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DODGE FOUNDATION

Dodge Foundation

Contact information:
14 Maple Avenue
P.O. Box 1239
Morristown, NJ 07962-1239
Phone: 973-540-8442
Fax: 973-540-1211

Website: http://www.grdodge.org/

Type of foundation: Independent

Types of grants: Continuing support, curriculum development, employee matching gifts, matching/challenge support, program development, program evaluation, general operating support, management development/capacity-building, research, seed money, technical assistance, program-related investments.

Description: Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge was the daughter of William and Almira Rockefeller. The Foundation was created in 1974 to work toward “a more humane society and more livable world.” It accepts unsolicited project proposals, supports capacity-building for its grantees through technical assistance workshops, and develops its own initiatives.

The Foundation’s mission is to support and encourage those educational, cultural, social and environmental values that contribute to making our society more humane and our world more livable. The Foundation supports Arts, Education, Environment and Media initiatives that are innovative and promote collaboration and community-driven decision making. It takes an active interest in public policy initiatives as well, particularly as they support the Foundation’s areas of focus.

The Foundation supports traditional and innovative uses of media to educate and engage the public around issues of importance to New Jersey and its citizens, as well as efforts to uncover abuses of power by institutions. The Foundation also believes that youth must be given a voice, and that communities thrive when their members are well-informed and seek to improve their lives as well as those of their neighbors. It funds organizations that:

  • Broaden and make more available New Jersey-centric news and programming.
  • Focus on investigative reporting of government, businesses and institutions.
  • Inform the public about issues related to the Foundation’s priority funding areas.
  • Empower youth and promote leadership through media production.

The Foundation likes to see projects that incorporate collaboration, that are innovative and/or interdisciplinary, and that may support policy/advocacy projects that seek to advance priority funding areas. The Foundation supports many of its organizations over several years. All applicants must have a professional staff, show evidence of a high-functioning Board (preferably, with 100% of Board members making an annual financial contribution) and show evidence of a commitment to continuous improvement.

Sample grants:

  • $150,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY, for project support of New Jersey-focused programming to New Jersey residents and listeners (2011).
  • $150,000 to National Public Radio, Washington, DC (2005).
  • $125,000 to National Public Radio, Washington, DC (2008).
  • $125,000 to National Public Radio, Washington, DC (2007).
  • $120,000 to New Jersey Network, Trenton, NJ, to produce The Green Revolution: Building a Sustainable Future video (2006).
  • $100,000 to National Public Radio, Washington, DC (2009).
  • $100,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for JazzSet national radio series (2006).
  • $100,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater (2005).
  • $125,000 to Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, for the New Jersey Digital Media Initiative (2012).
  • $95,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for the WBGO-produced JazzSet national radio program in Newark (2008).
  • $95,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for JazzSet program (2007).
  • $90,000 to Science Communication Network, Washington, DC, to improve media coverage of environmental issues (2004).
  • $75,000 to National Public Radio, Washington, DC, for new internal Creativity Initiative, allowing staff members to envision new ways to serve audiences, and implement visions (2010).
  • $75,000 to New Jersey Network, Trenton, NJ, for State of the Arts, New Jersey Network's Emmy award-winning series (2008).
  • $75,000 to New Jersey Network, Trenton, NJ, for State of the Arts Emmy award-winning series (2007).
  • $65,000 to Science Communication Network, Washington, DC, for media support services related to environmental health issues in NJ (2007).
  • $65,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY, for NJ news and arts coverage (2004).
  • $60,000 to World Media Foundation, Somerville, MA, to broadcast Living on Earth radio program (2006).
  • $60,000 to World Media Foundation, Somerville, MA, to broadcast Living on Earth radio program (2005).
  • $60,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY (2005).
  • $50,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY for New Jersey news coverage and general operating support (2008).
  • $55,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for general operating support and in recognition of WBGO's efforts to expand their audiences and programming (2012).
  • $55,000 to New Jersey Network, Trenton, NJ, for State of the Arts, New Jersey Network's Emmy award-winning arts series and for the creation of educational video about the 14 Maple Avenue green building features (2009).
  • $50,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY, for NYPR's New Jersey-focused news and culture programming in service to New Jersey listeners (2012).
  • $50,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for programming, including news and feature coverage about New Jersey, and New Jersey artists and arts organizations (2011).
  • $50,000 to National Public Radio, Washington, DC, for continued project support of NPR's Risk and Innovation Fund (2011).
  • $50,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY, for grassroots news, public affairs, and cultural reporting from New Jersey perspective (2010).
  • $50,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, to produce and distribute JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, national program airing on radio and online (2010).
  • $50,000 to Newark Public Radio, Newark, NJ, for general operating support, including JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater (2009).
  • $50,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY, for New Jersey news coverage and general operating support (2008).
  • $50,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY (2006).
  • $40,000 to WNYC Radio, New York, NY, for general operating support and New Jersey news/information reporting (2009).
  • $35,000 to City Without Walls, Newark, NJ, for general operating support including art exhibitions, events and education programs, public art and mural projects, and new media projects (2010).
  • $30,000 to Discovery Orchestra, Warren, NJ, for programs, orchestral and chamber concerts, and broadcast presentations (2011).
  • $30,000 to Discovery Orchestra, Warren, NJ, for educational programs combining instruction with performance and including orchestral Discovery Concerts, chamber music recitals, music listening sessions, and programs on television, DVD, and Internet (2010).
  • $30,000 to New Jersey Network, Trenton, NJ, for State of the Arts weekly program that highlights the arts in New Jersey (2010).
  • $25,000 to Pro Publica, New York, NY, for investigative reporting in the public interest and the development of local accountability reporting in New Jersey (2012).
  • $25,000 to Culture Works, Philadelphia, PA, for pilot educational outreach program for schools and theaters in New Jersey in association with new public radio series 'Shakespeare Is (2011).
  • $25,000 to Community Foundation of New Jersey, Morristown, NJ, for New Jersey Spotlight, online news service that focuses on NJ policy issues, including education and environment (2010).
  • $25,000 to Thomas Edison Media Arts Consortium, Jersey City, NJ, for Black Maria Film and Video Festival and NJ Young Film and Videomakers Festival (2007).
  • $25,000 to Hudson West Productions, Croton on Hudson, NY, to complete PBS documentary about Bordentown School (2006).
  • $25,000 to New Jersey Network, Trenton, NJ, for Production of NJN's Homeless Tails Television Programming and Web Site (2005).
  • $20,000 to Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ, to broadcast episode of State of the Arts, entitled Arts Journalism in New Jersey: Series Production and Education Initiative (2011).
  • $15,000 to WFMU Radio, Jersey City, NJ, for research and development for online, open source media publishing and community engagement tool (2012).
  • $10,000 to Community Foundation of New Jersey, Morristown, NJ, to produce 40 short video/audio arts stories as part of New Jersey Arts News for broadcast on NJTV, WBGO, WHYY (TV, radio and NewsWorks) and PEG stations (2011).
  • $10,000 to Hudson West Productions, Croton on Hudson, NY, for continued support of promotion of and outreach for PBS primetime broadcast of A PLACE OUT OF TIME - THE BORDENTOWN SCHOOL, history of educational utopia in Bordentown, NJ, teaching values, racial pride, and life skills to generations of black children (2010).
  • $10,000 to Center for Community Arts, Cape May, NJ, for activities, including art classes for all ages, Art at the Library, Youth Radio Project, and variety of exhibits and special events, including African American Heritage walking tours (2010).
  • $10,000 to Community Foundation of New Jersey, Morristown, NJ, to produce New Jersey Arts News, video and audio segments highlighting arts activity in New Jersey (2010).
  • $10,000 to KAJX Aspen Public Radio, Aspen, CO, For Aspen Music Festival and School Program (2004).

In September 2012, the Foundation announced that it had received an $800,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Community Information Challenge to enhance its investment in expanding local news coverage in New Jersey. The initiative partners the Dodge Foundation, Montclair State University’s Center for Cooperative Media and New Jersey Public Radio (a part of New York Public Radio).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation has a solid history of supporting public media. Projects need to have some connection to serving New Jersey. The Foundation explicitly supports the use of "traditional and new media to educate the public about issues in the Foundation’s areas of interest and to promote new paradigms towards a creative, sustainable New Jersey." The Foundation has made significant investments over several years in online and digital news and information initiatives, as well as digital media focused on the arts.

Eligibility: Over the past several years, the Foundation has shifted away from national giving in favor of grantmaking with direct impact on New Jersey. No support is given for religious, higher education, health or conduit organizations. No grants to individuals, for capital projects, equipment purchases, indirect costs, endowment funds, deficit financing or scholarships.

Deadline: Letters of Inquiry may be submitted at any time but are due no later than one month prior to the corresponding proposal submission deadline.

2013 proposal submission deadlines are:

  • December 3, 2012 (notification is late March 2013).
  • March 1, 2013 (notification is early July 2013).
  • August 30, 2013 (notification is early December 2013).

How to apply: New applicants must begin by filling out the Foundation’s online letter of inquiry. If interested, the Foundation will invite a full proposal. Grant guidelines are available here.

Giving range: $5,000 - $300,000.

Assets: $206.5 million (2010).

Total giving: $10.5 million (2010).