EX-99.16.a

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Shawn K. Lytle

Shawn K. Lytle

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Jerome D. Abernathy

Jerome D. Abernathy

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Ann D. Borowiec

Ann D. Borowiec

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Joseph W. Chow

Joseph W. Chow

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ H. Jeffrey Dobbs

H. Jeffrey Dobbs

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ John A. Fry

John A. Fry

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht  and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Joseph Harroz, Jr.

Joseph Harroz, Jr.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Sandra A.J. Lawrence

Sandra A.J. Lawrence

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa

Frances A. Sevilla-Sacasa

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Thomas K. Whitford

Thomas K. Whitford

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of Delaware Group Equity Funds II, hereby constitute and appoint David F. Connor, William Speacht and Richard Salus, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacity the Delaware Group Equity Funds II Registration Statement on Form N-14 with respect to the proposed reorganization listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all related requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of this 16^th day of January, 2024.

/s/ Christianna Wood

Christianna Wood

EXHIBIT A

ACQUIRED FUND	ACQUIRING FUND
Delaware Ivy Value Fund, a series of Ivy Funds	Delaware Value Fund, a series of Delaware Group Equity Funds II