The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is an American

philanthropic organization Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

based in Morristown, New Jersey which nurtures leaders, ideas, and institutions that transcend self-interest while promoting a sustainable future. The foundation believes that philanthropy includes not only providing resources, but also connecting leaders across sectors, sharing expertise, and promoting collaboration to help build movements for change in important matters. It funds New Jersey-focused arts, education, environment, and media initiatives that are innovative and promote collaboration and community-driven decision making and offers a technical assistance program geared towards strengthening the capacity of the state's nonprofit community.

History

The Dodge Foundation was established in 1974 through a bequest from Mrs. Geraldine Dodge, daughter of

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

and Almira Rockefeller, and has grown to become one of the largest private foundations in New Jersey. Since its inception, Dodge has awarded nearly $450 million in grants. It awards about $11 million in grants annually through three grant cycles.

Chris Daggett Christopher Jarvis Daggett (born March 7, 1950) is an American businessman who is the president and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, one of the largest foundations in New Jersey. A former regional administrator of the United States En ...

became President and CEO of the foundation in 2010, and Tanuja M. Dehne became the fourth President and CEO in September, 2019.

Major initiatives

In 1986, the Dodge Foundation launched the biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, the largest poetry event in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, and in the following year spawned a complementary Poetry-in-the-Schools Program. In the aftermath of

Superstorm Sandy Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to as ''Superstorm Sandy'') was an extremely destructive and strong Atlantic hurricane, as well as the largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter, with tropical-storm-force winds spann ...

, the foundation provided a lead gift to the New Jersey Recovery Fund, hosted by the Community Foundation of New Jersey with support from local and national foundations, New Jersey corporations and individuals. The New Jersey Recovery Fund, one of the top philanthropic supporters of the state's Sandy recovery, awarded 25 grants totaling more than $4 million to groups working to address the Sandy recovery in several key areas: planning and environment, public information and engagement, community health, and the arts. Other major initiatives of the Dodge Foundation includ
Sustainable Jersey
an
Creative New Jersey

References

External links

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation website
{{Authority control Conservation and environmental foundations in the United States Organizations established in 1973