Sapling Fund

Goals and Strategies

The Andrew Teaford family continually promotes the advancement of intellectual growth, business experience, and philanthropic focus in order to ensure the excellence of its youngest generations. Through the Sapling Fund, young Andrew Teaford family members (ages 14–20) come together to learn about grantmaking, the nonprofit sector, and family philanthropy. The Sapling Fund provides young family members a chance to identify and support causes that resonate with them, and offers leadership opportunities for the next generation. 

Grantmaking Process

Sapling Fund grants are guided by a “for youth, by youth” philosophy. Grants support programs and organizations that involve youth in their programming; specific priorities change each year as new cohorts of Sapling members collectively identify shared priorities for the year’s grantmaking.

Our grantmaking is by invitation only, organizations are nominated by Sapling Fund members based on the current year's giving priorities. Typically, all grants are awarded in June each year.

Current Grant Partners

Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Center for Disaster Philanthropy (Washington, DC)
​For general operating support. CDP's mission is to leverage the power of philanthropy to mobilize a full range of resources that strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur.

Latino Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund

Latino Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund 
(San Francisco, CA)
Program support for the Wildfire Relief Fund. LCF exists to unleash the power of Latinos in California by building a movement of civically engaged philanthropic leaders, investing in Latino-led organizations, and increasing political participation of Latinos in California. The Wildfire Relief Fund was established to deploy contributions to Latino-led organizations supporting families displaced by wildfires across all the state of California.

Mass Audubon Youth Climate Leadership Program ​

Mass Audubon Youth Climate Leadership Program 
​(Lincoln, MA)
Program support grant for Mass Audubon's Youth Climate Leadership Program. YCLP is a youth-led, action-oriented climate action immersion program aimed at creating space for learning, conversation, networking, and youth-led climate solutions. In partnership with local schools, nonprofits, research institutions, and universities, the YCLP pairs youth with experts and mentors to guide innovative climate action ideation.

The Nature Conservancy California

The Nature Conservancy California (Sacramento, CA)
Program support for The Nature Conservancy’s Environmental Education programming at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve in California. The Nature Conservancy's mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. TNC's vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich their lives.

Thirst Project

Thirst Project (Los Angeles, CA) 
For general operating support. Thirst Project works with the support of young people to END the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities that need safe, clean drinking water.