Funding search · EIN 203899187 · Birmingham, MI

William Davidson Foundation

Name: William Davidson Foundation grants, 2022–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

277
grants reported: $178.4M
total given: 2022–2024
filing years: $300,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2022–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

detroit davidson jewish william education israel michigan capacity

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Jewish life, education, and Israel engagement in Detroit and Israel
Detroit cultural institutions: opera, symphony, DIA, museums
Detroit parks, greenways, riverfront, and downtown public space
Israel advocacy, antisemitism response, and campus programs
Detroit entrepreneurship, tech, and economic development
Endowments and capital campaigns at anchor institutions

Typical grant

Median grant is $300,000, with the middle half falling between $100,000 and $750,000. The seven-figure checks go to Jewish Federation of Detroit, Israel-focused institutions, and endowment or capital campaigns at Detroit anchors; the $25,000 to $75,000 grants are gala sponsorships, membership dues, and one-off events. Core grantees like Jewish Federation of Detroit, Sefaria, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and Washington Institute for Near East Policy appear repeatedly, so giving is durable rather than one-and-done.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“general operating support”
“William Davidson Distinguished Fellow”
“capacity building”
“to serve as a partner”
“metro Detroit”

Positioning adjacent work

Tie work to metro Detroit or Israel explicitly; grants outside those two geographies are rare.
Named fellowship framing works: they fund a "William Davidson Distinguished Fellow" at multiple policy institutes.
Ask $250,000 to $750,000 for a defined program; reserve seven figures for endowment or capital.
Pair a research ask with "capacity building" or general operating support, language they use constantly.

Worth knowing: This is a relationship-driven funder with a tight circle: Jewish Federation of Detroit alone took five grants in 2024, and Michigan plus New York account for the large majority of recipients. The 2024 record shows a sharp tilt toward Israel emergency response, antisemitism, and campus Israel work after October 7.

4 grants matching “reboot” · $736,198

$250,000
Reboot · Longmeadow, MA · 2024
To support the Rebooter Network, the Arts Lab, and to serve as a partner
$200,000
Reboot · Longmeadow, MA · 2023
To support their efforts as a partner for Venture Philanthropy work and for Reboot's Detroit-based work.
$250,000
Reboot · Longmeadow, MA · 2022
To support programming and partnerships in metro detroit, and to incubate creative entrepreneurs and projects in support of jewish education and engagement
$36,198
Reboot · Longmeadow, MA · 2022
General operating support and expansion of the Detroit office

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan6 grants · $14.1M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit7 grants · $13.4M
Jewish Federation of Detroit5 grants · $9.1M
Afsnc3 grants · $7.5M
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science2 grants · $5.3M
Birthright Israel Foundation4 grants · $5.1M
Sefaria6 grants · $4.4M
The Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter1 grant · $4.2M
The Detroit Institute of Arts4 grants · $4.0M
Detroit Opera2 grants · $4.0M

Giving over time

$59.7M

2022

$60.0M

2023

$58.6M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 277 grants.

$6.1M
Jewish Federation of Detroit · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2024
To support the Israel Emergency Campaign and to support the emergency in Israel
$5.9M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2023
To support the Israel Emergency Campaign and to establish a Donor Advised Fund to support the emergency in Israel.
$5.0M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Detroit, MI · 2024
To support the Unified Greenway Endowment Fund
$5.0M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Detroit, MI · 2023
For the Unified Greenway Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.
$4.2M
The Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter · 2023
To support the Western Wall Plaza Elevator project.
$3.5M
Detroit Opera Dba Michigan Opera Theatre · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support facility renovations to the detroit opera house and artisitic programming for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons
$3.5M
The Detroit Institute of Arts · Detroit, MI · 2022
To Support its endowment, establish a new lecture series, and secure naming recognition for the Department Head and Curator of American Art for a period of fifty years
$3.0M
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science · New York, NY · 2024
To support the creation of a new campus for the Davidson Institute of Science Education and the Davidson Institute of Science Education Endowment
$3.0M
Holocaust Memorial Center Dba Holocaust Memorial Ctr Zekelman Family Campus · Farmington Hills, MI · 2023
To support the renovation of the permanent exhibit.
$2.9M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2023
To support the 2024 annual campaign.
$2.5M
Afsnc · New York City, NY · 2024
For general operating support for Start Up Nation Central
$2.5M
Afsnc · New York, NY · 2023
General operating support and to support the innovation diplomacy work of Start-Up Nation Central Ltd. (CC)
$2.5M
American Friends of Beit Hatfutsot - the Museum of the Jewish People · New York, NY · 2023
To support the creation of the ANU digital database for Jewish identity exploration and engagement.
$2.5M
Afsnc · New York, NY · 2022
general operating support and to support the innovation diplomacy work of Start-Up Nation Central Ltd. (CC)
$2.5M
American Friends of the Israel Museum · New York, NY · 2022
To support the endowment with a naming of the Temporary Archaeology Exhibitions Gallery at the Israel Museum
$2.4M
Jewish Federation of Detroit · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2024
To support the 2025 Annual Campaign, JLabs, and the Collective
$2.3M
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science · New York, NY · 2022
supporting the general operations of the Davidson Institute For Science Education at the Weizmann Institute of Science
$2.2M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2022
To support the 2023 annual campaign, eisenberg challenge fund and jlabs
$2.1M
The Friends of the Israel Antiquities Authority · New York, NY · 2022
To support the refresh of the Davidson Center, including the lighting project and entrance tunnel of the Jerusalem Archaeological Park.
$2.0M
Detroit Opera · Detroit, MI · 2024
To support opera seasons
$2.0M
Holocaust Memorial Center · Farmington Hills, MI · 2024
To support the renovation of the permanent exhibit
$2.0M
Jerusalem Botanical Gardens · 2024
To support the creation of a new gallery
$2.0M
Detroit Opera · Detroit, MI · 2023
To support the 2023-24 and 2024-25 opera seasons.
$1.9M
Birthright Israel Foundation · New York, NY · 2023
To support and expand the Onward Israel program with support for Detroit and Michigan-based participants and for one-time supplemental support to maintain and increase the number of Onward Israel participants in 2023.
$1.8M
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support the william davidson neighborhood concert series and for operating support, which includes capacity-building and strategic planning
$1.8M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2022
To establish the Byron and Dorothy Gerson Centennial Innovation Fund
$1.5M
The Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter in · 2022
To support the Western Wall Plaza Elevator project
$1.5M
Birthright Israel Foundation · New York, NY · 2024
General operating support and support for Onward Israel
$1.5M
Onetable · New York, NY · 2024
To support the implementation of the strategic plan
$1.5M
Sefaria · New York, NY · 2024
To support Sefaria's Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l Legacy Project
$1.5M
Eastern Market Corporation · Detroit, MI · 2023
To support the redevelopment of the Shed 4 area, and to support stormwater improvements and the Annual Fund.
$1.5M
Sefaria · New York, NY · 2023
To support Sefaria's Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l Legacy Project.
$1.5M
Birthright Israel Foundation · New York, NY · 2022
To support Onward Israel's programming; Onward Israel's Detroit and University of Michigan programs, and new support to encourage coordination across programs
$1.5M
Momentum Unlimited · Rockville, MD · 2022
General operating support, support for the effort to increase michigan-based participants and partnerships, and a one-time commitment to the join me challenge to support capacity building to expand participation
$1.4M
Wexner Foundation · New Albany, OH · 2022
To support Class 32 and 33 of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars, the Davidson Scholars Convening, and continued support for strategy exploration
$1.4M
Shabbat Project Inc Dba Onetable · New York, NY · 2023
To support the implementation for the strategic plan.
$1.3M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Detroit, MI · 2024
To support the New Economy Initiative
$1.3M
Foundation for Detroit'S Future · Detroit, MI · 2024
For Support of the Grand Bargain for the Detroit Institute of Arts
$1.3M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Detroit, MI · 2023
To support the New Economy Initiative.
$1.3M
Detroit Symphony Orchestra · Detroit, MI · 2023
To support the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series and for operating support, which includes capacity-building and strategic planning.
$1.3M
Foundation for Detroit'S Future · Detroit, MI · 2023
For Support of the Grand Bargain for the Detroit Institute of Arts.
$1.3M
Foundation for Detroit'S Future · Detroit, MI · 2022
For Support of the Grand Bargain for the Detroit Institute of Arts
$1.3M
Ogen - Free Loan Fund · 2022
for general operating support and to support the creation of a new loan fund
$1.2M
The Jewish People Policy Institute · 2024
To support the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow and for general operating support
$1.1M
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support the season of youth fitness in honor of mr. Davidson's 100th birthday with support for youth fitness activities for area non-profits and general operating support for cfsem's project play program
$1.1M
United Jewish Foundation · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2022
to support the Extension of the Hebrew Free Loan Association's William Davidson Jewish College Loan Program
$1.0M
American Israel Education Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
General operating support
$1.0M
Momentum Unlimited · Rockville, MD · 2024
General operating support
$1.0M
The Schechter Institutes · Philadelphia, PA · 2024
To support the TALI Education Fund, the Schechter Institute Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and for general operating support
$1.0M
Wexner Foundation · New Albany, OH · 2024
To support the Wexner Davidson Fellowship, completion of Davidson Scholars program, and the alumni program for Davidson Scholars
$1.0M
American Israel Education Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023
General Operating Support
$1.0M
Hadassah the Women'S Zionist Organization of America · New York, NY · 2023
To support the transformation of the -3 floor of the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower into an emergency hospital of 100 beds.
$1.0M
Jewish Theological Seminary of America · New York, NY · 2023
General operating support for the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education.
$1.0M
The Schechter Institutes · Philadelphia, PA · 2023
To support the TALI Education Fund and the Schechter Institute Graduate School of Jewish Studies.
$1.0M
American Israel Education Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022
To support Israel education trips and engagement
$1.0M
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support the comprehensive campaign and the permanent endowment
$1.0M
Jewish Theological Seminary of America · New York, NY · 2022
General operating support for the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education
$1.0M
The Schechter Institutes · Philadalphia, PA · 2022
to support the TALI Education Fund, the Schechter Institute Graduate School of Jewish Studies and for General operating support
$950,000
Washington Institute for Near East Policy · Washington, DC · 2024
To support the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow and the Young Scholars Program
$950,000
Washington Institute for Near East Policy · Washington, DC · 2023
To support the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow and the Young Scholars Program.
$950,000
The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America · New York, NY · 2022
To support the shalom hartman institute of north america's work in metro detroit and the expansion of hartman digital
$900,000
Detroit Symphony Orchestra · Detroit, MI · 2024
To support the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series and for general operating support
$900,000
The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America · New York, NY · 2024
To support Hartman Digital and Shalom Hartman Institute of North America's work in metro Detroit
$900,000
The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America · New York, NY · 2023
To support work in metro Detroit and Hartman Digital.
$900,000
Wexner Foundation · New Albany, OH · 2023
To support the new Wexner Davidson scholars' program, provide continued support for Davidson Scholars classes 32 and 33, and support alumni programming.
$900,000
Washington Institute for Near East Policy · Washington, DC · 2022
to Support the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow and the Young Scholars Program
$850,000
Gesher Foundation · New York, NY · 2024
To support the AMI Initiative
$850,000
Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (Hillel International) · Washington, DC · 2024
To support the Israel Action and Antisemitism Program, the Israel Leadership Network, The Center for Jewish and Israel Education, and the Student Leadership Network and Fellowship
$844,432
The Idi Foundation · Atlanta, GA · 2022
For General Operating Support and support for the William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy, and the Center for Governance and the Economy
$750,000
Jewish Theological Seminary of America · New York, NY · 2024
For general operating support for the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education
$750,000
Midtown Detroit · Detroit, MI · 2024
To support Phase 1 of the Cultural Center Planning Initiative
$750,000
Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life · Washington, DC · 2023
To support the Israel and Antisemitism Program, The Center for Jewish and Israel Education, and the Israel Leadership Network.
$750,000
Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life · Washington, DC · 2022
To support the israel action plan, the center for jewish and israel education and the israel leadership network
$750,000
Invest Detroit Foundation · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support the strategic neighborhood fund
$750,000
Midtown Detroit · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support the cultural center planning initiative
$749,439
The Idi Foundation · Atlanta, GA · 2023
For General Operating Support and support for the William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy, and the Center for Governance and the Economy.
$719,543
The Idi Foundation · Atlanta, GA · 2023
To support the William Davidson Senior Fellow and the IDI's Center for Governance and the Economy.
$707,449
The Idi Foundation · Atlanta, GA · 2024
To support the William Davidson Senior Fellow and the IDI's Center for Governance and the Economy
$600,000
Shalem College · 2024
To support the creation of two new majors focused on diplomacy, strategy, and economics
$600,000
United Jewish Foundation · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2024
To fund the WDF Director Discretionary Philanthropic Fund
$600,000
United Jewish Foundation · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2023
To support the WDF Director Discretionary Philanthropic Fund.
$600,000
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee · New York, NY · 2022
To support Humanitarian relief and rescue efforts in Ukraine
$600,000
Jewish Agency for Israel- North American Counsel · New York, NY · 2022
To support humanitarian relief and rescue efforts in ukraine
$600,000
Sefaria · New York, NY · 2022
To support maintenance and improvements to the William Davidson Talmud and capacity building to activate small and new donors, with an improved CRM (Customer Relationship Management program)
$600,000
The Jewish Federations of North America · New York, NY · 2022
To support the LiveSecure Program
$590,000
Endeavor Detroit · Detroit, MI · 2022
General operating support for endeavor great lakes and for the startup genome project to analyze and develop an action plan for the detroit region's growth and tech-based entrepreneurship support ecosystem
$550,000
Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue · Detroit, MI · 2024
For general operating support, capacity building, and construction
$550,000
Wayne State Univ Research & Technology Park the City of Detroit · Detroit, MI · 2022
To support entrepreneurship programming
$540,000
United Jewish Foundation · Bloomfield Hills, MI · 2022
To support the William Davidson Foundation Director Discretionary Philanthropic Fund
$525,000
Hazon · New York, NY · 2023
To support Detroit based efforts.
$500,000
Adamah · Reisterstown, MD · 2024
To support Adamah Detroit and planning efforts for a Metro Detroit Jewish retreat center
$500,000
Chabad On Campus International · Brooklyn, NY · 2024
To support the Chazak initiative
$500,000
Maoz-Seal · 2024
To support the 2080 Leadership Program
$500,000
Mechon Hadar · New York, NY · 2024
To support the Pedagogy of Partnership's Midwest Fellowship and the Children and Family Division
$500,000
Micah 6 Community · Pontiac, MI · 2024
To support the renovation of the vacant Webster Elementary School in Pontiac into a neighborhood community center
$500,000
The Jewish Federations of North America · New York, NY · 2024
To sponsor the JFNA Unity Event and the 2024 General Assembly
$500,000
The Jewish Federations of North America · New York, NY · 2024
To support the LiveSecure program
$500,000
Gesher Foundation · New York, NY · 2023
To support the AMI Initiative.
$500,000
Maoz-Seal · 2023
General operating support.
$500,000
Mechon Hadar · New York, NY · 2023
To support the Pedagogy of Partnership's Midwest Fellowship and the Children and Family Division.

View all 277 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.