Maddie’s Fund
OVERVIEW: Maddie’s Fund supports animal research and the protection and well-being of companion animals.
IP TAKE: Grantmaking programs tend to change yearly. Interested grantseekers should read program pages carefully before submitting applications via the fund’s grants portal. This is a transparent and accessible funder that accepts contact, but check back annually for evolving opportunities.
PROFILE: Maddie’s Fund, established in 1994, began with a promise David Duffield made to his beloved miniature schnauzer, Maddie. He told his best friend that if he ever became rich, he would give a large portion of his wealth to animals like her. In 1987, Duffield mortgaged his house to co-found PeopleSoft with friend and business partner Ken Morris. In 2003, after many years of rapid growth, Larry Ellison launched a hostile takeover attempt of PeopleSoft. Duffield left the company before the transition was to take place and started a new company, Workday, which went public in 2012. It was a human resources and financial management software company that used cloud computing.
Today, the foundation seeks to “revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals.”
Grants for Animal Rescue and Welfare
The fund currently runs several grantmaking programs: Community Conversations, BIPOC-Led Operating Support Grants and Challenge Grants.
Community Conversations grants are awarded in the amount of $10,000 to animal rescues and animal welfare organizations that participate in Maddie’s Fund’s biweekly Zoom information sessions. Application guidelines are available at the program’s webpage.
BIPOC-Led Operating Support Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 and are intended for organizations that support dogs, cats and their people. Public agencies and nonprofit organizations that are led by BIPOC are eligible to apply.
The focus of the fund’s Challenge Grants changes each year, with recent grant challenges having focused on the development of pet fostering programs, animal adoption inclusivity and programs that help owners recover lost pets. Application guidelines for challenge grants are posted on the program’s webpage each year. Challenge grants are awarded in amounts of up to $10,000.
Important Grant Details:
This funder has made between about $8 and $12 million in grants in recent years. Grants are generally awarded in set amounts per program. This funder tends to support smaller, community based groups that have a large and positive impact on the lives of dogs and cates in their communiteis. Recent grantees include Palm Valley Anial Society, Santa Rosa County Animal Services, the San Diego Humane Society and the Kansas City Pet Project.
Maddie’s Fund accepts applications for each of its funding programs, but guidelines and due dates vary significantly by program. Applicaton information for each program is provided on individual program pages, and all applications may be submitted via the fund’s grants portal.
General inquiries maybe submitted to the foundation via email or telephone at (925) 310-5450.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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