John And Joyce Caddell Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The John and Joyce Caddell Foundation operates as a relationship-driven, community-centered private foundation with a deliberately low barrier to entry for applicants. Founded by John A. Caddell—the entrepreneur behind Caddell Construction Co., which grew into a $16+ billion construction enterprise operating across 36 countries—the foundation reflects its founders' deep roots in Montgomery, Alabama and their philosophy of giving back to the community that supported their rise.

Key Strategic Insights:

The foundation's most distinctive strategic characteristic is its open-door application policy: no deadlines, no formal RFP cycles, and no stated restrictions on organizational type or cause area. This approach strongly favors organizations that have personal or professional connections to the Caddell family. Given that the foundation is family-operated (currently led by Cathy L. Caddell as President and Caroline Christine Caddell Weeks as Director), applicants should approach outreach as a relationship-building exercise rather than a transactional grant application.

The foundation has historically concentrated its giving geographically in Montgomery and the immediate metro area. Virtually every documented grantee is either headquartered in Montgomery or serves its residents. Organizations from outside the metro area are unlikely to receive consideration unless they have a demonstrated direct impact on Montgomery-area communities.

The application itself is intentionally simple. Per the foundation's own instructions, applicants need only submit a written letter that includes the history and mission of the organization. There is no required format, no online portal, no financial attachments mandated. This means your written letter of inquiry is doing all the heavy lifting—it must be compelling, concise, and make a clear case for community impact in Montgomery.

Recommended Approach: 1. Cultivate a warm introduction through the Montgomery business, arts, or civic community before reaching out cold. 2. Frame your request around community impact in Montgomery specifically—not statewide or national outcomes. 3. Lead with organizational history and mission, as explicitly requested. 4. Reference specific Montgomery institutions or causes the foundation has supported to demonstrate alignment. 5. Contact Cathy Caddell directly at cathy@johnandjoycecaddellfoundation.org or by phone at (334) 546-1271.

## Funding Patterns

The John and Joyce Caddell Foundation has demonstrated consistent and growing philanthropic activity since its establishment in 2017. The foundation's giving patterns reveal a multi-sector approach with particular strength in arts/culture and senior services.

Financial Scale: - Total assets (2024): approximately $15.5 million - Annual charitable disbursements (2024): $615,000 - Annual giving (2023): $520,400 across 19 grants - Annual giving (2022): similar scale, 17 grants - Annual giving (2020): $500,000 - Annual giving (2019): $460,000

The upward trajectory in giving—from $460,000 in 2019 to $615,000 in 2024—reflects both asset growth (contributions from the Caddell family totaled $5.7 million in 2023 alone, suggesting active endowment-building) and an expanding grantee roster.

Grant Size Distribution (2023): - Range: $1,400 to $75,000 - Median grant: $20,000 - Typical grant: $20,000–$50,000 - Largest single grant: $75,000 (Alabama Shakespeare Festival)

The foundation makes relatively few, relatively large grants. Nineteen grants totaling $520,400 yields an average of approximately $27,400 per grant. This suggests the foundation prefers meaningful, concentrated support over broad, small-dollar distributions.

Sector Breakdown by Observed Grantees:

Arts and culture represents the foundation's highest-dollar giving area, with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival receiving the largest single documented grant ($75,000). Senior services and social services follow closely, each in the $50,000 tier. The foundation also supports wildlife and environmental conservation through the Alabama Wildlife Federation, suggesting broader civic interests beyond purely human services.

What the Foundation Does NOT Fund (Inferred): - Organizations outside the Montgomery, Alabama metro area - National organizations without a local Montgomery footprint - Research institutions or academic programs (no universities appear in recent grantee lists) - Capital campaigns or construction projects (despite the founder's construction background, no evidence of facilities grants)

## Peer Comparison

The John and Joyce Caddell Foundation occupies a mid-tier position among Montgomery's private foundation ecosystem, sitting third by asset size among identifiable local foundations but distinguished by its high revenue-to-asset ratio and active family contribution pattern.

Montgomery-Area Private Foundation Peer Table:

Key Differentiators:

1. Giving Rate: The Caddell Foundation distributes approximately 3.3–4% of assets annually—on par with or exceeding the IRS-required 5% minimum distribution for private foundations when measured against total spending. This is consistent with peer foundations.

2. Grant Concentration: With only 17–19 grants per year, Caddell gives fewer but larger grants than peers like the J.K. Lowder Foundation (54 grants). This makes the Caddell Foundation a higher-value target for organizations seeking a single meaningful grant rather than small supplemental funding.

3. Family Engagement: Unlike pure trusts (Yung, Maytag Smith), the Caddell Foundation is actively family-managed with named family members in leadership. This creates both opportunity (personal relationships matter) and limitation (access depends on family network).

4. Arts Leadership: The Caddell Foundation's $75,000 grant to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival positions it as one of ASF's leading sponsors—a level of arts investment that differentiates it from foundations more focused on human services. Among Montgomery foundations, it appears to be a primary private philanthropic pillar for arts organizations.

5. No Staff: Unlike the J.K. Lowder Family Foundation (which employs an Executive Director at $60,000/year), the Caddell Foundation operates with zero paid staff. This means decision-making is entirely family-driven and response times may be slower or less predictable.

## Recent Activity

Foundational Transition (2023): The most significant recent development for the John and Joyce Caddell Foundation is the death of its co-founder, John A. Caddell, on March 27, 2023, at age 93. John Caddell founded Caddell Construction Co. in 1983, grew it into a nationally prominent construction firm with $16+ billion in completed projects, and in 2018 transitioned it to employee ownership—a rare act of founder generosity that reflected his broader philanthropic philosophy.

His death marks a transition period for the foundation. Leadership has passed to his daughter Cathy L. Caddell (President/Director) and granddaughter Caroline Christine Caddell Weeks (Director). The foundation appears to have continued active grant-making through 2023 and into 2024 with minimal disruption, with charitable disbursements actually increasing to $615,000 in 2024.

Financial Trajectory (2019–2024): - 2019: $460,000 in grants (17 grants est.) - 2020: $500,000 in grants - 2021: Growing activity (990 filed May 2023) - 2022: ~$500K range, 17 grants - 2023: $520,400, 19 grants - 2024: $615,000 in disbursements (latest filing)

The foundation also received $1.21 million in contributions in 2023 and $5.7 million total contributions that year (likely including prior-year pledges or one-time family transfers), indicating active endowment-building by the Caddell family even after John's passing.

Active Grantee Relationships: The foundation maintains consistent multi-year relationships with core grantees. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Meals on Wheels Montgomery, and Mercy House appear to be perennial recipients, suggesting multi-year general operating support is the foundation's preferred grant type.

Newly Emerging Grantees (2023): - The Respite for All Foundation ($50,000) — supporting respite care services - Common Ground Montgomery ($30,000) — community dialogue and civic engagement - That's My Child ($35,000) — youth with disabilities and arts education

These newer additions suggest Cathy Caddell and Christine Weeks are expanding the foundation's portfolio into youth disability services and community dialogue, areas that were less prominent under John Caddell's leadership.

## Application Tips

1. Lead with your Montgomery roots. The foundation exclusively funds organizations serving Montgomery. Your letter of inquiry should open by establishing your organization's presence in and commitment to Montgomery, Alabama. Reference specific programs, neighborhoods, or populations you serve in the metro area.

2. Keep your written application concise and story-driven. The foundation explicitly requests only the history and mission of your organization. This is not an invitation for a 20-page grant proposal. Aim for 1–2 pages. Tell the story of how your organization was founded, what problem it solves, and why Montgomery needs it now. Avoid excessive financial data, logic models, or program jargon—the family responds to authentic community narratives.

3. Request in the $20,000–$50,000 range. The foundation's median grant is $20,000 and most significant grants fall in the $30,000–$50,000 range. Requesting $75,000 (the maximum ever documented) is appropriate only if you are an anchor institution like the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. First-time applicants should target $20,000–$35,000 to align with the foundation's typical giving range.

4. Apply for general operating support. The foundation's grants are described as "unrestricted charitable grants." Do not structure your request as a specific project grant unless your project is genuinely distinctive. General operating support is what the foundation actually gives—your application should make the case for your organization's overall work, not a single initiative.

5. Time your outreach strategically. There are no deadlines, which means the foundation reviews requests on a rolling basis. This is an advantage—you can apply any time. However, given that the foundation is family-operated with no staff, avoid holiday periods and give yourself 60–90 days for a response.

6. Seek a warm introduction. The foundation is deeply embedded in Montgomery's civic and business community. A personal introduction through a mutual contact in Montgomery business, arts, or civic circles will significantly improve your chances. Consider reaching out through the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, or River Region United Way—all organizations with documented Caddell connections.

7. Follow up by phone. The contact number (334) 546-1271 and emails for both Cathy Caddell and Christine Weeks are publicly available. A brief, respectful follow-up call 4–6 weeks after submitting your letter is appropriate and consistent with the foundation's informal application culture.

8. Demonstrate alignment with established giving priorities. Arts and culture, senior services, and social services (especially for vulnerable populations) are the foundation's highest-funded categories. If your organization works at the intersection of multiple priorities—e.g., arts programming for seniors or youth with disabilities—make that alignment explicit. The recent addition of That's My Child (arts/disability) and Respite for All (caregiving) suggests the foundation is particularly interested in organizations addressing underserved populations through arts or respite approaches.