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DANA’s 40th Anniversary

From Then to Now

Celebrating 40 Years of Strengthening Delaware Nonprofits

For 40 years, DANA, the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, has been a leader in Delaware’s nonprofit community, listening, advocating, educating and evolving to meet the needs of a sector that strengthens our state.

Founded in 1986 by nonprofit leaders committed to shared solutions, DANA (then known as Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies) began as an association to support organizations with group purchasing. Through the years, it grew into a trusted statewide alliance advancing nonprofit excellence through advocacy, leadership development, training, peer networking and consulting.

DANA is powered by the support of our partners and community members. As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to be part of what’s next by contributing $40 to the 40th Anniversary Campaign Fund. Your gift helps power the future of Delaware’s nonprofit sector.

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Key Milestones:

  • 1986 – Incorporated on November 21 with 24 nonprofit executives and 54 charter members. 
  • 1988 – Jan Rheingold (West End Neighborhood House) becomes DANA’s first Board Chair. 
  • 1991 – Ben Amos (Community Housing) assumes Board Presidency; DANA publishes its first newsletter, hosts its first conference, and partners with United Way and the University of Delaware on an annual workshop. 
  • 1992 – DANA hires its first Executive Director, Drew Hastings. 
  • 1993 – Pat Tedford (CONTACT-Delaware) becomes Board President and launches strategic planning, a regular annual conference, quarterly newsletters, and a nonprofit management series. 
  • 1995–1996 – Re-emerges as a statewide association; Hosts its first policy summit in Dover; Hires its second full-time employee; Begins regular meetings with policymakers.
  • 1997 – Moves into the Community Service Building (April 1); launches its first website; Hosts the first nonprofit trade show (CAUSExpo); Publishes the first nonprofit directory; launches Delaware Nonprofits magazine; Launches Leadership Delaware initiative. 
  • 2000 – Launches Good Cause magazine.
  • 2002 – New Executive director hired, Connie Hughes; Staffing temporarily reduced to one full-time employee.
  • 2005 – Convenes members to develop The Delaware Nonprofit Agenda, a public policy framework; relaunches the annual conference (“Advancing Our Vision, Focusing Our Voices”); adopts a new strategic plan.
  • 2009 – John Baker hired as new Executive Director.
  • 2011 – Chris Grunder takes over as DANA’s Executive Director.
  • 2012 – Rebrands as Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (October 12); Partners with the Standards for Excellence Institute. 
  • 2014 – Launches Excellence Academy – DANA’s consulting practice. 
  • 2015 – Sheila Bravo joins as President and CEO of DANA in August. 
  • 2023 – Launches Nonprofit Accelerator program for emerging nonprofits; Launches an affiliate 501(c)(4) –Delaware Nonprofit Action Network.
  • 2024 – Completes a new strategic plan informed by stakeholder input; expands board matching services at no cost to members; Accelerator Program supports a second cohort of underinvested nonprofits.
  • 2026 – Launches Care for Good, a health insurance program for nonprofit members.