2013 Grant Guidelines

The Dodge Foundation’s 2013 guidelines reflect a continuing evolution of our grantmaking in the areas of the Arts, Education, Environment and Media. We take an active interest in Public Policy initiatives as well, particularly as they support our areas of focus.

Funding priority will be given to applicants who meet multiple criteria, either under a single category or across all of the Foundation’s guidelines.

Though we are open to the best thinking and models anywhere that might be applied to the challenges we face in New Jersey, our focus is on funding organizations based here, as well as projects with a direct and substantial impact on this state. We invite proposals for general operating or project-specific support from organizations that:

Arts

Pursue and demonstrate the highest standards of artistic excellence in the performing and visual arts; enhance the cultural health and richness of communities; inspire learning and understanding; and contribute to New Jersey’s creative economy.

We strive to fulfill this vision for the Arts in New Jersey by funding organizations that:

• Provide opportunities for meaningful connections between people and art within their communities, and partner with others to expand the inclusiveness and the impact of the arts;
• Use the arts to revitalize communities, public places and natural spaces;
• Commit to creative and economic opportunities for New Jersey artists;

Education

Promote critical and creative thinking for young people and their teachers in New Jersey’s underserved communities through transformational, experiential arts education opportunities.

We strive to fulfill this vision for Education in New Jersey by funding organizations that:

• Provide exemplary, long-term arts experiences that help students develop their creativity;
• Offer high-level instruction in the arts to train future artists;
• Integrate the arts and the artistic process with science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) curricula and programs.

Improve primary and secondary level public education in New Jersey’s underserved districts through the preparation of high quality teachers and school leaders, and the innovative use of assessment to advance student learning.

We strive to fulfill this vision for Education in New Jersey by funding organizations that:

• Redesign teacher training and incorporate a more robust clinical experience;
• Provide exceptional professional development of teachers in the areas of arts education and environmental stewardship;
• Advance the leadership role of principals and superintendents to improve student learning.

Environment

Achieve ecosystem resilience and environmentally healthy, sustainable communities in New Jersey; connect people to their natural world; and build an environmental ethic of care and responsibility.

We strive to fulfill this vision for the Environment in New Jersey by funding organizations that:

• Increase the quality, function and public accessibility of watersheds through land preservation, resource management, and stewardship;
• Focus on urban greening, particularly through community-led design and decision making;
• Help develop regional food systems, including rural-to-urban farming connections and urban food market development.

Media

Use traditional and new media to educate the public and promote participation in issues of importance to New Jersey and its citizens.

We strive to fulfill this vision for Media in New Jersey by funding 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.

Public Policy

Support timely public policymaking efforts that impact New Jersey.

We strive to fulfill this vision for Public Policy in New Jersey by funding organizations that:

• Advance policymaking, advocacy campaigns, and systemic reforms related to the Foundation's priority funding areas;
• Inform or stimulate public policy debates, civic participation in the political process, and/or transparency in government programs and policymaking.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for funding, an organization must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) organization that makes its home in or has a significant impact on New Jersey;
• Demonstrate that it has the administrative and financial capacity to achieve and assess the stated goals of the proposal;
• Be led by an effective and professional, paid staff;
• Have a high-functioning board, with an expectation of 100% of its trustees making an annual personal contribution;
• Strive to make connections with other organizations, especially Dodge grantees, working in the same community or on the same issues.

Restrictions

For effective focus of the Foundation’s resources, it is necessary to exclude from consideration such major categories of funding as higher education, health, religion and film. In addition, support for capital projects, equipment purchases, and endowment funds all are outside of our guidelines. Except for Foundation-based initiatives, we do not support scholarship funds or make direct awards to individuals.

Applying for funding is a highly competitive process. We receive several hundred Letters of Inquiry and proposals each year, and submitting an LOI or a proposal which falls within our guidelines does not guarantee that we will either request or fund a proposal from your organization. Due to limited resources, we look for projects and programs that will demonstrate excellence and leverage other work we are currently supporting. In addition to the restrictions we list above, we frequently decline Letters of Inquiry that duplicate work we are already funding.