The impact of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation

In today’s world, choosing organizations and causes to support through charitable donations can be a deeply personal decision. It can be about supporting initiatives close to your heart or finding trusted organizations that provide meaningful impact year after year.

Since 2008, the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation has strived to be one of those organizations. A nonprofit founded to honor the legacy of Josh Freeman, a dedicated husband, father and business leader who knew the importance of giving back and the transformative power of the arts. With that as our guiding light, the foundation has impacted more than 1 million individuals through our programs – Freeman Arts Pavilion and the Arts Access Initiative. While we have experienced monumental growth in the last 17 years, we have remained steadfast to our mission of providing arts access to all. 

In our inaugural year, the performing arts venue welcomed 13,850 people to enjoy live arts experiences, such as tribute acts, local artists and children’s programming. A milestone came in 2011 when the first national recording artists – the B-52s and LeAnn Rimes – graced our stage, changing the scope of what’s possible for the organization. Traveling several hours to metropolitan cities to see your favorite artists was no longer the only option. By 2021, the Freeman Stage became Freeman Arts Pavilion, marking the start of a multi-phased expansion project of the venue. Throughout this journey, we have consistently provided enriching arts experiences to everyone who has entered the gates. The new venue will only enhance the community’s access to the arts further by allowing for larger audiences and a broader range of programming to meet the growing demand for arts opportunities on Delmarva. 

While we may be best known for the concerts at Freeman Arts Pavilion, events through our Arts Access Initiative – which provides year-round, high-quality arts experiences at no cost to participants – are the most impactful. More than 53% of our programming is free to attend, with 22% of our total patron impact coming from these accessible events. These free offerings include performances at the venue, local schools, community centers, libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs and beyond.

Having access to the arts can leave an everlasting impression. Emma Anderson, an English instructor at Cape Henlopen High School, shared the impact of her students participating in a poetry program with The Twin Poets, the State of Delaware poets laureate. The program included assembly recitations along with classroom workshops and was offered through our arts education program. 

“Our students are still talking about the incredible impact of the writing workshop that [The Twin Poets, Al Mills & Nnamdi Chukwuocha] led,” Anderson said. “Events like these really prove that the arts matter in our schools. Thank you so much for working hard to make these experiences happen for our students.”

The foundation’s impact has not only been memorable experiences but has also been an economic driver to Delmarva. In less than 20 years, we have become the second-largest arts organization in Delaware and have contributed over $101 million to the local economy. Ninety percent of our revenue goes back to our mission of providing arts opportunities to the region. 

The community's support ensures the arts can continue to thrive on Delmarva. The circle of giving and service continues to be a shining example of how we can support our community financially, experientially and emotionally. When we give back to organizations that directly serve our community, we create opportunities to elevate the human spirit and allow our community to thrive.