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.
The Woodcock Foundation maintains a strict invitation only policy for grant applications. The names of trustees and staff are listed on the foundation’s website.
PROFILE: The late philanthropist Polly Guth, who was an heir to one of the founders of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., established the New York-based Woodcock Foundation in 1996. 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, with recent grants supporting conservation, sustainable food systems, civic engagement and journalism. Grantmaking for global development, which was a larger area of giving in the past, has tapered off in recent years in favor of grantmaking that addresses pressing issues in the U.S. The foundation’s guiding principles include supporting “constructive systemic change to improve society” and “unusually able, innovative individuals who can contribute to such change.”
Grants for Environmental Conservation
Conservation is the Woodcock Foundation’s largest area of giving, although the foundation does not outline specific goals for its giving in this area. 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. In a recent year, 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:
The Woodcock Foundation’s giving has increased steadily over the past few years and totaled about $7.7 million in a recent year. Grants have ranged anywhere from $5,000 to over $1 million, with an average grant size of about $75,000. 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. For more information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s grantees page.
The Woodcock Foundation does not review unsolicited proposals for funding. General inquiries may be directed to the foundation’s staff via email.
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