What types of organizations are eligible for funding?
The Davis Family Foundation supports three types of 501(c)(3) charitable organizations:
Educational Organizations – colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. (Grants are not made to public elementary and secondary schools, nor to schools whose financial support is derived primarily from a church or other religious organization. Trustees will consider requests from other educational organizations whose purpose is to promote systemic change in education or to provide innovative programs whose objectives are to improve education.)
Medical Organizations – hospitals, clinics, and medical research organizations. Grant requests will also be considered from other similar health organizations for programs designed to increase the effectiveness or decrease the cost of medical care.
Cultural and Arts Organizations – organizations whose customary and primary activity is to promote music, theater, drama, history, literature, the arts or other similar cultural activities.
What is not eligible for funding?
The Davis Family Foundation does not make grants to individuals, religious programs, fellowships, or in the form of loans. The foundation does not normally provide support for annual giving campaigns or general operating needs. Grants to endowment campaigns have a low priority.
What are the geographic priorities of the Davis Family Foundation?
The Foundation's highest geographic priority is Southern Maine and then other parts of Maine. Rarely are grants awarded to organizations located in other New England states. The Foundation does not accept applications from organizations outside of New England.
How do I apply?
Review the Davis Family Foundation’s submission guidelines to determine your eligibility and to obtain a list of items required from grant applicants. The Foundation does not use a pre-proposal or letter of inquiry process but will respond to questions.
You may download a copy of the objectives and submission guidelines and an application form from this website. You may also request a copy by emailing the foundation at info@davisfoundations.org or calling (207) 781-5504. Please specify your interest in the Davis Family Foundation.
When are the submission deadlines?
The deadlines are February 10, May 10, August 10 and November 10. Applications must be received in the foundation's office by the deadline date. Applications for deadlines that fall on a holiday or weekend must be received by the next business day.
Trustees review proposals approximately 4 to 6 weeks following the submission deadlines.
May I call a Program Officer if I have questions?
Yes, we welcome phone calls from applicants. You may reach a Program Officer at (207) 781-5504.
Should educational organizations apply to the Davis Family Foundation or the Davis Educational Foundation?
Although both the Davis Family Foundation and the Davis Educational Foundation support educational institutions, their eligibility requirements, priorities and funding objectives differ. Please refer to each foundation’s objectives for clarification. If you are still uncertain as to which foundation is more closely aligned with your needs, please contact a Program Officer at (207) 781-5504 for clarification.
How are funding decisions made?
Trustees judge proposals against the funding objectives, on their merits and in comparison to others received.
When will we know whether our request is approved?
You may expect notification of the trustees’ decision within approximately 60 days from the date of the submission deadline.
How long must an organization wait before applying again?
In order to support as many worthwhile organizations as possible, the Foundation discourages organizations that have received a grant from submitting subsequent requests within 24 months
In addition, declined applicants should not submit a request for the same project within 12 months.
Does the Davis Family Foundation make multiple-year awards?
The Foundation normally provides one-year grants only.
Does the Davis Family Foundation require a completion report?
Yes. We request that grantees provide us with a completion report within 12 months of receipt of the grant. At the time of grant notification, we provide grantees with a grant completion report form for this purpose. Grantees may also download a copy of the form from the grant resources page of this website.
If the project is not completed within one year, we ask that grantees provide a brief written progress report in the interim.