Grant Details

The Dodge Foundation makes grants in the areas of the Arts, Education, Environment and Informed Communities. The foundation has an interest in public policy initiatives, particularly as they support their areas of focus, and support nonprofits in their home community of Morristown. Funding priority will be given to applicants who meet multiple criteria, either under a single category or across all of the Foundation's guidelines.

• Arts - Pursue and demonstrate the highest standards of artistic excellence in the performing and visual arts; enhance the cultural health and richness of New Jersey communities; inspire learning and understanding; and contribute to our state's creative economy. The foundation strives 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; and
  • Commit to creative and economic opportunities for New Jersey artists. 
• Arts Education - The foundation believes a multi-pronged strategy is needed to fulfill the promises of a comprehensive arts education agenda. Strong policies, nonprofit arts organizations and program models, as well as creative principals and teachers are essential. To that end the Dodge Foundation provides general operating and program support to nonprofit organizations that:
  • Partner with school districts in developing sustainable arts education strategic plans;
  • Offer high-quality, sequential model arts education programs that accelerate a district's or school's arts education strategy;
  • Offer specialized, high-level arts training to help talented low-income students develop their artistic skills or pursue a career in the arts;
  • Provide professional development for teachers and for creativity teams” of principals, art specialists and other classroom teachers to collaboratively integrate the arts and the artistic process with the Common Core State Standards and science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) curricula and programs;
  • Improve how New Jersey schools of education prepare teachers to include innovative arts education and arts integration training for all teachers, including teachers of non-arts subjects; and
  • Work to advance arts education policies and/or provide research and data that demonstrates the impact and value of arts education practices. 
• Education- The foundation's focus is on arts education and on school and classroom leadership, primarily in high-poverty communities. The foundation provides general operating and program support to nonprofit organizations that:
  • Partner with school districts in developing sustainable arts education strategic plans;
  • Offer high-quality, sequential model arts education programs that accelerate a district's or school's arts education strategy;
  • Offer specialized, high-level arts training to help talented low-income students develop their artistic skills or pursue a career in the arts;
  • Provide professional development for teachers and for creativity teams” of principals, art specialists and other classroom teachers to collaboratively integrate the arts and the artistic process with the Common Core State Standards and science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) curricula and programs;
  • Improve how New Jersey schools of education prepare teachers to include innovative arts education and arts integration training for all teachers, including teachers of non-arts subjects; and
  • Work to advance arts education policies and/or provide research and data that demonstrates the impact and value of arts education practices.
• 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. The foundation strives 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.
• Informed Communities - Through local journalism and creative community building efforts, citizens are informed, engaged and empowered to make decisions and take action to improve their own lives, as well as to shape the future of their communities. We strive to fulfill this vision for Informed Communities in New Jersey by funding organizations that:
  • Provide high quality, New Jersey-focused news across multiple platforms;
  • Seek ambitious, innovative and collaborative reporting opportunities, with a priority on investigative reporting;
  • Actively engage traditionally underserved audiences with relevant news, information and community building initiatives; and
  • Encourage meaningful, ongoing civic dialogue and community participation.