FUNDING OVERVIEW

 

Moving From Values to Action: Background to the Guidelines

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is inspired by a broad philanthropic vision of a more humane society and more livable world. We act on that vision primarily in New Jersey, though we are open to the best thinking and models anywhere that might be applied to the challenges we face in our home state.

Because we are focused on livability and try to see the whole, we view human beings in the context of the systems upon which we depend. We know there is no long-term livability to New Jersey without a healthy ecosystem; we know it will not be a humane and livable place for many of its citizens without a good public education system; we know the problems and challenges we face as a society cannot be met without a system of civic and cultural connections, including an arts infrastructure that stimulates creative and diverse ways of thinking and understanding.

Our grantmaking in recent years has been organized into the separate disciplines of the Arts, Education, and Environment, but we have tried to see our work and that of our grantees as one cohesive effort. When we asked ourselves what tied our grantmaking in these different fields back to the vision of a more humane and livable world, we responded with two themes: Creativity, which speaks to our human capacities for innovation, personal growth, empathy, and joy; and Sustainability, which suggests working together over time towards a more livable world.

We have considered what these themes look like in action with the valued participation of many of our grantees, and we have developed guidelines through the lenses of these two themes. We continue to invite proposals from organizations working in the fields where Dodge has made significant investments, and we continue to encourage creative work at the "edges" of those fields, where they overlap and enhance each other. In addition, we welcome collaborative, integrated, "big picture" efforts at various stages of development where people are working in new ways to foster creative lives and sustainable communities in New Jersey.

We see ourselves and our grantees as organizations that are continually learning and evolving. None of us has the final answers to complicated issues and challenges, yet we believe sustained attention to the right questions and ongoing communication will improve our effectiveness as organizations and move us closer to realizing our shared aspirations.

 

Images above: Students at Camden Children's Garden, Photograph courtesy Camden Children's Garden; The Way of Five, No. 2 - Fire, photograph by Carol Rosegg Choreography: Nai-Ni Chen Dancers: Julie Anna Judlova, Noibis Licea, Teri Miller, Joshua Thrower, Mauri Weakley Photograph courtesy Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; Northern Highlands, photo by Michelle Knapik