Wilmington, Delaware – October 02, 2026 -- The Alfred I. duPont Charitable Trust, the State of Delaware, the State of Florida, and The Nemours Foundation have finalized a $950 million agreement spanning 11 years to fund children's health programs in Delaware, under a new entity called the Alfred I. duPont Charitable Fund for Delaware's Children.
New grantmaking fund will direct capital to nonprofit child-health programs statewide
The fund will operate as a separate grantmaking arm, financing nonprofit initiatives focused on children's health and well-being in Delaware. Grantmaking will extend beyond the $950 million, 11-year commitment, and will include at least $237.5 million earmarked specifically for Nemours' Delaware initiatives.
Agreement resolves roughly 50-year legal and philanthropic dispute across two states
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said her office worked through seven attorneys general over approximately 50 years, across Delaware and Florida, to fulfill Alfred I. duPont's original bequest intent for Delaware's children. Jennings called the resolution a "watershed moment" for the state's children.
Trust has already distributed more than $5 billion to Nemours since 1980
The Alfred I. duPont Charitable Trust, established in 1935 from duPont's estate, is one of the largest philanthropic supporters of children's health in the United States. Since 1980, it has channeled over $5 billion to The Nemours Foundation, funding Nemours' growth into one of the nation's largest pediatric health systems with two free-standing children's hospitals and a network exceeding 80 primary, specialty, and urgent care practices.
Governance structure splits oversight between Trust and Delaware's governor
The new fund will be overseen by a committee of directors comprising three members appointed by the Trust and one appointed by the Governor of Delaware. Thomas G. Kuntz, Chairman of the Alfred I. duPont Charitable Trust, said the agreement directly fulfills duPont's founding vision for investing in children's health outcomes.
R. Lawrence Moss, President and CEO of Nemours Children's Health, said the agreement extends a vision set in motion nearly a century ago, with Delaware remaining central to that continuity.