J. F. Maddox Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The J.F. Maddox Foundation exclusively funds nonprofit causes in the most southeastern county of New Mexico, Lea County. Education is a top priority, and youth causes, social services, and community development initiatives are also regularly considered for grants.
FUNDING AREAS: Education, youth, social services, community development
IP TAKE: The Maddox Foundation has an open-door policy, so call the foundation office to get more information about applying for a grant.
PROFILE: Established in 1963, southeastern New Mexico residents Jack and Mabel Maddox created the J.F. Maddox Foundation. The couple lived a life of philanthropy and contributed to many local education, youth, and community development projects near their home. They moved to Hobbs in 1931, when Jack began a career spanning the utility industry, real estate development, gas pipeline operations and banking. The foundation works with “grantee partners to overcome challenges and accelerate opportunities in Lea County, New Mexico.” Grantmaking areas of interest are education, youth, social services, and community development.
Education is a top priority of the Maddox Foundation, and one of the very first foundation programs was a student loan program. This evolved into the Jack Maddox Distinguished Scholarship Program, which has awarded five annual scholarships to Lea County high school students. Rather than pushing for a school reform agenda, Maddox has worked to get input from teachers, principals, and school district leaders, and it has paid for professional development and startup costs. Longstanding Maddox beautification initiatives have focused on the Hobbs downtown area, Lovington Highway, and Joe Harvey Boulevard. Due to a significant dependence upon oil and gas production, Hobbs is a community that has seen dramatic cyclical economic swings. Over the years, Maddox has also been a big supporter of elementary schools and secondary schools in Hobbs. Through the Lea County Hunger Initiative, Maddox has partnered with the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, and local food banks and soup kitchens to provide food to the needy. Maddox also offers opportunity grants for small capital projects, pilot projects, and strategic or temporary funding.
Foundation grants often range from $5,000 to $50,000. See a list of past grantees on the funder’s website. Funding is restricted to nonprofits in Lea County, New Mexico, which includes the cities of Tatum, Lovington, Hobbs, Eunice, and Jal. According to a recent census, Lea County has a population of only 64,727 people. Historically, Lea County’s geographic isolation has kept it off the radar of other funders.
The foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests from nonprofits but does not use application forms or due dates to give grant seekers more flexibility. To contact the Maddox staff about getting a grant for a Lea County nonprofit, call 575-393-6338 or complete the online contact form.
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