Quadrivium
/OVERVIEW: Quadrivium supports efforts to reform electoral processes, increase voter participation and access, and promote nonpartisan leadership development in the United States. It also makes grants for climate change, marine conservation and science research.
IP TAKE: This progressive funder downplays its connections to its family’s far right-wing media empire. Its grants may be substantial, but it does not accept requests for funding. It’s not accessible or approachable.
PROFILE: Quadrivium was established in 2013 by James Murdoch, former CEO of 21st Century Fox and son of media billionaire Rupert Murdoch, and his wife Kathryn. While James and Kathryn have not come out publicly against the influence of his father’s media empire, many of their values seem to run counter to Rupert’s conservative politics. The foundation’s mission is to invest in “evidence-based solutions to some of society’s most urgent challenges – where the decisions we make today have major repercussions for our future way of life.” Its five main focus areas are Democracy, Technology and Society, Scientific Understanding, Climate Change, and Ocean Health.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Quadrivium’s Democracy grants support efforts to “restore the health of our US democracy at a time of increasing polarization and dysfunction within the system.” It mainly prioritizes projects dedicated to structural electoral reforms, voter participation, and bipartisan leadership development. It supports Unite America Institute, Represent US, Democracy Works, Millennial Action Project, and others.
Through its Technology and Society grants, Quadrivium seeks to “defend against authoritarian governments’ use of technology to polarize and distort the politics of democratic societies.” Past grantees include Unite America Institute, Represent US, Democracy Works, Voting Rights Lab, and Millennial Action Project.
Grants for Climate Change
Quadrivium’s Climate Change focus area primarily advocates for “bipartisan passage of a US climate strategy that doubles as an economic growth strategy.” It endorses the Climate Leadership Council’s Carbon Rebate plan. It invests in Climate Central’s Climate Matters program, which disseminates information about climate change to the public through trusted meteorologists, as well as the Environmental Defense Fund’s global climate policy efforts centering around “carbon markets” in India and China.
Grants for Marine and Freshwater
In the realm of marine conservation, Quadrivium primarily supports the Environmental Defense Fund’s efforts to combat overfishing, which threatens biodiversity and global food security. EDF promotes catch share programs, which help fishing communities coordinate and limit their catches in order to use natural resources more efficiently.
Grants for Science Research
In order to promote improved science comprehension among the general public, Quadrivium’s SciLine program partners with the American Association for the Advancement of Science to create resources and materials for science journalists, to help them better convey the meaning and significance of new scientific developments to the public without perpetuating misinformation.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $50,000 to $1 million. This funder has a very select roster of grantees and partners, and its grantmaking is highly targeted. Quadrivium does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.
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