Woodcock Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Woodcock Foundation’s current areas of focus include conservation, sustainable food systems, civic engagement and journalism.
IP TAKE: This progressive family funder’s grantmaking reflects the philanthropic interests of its board of trustees and tends to shift slightly from year to year. Recent giving has prioritized the environment, food systems, voters’ rights and journalism. This funder aims to support projects and initiatives that will effect broad positive changes in society, and grantees tend to receive multiyear support. While the foundation’s areas of interest tend to change over time to reflect the philanthropic interests of its trustees, many recipients have enjoyed ongoing support from Woodcock.
While transparent about its past and current grantees the Woodcock Foundation is not an accessible funder. It maintains a strict invitation only policy for grant applications and will not review or reply to any unsolicited inquiries. If you are interested in working with this funder, you will have to find other ways of getting on its radar.
PROFILE: The New York-based Woodcock Foundation was established in 1996 by the late Polly Guth, heiress to one of the founders of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. The foundation, which describes itself as a “progressive family foundation,” supports “community development especially when there is an opportunity to improve the educational, economic and environmental circumstances of communities in need.” Grantmaking reflects the interest of the foundation’s board of trustees and its Guiding Principles, include supporting “constructive systemic change to improve society” and “unusually able, innovative individuals who can contribute to such change.” While it does not delineate strict focus areas for its grantmaking, its giving interests currently center around economic development, food security, environmental conservation, democracy & engagement, gender equality, and civil society.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
Conservation is the Woodcock Foundation’s largest area of giving. Grants have gone to a range of organizations, including large national environmental initiatives and smaller land trusts and conservancies. Grantees include the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Climate Conservation, the Maine Farmland Trust, New York’s Columbia Land Conservancy, and the Miistakis Institute for the Rockies.
Grants for Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture
The Woodcock Foundation has demonstrated strong interest in supporting the development of sustainable food systems and agriculture over the past several years. The foundation has provided ongoing support to the Castanea Fellowship, a two-year program for “diverse leaders working for a racially just food system in the areas of health, environment agriculture, regional economies, and community development.” The foundation has also given to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Maine Organic Farmers’ Association, and Michigan’s Fair Food Network.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Civic engagement and democracy represent a newer area of giving for the Woodcock Foundation, which appears to have developed a strong interest in this area since the 2020 election. The foundation has prioritized organizations supporting voters’ rights and civic participation. Recent grantees include the Democracy Fund, the Movement Voter Project, and the Florida Rights Restoration Commission.
Grants for Journalism and Media
The Woodcock Foundation has also recently developed an interest in supporting independent journalism in the U.S., although this is a smaller area of giving at this time. Recently, the foundation supported the national organization Free Press and the Food and Environment Reporting Network.
Grants for Women and Girls
Women’s and girls’ causes are not a main focus of the Woodcock Foundation, but a few grants have gone to organizations working for reproductive rights in recent years. Woodcock has supported the Ultraviolet Education Fund, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Important Grant Details:
Grants may range anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, with an average grant size of about $75,000. For more information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s grantees page.
The Woodcock Foundation funds organizations operating throughout the United States and internationally, but tends to prioritize the Northeastern US.
Grantmaking is by invitation only. Unsolicited proposals and letters of inquiry will not be reviewed.
General inquiries may be directed to the foundation’s staff via email at info@woodcockfdn.org.
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