Maddox Fund: Responsive Grants

The mission of the Maddox Fund is to foster a world where people and the planet thrive together in regenerative systems free from oppression and threat. They focus on evolving in response to their community's changing needs, ensuring connections between individuals, nature, and supporting a culture of internal growth and partnership.

Type of Support

Overview

The Maddox Fund supports initiatives aimed at fostering connections and a sense of belonging among youth, prioritizing work with BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and immigrant & undocumented youth. It emphasizes out-of-school learning, post-secondary access, diversifying education leadership, and youth and education advocacy to create conditions where youth thrive. Additionally, it focuses on connecting people and the planet, advocating for regenerative policies and practices, and supports environmental sustainability with a commitment to racial justice. Specific environmental areas include community-based nature programs, diversifying environmental leadership, and hunting & fishing programs, along with environmental advocacy aiming at youth-led power building for sustainable futures. Responsive Grants ranging from $10-15,000 are available year-round for advocacy, direct services, capacity and care, supporting program delivery, capacity building, and organizational care in focus areas.

Eligibility

Organization's Location
USA
Program Location
TN (Bedford County, Cannon County, Cheatham County, Clay County, Coffee County, Davidson County, DeKalb County, Dickson County, Fentress County, Franklin County, Giles County, Grundy County, Hickman County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Jackson County, Lawrence County, Lincoln County, Macon County, Marion County, Marshall County, Maury County, Montgomery County, Moore County, Overton County, Perry County, Pickett County, Putnam County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Sequatchie County, Smith County, Stewart County, Sumner County, Trousdale County, Van Buren County, Warren County, Wayne County, White County, Williamson County)
Organization Type
Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Organizations with a fiscal sponsor
Other
  • Operates programming or advocacy in Middle Tennessee
  • Has been operating for one year or demonstrates a lived commitment to racial justice
  • Serves one or more of the 41 counties in Middle Tennessee: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Davidson, Dekalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Sequatche, Smith, Jackson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson

Ineligibility

Organizations that proselytize or evangelize
Organizations that are 501(c)(4)
Organizations not operating in Middle Tennessee
Organizations that regrant funds
Organizations without significant board diversity
Individuals
Local and state government agencies
Capital requests, endowments, debt reduction, or depreciation efforts
Charter and Private Schools (Ineligible Direct Services)
Mental health counseling (Ineligible Direct Services)
Daycare (Ineligible Direct Services)
Sports programs (Ineligible Direct Services)
Art programs (Ineligible Direct Services)
Scholarship programs (Ineligible Direct Services)
Food and clothing programs (Ineligible Direct Services)
School supplies (Ineligible Direct Services)
Parenting programs (Ineligible Direct Services)
Conferences and event sponsorships (Ineligible Direct Services)
University research (Ineligible Direct Services)
Direct lobbying that calls for specific action(s) (Ineligible Advocacy Work)
Activities that support or oppose a candidate for public office (Ineligible Advocacy Work)
Voter registration (Ineligible Advocacy Work)
Work that does not impact youth or the natural environment (Ineligible Advocacy Work)
Media and journalism (Ineligible Advocacy Work)
Policy analysis and research (Ineligible Advocacy Work).
10k – 15k

Submission

Review Criteria

Funding Preferences:

Our focus is primarily on organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), which includes having a BIPOC CEO or Executive Director and a Board composed of at least 33% BIPOC members. Such organizations should predominantly serve BIPOC communities. We also prioritize funding for LGBTQ+ led organizations that actively incorporate intersectional and racial analyses in their work.

We are interested in supporting organizations that have an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 and demonstrate a genuine commitment to racial justice. This extends to those that practice environmental sustainability in both their policies and actions, as well as organizations that adopt a justice and liberation model in assisting communities that have historically faced exploitation.

Preference for multi-year funding will be given to BIPOC-led organizations. However, organizations that may not fully align with these priorities but show a real dedication to racial justice are encouraged to apply. This can be demonstrated by having a board consisting of at least 30% BIPOC members or by implementing a tangible plan to diversify their board and foster an inclusive, equitable culture where diversity is celebrated and valued.

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