With only a much smaller St. Joseph's Center for Prayer and occasional retreats, the property sat mostly dormant for nearly a quarter of a century. It was in 1997 that the historic complex took on new life when a group of local citizens began the process of acquiring its ownership. What is now called St. Joseph's Center for Community Service began as the dream of the organization's founders who saw the daunting task of preserving and restoring the property as a spiritual mission. A Board of Directors was quickly established which, over the first five years, helped navigate the difficulties of taking complete ownership of the site. Many factors contributed to the success of that effort, including the commitment of the Josephites to support the Foundation's drive to continue their legacy of service and education, as well as Wilmington Trust Bank, Governor and later Senator Thomas R. Carper and the USDA, and countless volunteers and community supporters.

This Board continues its governance of the project yet today, made up of local residents who contribute their skills and experience in areas such as leadership, finance, volunteer management, fund-raising, and programming. Complementing this diverse group of volunteers is a host of professional advisors in the fields of law, accounting, civics, insurance, education, and others. As well, the day-to-day operation is guided by an Executive Director, one of only a few full-time staff members.