservation, museums, and the arts. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) are eligible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with the intent of responding to all applications within 90 days of receipt. Grant awards are typically $1,000 - $2,0000.

Delaware County and American History

Preserving Historic Sites, Documents, and Narratives

Re-enactors - Military and Interpretive Demonstrations

Heritage Tourism & Visitor Readiness

Engaging Community in Dialogue, Conversations and Commemorations

K-12 Resources for Teaching American History in Schools and Communities


K-12 Resources for Teaching Civic Engagement in Schools and Communities

Student Internship & Essay Contests

  • Junior Delaware County Council  — All rising high school juniors and seniors—get ready to dive into local government.
  • Flag Manufacturers Association of America — FMAA Scholarship Program is an annual program offering college scholarships to those enrolled in college or vocational school who have thoughtfully and creatively shared what the American flag means to them through original videos.

Amplifying Lost or Underrepresented Stories

  • StoryCorps — Everyone’s Story Matters (audio)
  • Scribe Video Center — A place where emerging and experienced media artists could gain access to the tools and knowledge of video making and work together in a supportive environment. 
  • CMP Radio  — A non-profit radio station based in Chester, PA aiming to amplify the diverse voices in our community and across Delco.
  • Utility Works — SoundLab Recording Studio in Lansdowne where you can professional equipment and sound quality at affordable prices. 

Imagining the next 250 years of America

Watch Videos

Listen to Podcasts

Look at Pictures

Read Books


High School Student Opportunities

American Flags
America250PADelco does not currently have funding available to support the donation or bulk purchase of flags. 

  • Comcast's flag program is called Operation Old Glory, a grassroots initiative by Comcast's military-connected employees to honor the American flag by replacing worn or damaged flags at homes and businesses, free of charge, and retiring the old ones properly.
  • Ace Hardware did a 1 Million Flag Giveaway May 25 2025, which provided flags to VFWs for each one purchased in a local store. We're watching to see if this will be repeated in 2026.
  • Many American Legions or VFWs hold annual flag drives, and raise money to place flags on gravesites for Veterans and Memorial day. Please check with your local VFW or Legion.
PA-based - American-made Flag Suppliers:
  • Valley Forge Flag, 875 Berkshire Blvd, STE 101, PO Box 5979, Wyomissing, PA 19610,  610-376-2400
  • The FlagZone, 105A Industrial Dr, Gilbertsville, PA 19525,  610-367-9900
  • Flag & Sign Place , 2618 West Chester Pike, Broomall, PA 19008, http://www.flagandsignplace.com/, (610) 353-3393
  • Colonial Flag Co, 112 W Chestnut St, West Chester, PA 19380, (610) 436-0258, https://colonialflags.com/
  • Buy at your local Delco retail stores: The Home Depot, Ace hardware, Lowes, Walmart, Amazon, Sam's Club', Costco, Target, Michaels. Hobby Lobby

If you are a locally-owned independent business in Delco that is selling American Flags and/or patriotic-goods, please be in touch with Andrea Silva at andrea@america250PADelco.org to learn more about our "Support Independent Business for Independence Day" Spring 2026 Social Media Campaign to promote local small businesses and Delco-made commemorative 250th products or services.