FRIENDS OF FORT DUPONT INC

Friends of Fort DuPont is a Delaware-based 501(c)(3) preserving, interpreting, and activating the historic Fort DuPont campus in Delaware City for public benefit. We transform a former U.S. Army coastal defense post into an inclusive civic commons through history, arts and culture, environmental stewardship, and year-round community programming. Our mission is to safeguard the site’s historic and natural resources, engage the public through educational, cultural, and recreational experiences, and support community revitalization that strengthens Delaware City and the region.

Our work spans heritage education, arts activation, preservation and access, nature and wellness, and community revitalization. We host living-history experiences from the Revolutionary War to World War II; collaborate with schools, scouts, and families; and animate public spaces with outdoor concerts, creative placemaking, and “Sketch the Seasons” sessions. We steward contributing buildings in the Fort DuPont Historic District while advancing ADA-compliant paths and entries so historic spaces function as welcoming community hubs. Nature programs—guided walks, bird-migration spotlights, and cleanups—connect wellness, ecology, and volunteerism while drawing visitors to the waterfront and main street.

The impact is visible in participation, preservation, and access. Thousands engage annually in demonstrations, concerts, and family activities. Barrier-removal projects—such as ADA upgrades at the historic Chapel—expand inclusive use and turn underutilized facilities into assets. Corporate teams, service clubs, and students contribute meaningful hours to events, trail care, and beautification, while local vendors and artisans benefit from heritage tourism.

Benevity partners can engage through employee giving and matching, team volunteer days, in-kind support, and sponsorships. Gifts can be aligned with heritage, veterans, arts, environment, or accessibility priorities. Teams help with event setup, hospitality, wayfinding, trail and garden care, or offer skills in marketing, IT, photography, and research. Sponsorships support signature programs like Muskets to Machine Guns, Fort Folk Fest, Nature Spotlight, and Sketch the Seasons, as well as interpretation and accessibility projects. We tailor recognition and engagement to meet CSR goals and deliver visible on-site impact.

Equity and inclusion guide our work. We prioritize accessible design and clear wayfinding, keep events free or low-cost, feature diverse artists and educators, and seek community feedback that improves cultural competence and representation. Friends of Fort DuPont is governed by a volunteer Board and follows nonprofit best practices in transparency, financial stewardship, conflict-of-interest management, document retention, donor privacy, and whistleblower protections. We collaborate with the Fort DuPont Redevelopment & Preservation Corporation and public partners to align programming with preservation standards, safety codes, and community goals.

Support through Benevity fuels program delivery, preservation and access, community engagement, and organizational sustainability—covering educator and artist stipends, interpretation materials, safe event logistics, planning and design for upgrades, and the tools that keep programs reliable and high-quality. Friends of Fort DuPont operates on the Fort DuPont campus in Delaware City, Delaware, as a 501(c)(3) public charity. To explore giving, volunteering, sponsorships, or in-kind support, contact info@fortdupontfriends.org
. Thank you for helping us preserve the past, enliven the present, and build an inclusive future at Fort DuPont.