Funding search · EIN 203734688 · Wilmington, DE

Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund

Name: Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund 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.

342
grants reported: $394.8M
total given: 2022–2024
filing years: $200,000
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

davis scholars scholarship international scholar trail building center

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

Davis UWC Scholars Program endowments at host colleges
Named scholarship funds at independent prep schools and day schools
Land conservation and river protection in Hudson Valley, Sonoma, Maine
Unrestricted operating support to arts and dance organizations
Medical research: Alzheimer prevention, vision, minority physician pipelines
Place-based nonprofits in Westchester County, Bar Harbor, Santa Fe

Typical grant

Median grant is $200,000, with the middle half landing between roughly $59,000 and $750,000. The eight-figure checks go almost entirely to scholarship infrastructure (UWC-USA at $26M, University of Oklahoma Foundation at $13.1M, Santa Fe Prep at $9.2M), while the $50,000 to $250,000 range covers general operating support for land trusts, museums, libraries, and small schools. With 342 grants to 141 recipients across three years, repeat giving is the norm, and several recipients like Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, Middlebury, Friends of Acadia, and UWC-USA appear multiple times in a single year.

Their words

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

“General & Unrestricted”
“Davis UWC Scholars Program”
“Davis International Scholars Program”
“financial aid fund”
“First Gen Scholarship Fund”
“President's Discretionary Fund”

Positioning adjacent work

Anchor to a named Davis theme: the Colby AI Institute, first-generation scholars, or the Brigham Alzheimer prevention work.
Ask $100,000 to $250,000 for a first approach; reserve seven-figure framing for endowed, named funds.
Build in an international or first-generation student component; scholarship access is the through-line across nearly every large gift.
If your work touches Hudson Valley watersheds, Sonoma County land, or coastal Maine, lead with the geography.

Worth knowing: This is a family fund with no open call, and the giving reads as relationship-driven: the Davis name sits on programs at UWC-USA, Middlebury, Colby, and a dozen prep schools, and those institutions absorb most of the dollars year after year. Outside the scholarship pipeline, the money clusters tightly around a few places the family is connected to, especially Westchester and the Hudson Valley, Sonoma County, and coastal Maine, where even small local groups like a nursery school or a village library get checks.

Top recipients

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

Armand Hammer United World College of the American7 grants · $83.8M
University of Oklahoma Foundation3 grants · $34.4M
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail1 grant · $30.0M
Santa Fe Preparatory School5 grants · $25.2M
Sonoma Academy5 grants · $18.4M
Central Park Conservancy5 grants · $17.3M
President & Trustees of Colby College3 grants · $12.0M
The Brigham & Womens Hospital2 grants · $10.0M
Macalester College2 grants · $10.0M
University of Chicago7 grants · $8.4M

Giving over time

$160.2M

2022

$114.4M

2023

$120.2M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 342 grants.

$31.0M
Armand Hammer United World College of the American · Montezuma, NM · 2022
the UWC Forever Fund and the Davis Scholars program fund
$30.0M
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail · Poughkeepsie, NY · 2022
Phase One Construction
$26.0M
Armand Hammer United World College of the American · Montezuma, NM · 2024
UWC Forever fund and Davis Scholars Program
$26.0M
Armand Hammer United World College of the American · Montezuma, NM · 2023
the UWC Forever fund, the davis scholars program fund
$13.1M
University of Oklahoma Foundation · Norman, OK · 2024
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2024
$11.8M
University of Oklahoma Foundation · Norman, OK · 2023
Davis UWC Scholar Program 2023
$9.4M
University of Oklahoma Foundation · Oklahoma City, OK · 2022
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2022
$9.2M
Santa Fe Preparatory School · Santa Fe, NM · 2024
Davis New Mexico Scholars fund
$8.5M
Central Park Conservancy · New York, NY · 2023
Re-envisioned Harlem Meer pool and rink
$8.5M
Central Park Conservancy · New York, NY · 2022
Re-envisioned Harlem Meer pool and rink
$8.0M
Santa Fe Preparatory School · Santa Fe, NM · 2023
Davis New Mexico Scholars
$7.8M
Santa Fe Preparatory School · Santa Fe, NM · 2022
Davis New Mexico Scholars
$6.0M
President & Trustees of Colby College · Waterville, ME · 2024
Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence
$6.0M
President & Trustees of Colby College · Waterville, ME · 2022
Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence
$6.0M
Southampton Hospital Foundation · Southampton, NY · 2022
construction fund for The East Hampton Emergency Department
$5.6M
Sonoma Academy · Santa Rosa, CA · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$5.5M
Macalester College · Saint Paul, MN · 2024
Davis UWC Scholars Program Fund 2024
$5.3M
Sonoma Academy · Santa Rosa, CA · 2023
Performing Arts Center
$5.0M
The Brigham & Womens Hospital · Boston, MA · 2024
Alzheimer Prevention Program
$5.0M
Petaluma River Park Foundation · Petaluma, CA · 2023
For purchase of Scanell property
$5.0M
The Brigham & Womens Hospital · Boston, MA · 2023
Alzheimer Prevention Program
$5.0M
New York-Presbyterian Fund · New York, NY · 2022
to support the expansion, improvement and accessibility of pediatric and newborn care at the Komansky Children's Hospital and across the Regional Hospital Child Health Network
$4.7M
Sonoma Academy · Santa Rosa, CA · 2023
Davis Scholars, Davis Gap Fund, and General Support
$4.6M
Peconic Land Trust Incorporated · Southampton, NY · 2022
Georgica Pond Restoration Fund
$4.5M
Macalester College · Saint Paul, MN · 2023
Davis UWC Scholar Program 2023
$3.7M
Coney Island Prep Builders · Brooklyn, NY · 2022
Pride Promise Scholarship fund and general support fund
$3.5M
Coney Island Prep Builders · Brooklyn, NY · 2024
Pride Promise Scholarship fund for deposit into the account held at fidelity and school's general operations fund
$3.5M
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival · Garrison, NY · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$2.7M
Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, OH · 2022
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2022
$2.7M
University of Florida · Gainesville, FL · 2022
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2022
$2.5M
Landpaths · Santa Rosa, CA · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$2.5M
Petaluma River Park Foundation · Petaluma, CA · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$2.5M
Sonoma Academy · Santa Rosa, CA · 2022
General & Unrestricted
$2.4M
Global Partnerships · Seattle, WA · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$2.3M
College of the Atlantic · Bar Harbor, ME · 2022
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2022
$2.3M
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences · East Boothbay, ME · 2022
anti-methane project
$2.2M
The College of Idaho · Caldwell, ID · 2024
Davis UWC Scholars Program Fund 2024
$2.0M
American Friends of the Ocean Cleanup Foundation · Pasadena, CA · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$2.0M
University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$2.0M
University of St Andrews American Foundation · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$2.0M
Land Trust Alliance Incorporated · Washington, DC · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$2.0M
University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$2.0M
American Friends of the Ocean Cleanup Foundation · Pasadena, CA · 2022
General & Unrestricted
$2.0M
Holderness School · Plymouth, NH · 2022
construction of academic building; building of Mittersill Performance Center; trail, field, and ski and snowboarding venue initiatives
$2.0M
Nature Conservancy - California Chapter · Sacramento, CA · 2022
General Support of Water Program
$2.0M
University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2022
General & Unrestricted
$1.6M
Regents of the University of California at Berkele · Berkeley, CA · 2023
Davis UWC Scholar Program 2023
$1.5M
Chautauqua Foundation · Chautauqua, NY · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$1.5M
Future Generations University Corporation · Franklin, WV · 2023
Institutional Support fund, Field-based Residentials Financial Aid, Field-based Learning Fund
$1.2M
Scenic Hudson · Poughkeepsie, NY · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$1.2M
Regents of the University of California at Berkele · Berkeley, CA · 2022
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2022
$1.1M
Scenic Hudson · Poughkeepsie, NY · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$1.1M
Maine Seacoast Mission · Northeast Harbor, ME · 2024
Davis Maine Scholarship Fund
$1.0M
Ringling College of Art and Design · Sarasota, FL · 2022
Davis UWC Scholars Program 2022
$1.0M
Chautauqua Foundation · Chautauqua, NY · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$1.0M
Holderness School · Plymouth, NH · 2024
construction of academic building; building of Mittersill performance center; trail, field, and ski and snowboarding venue initiatives
$1.0M
Institute for Shipboard Education · Dallas, TX · 2024
scholarship Fund
$1.0M
Land Trust Alliance Incorporated · Washington, DC · 2024
General & Unrestricted
$1.0M
Nature Conservancy · Sacramento, CA · 2024
The Point Reyes Project
$1.0M
School of Leadership-Afghanistan · Boston, MA · 2024
Sola-X & General Education Funds
$1.0M
University of Virginia · Charlottesville, VA · 2024
Davis First-Generation Scholarship fund
$1.0M
College of the Atlantic · Bar Harbor, ME · 2023
to fund the construction of a new academic building
$1.0M
Holderness School · Plymouth, NH · 2023
construction of academic building; building of Mittersill Performance Center; trail, field, and ski and snowboarding venue initiatives
$1.0M
Institute for Shipboard Education · Dallas, TX · 2023
scholarship fund
$1.0M
Teatown Lake Reservation · Ossining, NY · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$1.0M
University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2023
Zimmer Odyssey Fund
$1.0M
University of Virginia · Charlottesville, VA · 2023
To create an expendable scholarship fund named the Davis First-Generation Scholarship fund
$1.0M
College of the Atlantic · Bar Harbor, ME · 2022
to fund the construction of a new academic building
$1.0M
Global Citizen Year Incorporated · Oakland, CA · 2022
Scholarship Fund
$1.0M
Institute for Shipboard Education - Semester at Se · Fort Collins, CO · 2022
Scholarship fund
$1.0M
Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA · 2022
For the Green Music Center
$1.0M
Teatown Lake Reservation · Ossining, NY · 2022
General & Unrestricted
$1.0M
University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2022
Zimmer Odyssey Fund
$1.0M
University of Virginia · Charlottesville, VA · 2022
To endow the Shelby and Kathryn Davis Bicentennial scholarship fund
$900,000
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation · Springfield, IL · 2022
the Children's Woodland Garden and planned maintenance facility and greenhouse at the Ostermeier Prairie area of the garden
$900,000
Scenic Hudson · Poughkeepsie, NY · 2022
General & Unrestricted
$849,805
Brooks School · North Andover, MA · 2024
First Gen Scholarship Fund
$830,000
Brooks School · North Andover, MA · 2022
First Generation and Fellowships Scholarship Fund
$810,000
Brooks School · North Andover, MA · 2023
General & Unrestricted
$800,000
Scenic Hudson · Poughkeepsie, NY · 2024
the Westchester Riverwalk and Regenerative Agriculture and other projects funds
$800,000
Scenic Hudson · Poughkeepsie, NY · 2023
The Westchester Riverwalk and Regenerative Agriculture and other projects
$775,000
Taft School Corporation · Watertown, CT · 2024
Davis International Scholars Program
$750,000
Future Generations University Corporation · Franklin, WV · 2024
Institutional Support fund, field-based residentials financial aid fund, and field-based learning fund
$750,000
Riverkeeper · Ossining, NY · 2024
activities and projects in Westchester county, General & Unrestricted
$750,000
Rockefeller Family Fund · New York, NY · 2024
Democracy & Power Innovation Fund
$750,000
Rockefeller Family Fund · New York, NY · 2024
RFFs civic engagement and climate work fund
$750,000
School of Leadership-Afghanistan · Boston, MA · 2022
General & Unrestricted
$740,000
Trustees of Phillips Academy · Andover, MA · 2024
Davis International Scholars Program
$740,000
Trustees of Phillips Academy · Andover, MA · 2023
Davis International Scholars Program
$724,056
Maine Seacoast Mission · Northeast Harbor, ME · 2023
Davis Maine Scholarship Fund
$710,000
Emma Willard School · Troy, NY · 2024
Davis International Scholars Program
$695,000
Taft School Corporation · Watertown, CT · 2023
Davis International Scholars Program
$687,500
Bennington College Corporation · Bennington, VT · 2023
Davis UWC Scholar Program 2023
$666,666
Gina Gibney Dance · New York, NY · 2024
Dance Company fund
$640,000
Taft School Corporation · Watertown, CT · 2022
Davis International Scholars program
$635,000
Trustees of Phillips Academy · Andover, MA · 2022
Davis International Scholars program
$575,000
Emma Willard School · Troy, NY · 2023
Davis International Scholars Program
$570,000
Trustees of the Lawrenceville School · Lawrenceville, NJ · 2024
Davis International Scholars Program
$565,000
Emma Willard School · Troy, NY · 2022
Davis International Scholars program
$560,000
Trustees of the Lawrenceville School · Lawrenceville, NJ · 2022
Davis International Scholars program

View all 342 grants →

Who else funds this kind of work

Same state

The Kendeda Fund477 grants · $124.6M
Longwood Foundation329 grants · $152.1M
American Gift Fund4,670 grants · $227.2M

Similar purposes

Seven Turns Fund87 grants · $8.7M
Bi-Lo Holdings Foundation160 grants · $5.3M
The Patten-Davis Foundation50 grants · $11.0M

Similar grant size

The Ford Foundation10,731 grants · $2.35B
John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)7,100 grants · $1.67B
Wk Kellogg Foundation7,234 grants · $1.30B

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

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.