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Davis Family Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.5M

Davis Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,498,000 (2022)
  • Total Giving Since 2006: ~$20 million
  • Geographic Focus: Boston area and national/international programs
  • Application Method: Invitation only
  • Number of Grants: 44 awards (2022)
  • Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: 125 High Street, Suite 2111, Boston, MA 02110

Website: www.davisfamilycf.org

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Applications for grants are by invitation only.

Overview

Founded in 2006 by Jonathan G. Davis and Margot Davis, Ph.D., LICSW, the Davis Family Charitable Foundation has invested approximately $20 million in communities and social sector organizations. The foundation is led by a deep dedication to Jewish values and is committed to unlocking the potential of young people, expanding family access to resources and services, investing in the wellbeing of local and global communities, and conserving and restoring natural habitats for future generations.

The foundation emphasizes the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), focusing on root causes, prevention, early intervention, and policy advocacy. In 2023, the family developed a strategic plan to codify their approaches to achieving real change in the six impact areas they have identified as their top priorities. The foundation prioritizes collaboration with grantees to strengthen sustainability and meaningful impact while remaining responsive to changing community needs.

Funding Priorities

Six Primary Focus Areas

1. Pathways to Success Improving life prospects for children and young people through equitable access to education and workforce development opportunities. Recent grantees include Jewish Vocational Services (JVS-Boston), which operates a Center for Economic Opportunity serving new Americans from over 80 countries.

2. Basic Needs for Families and Children Addressing hunger, homelessness prevention, and support services for unhoused individuals, including immigrant and refugee populations. Partners include Heading Home (providing housing solutions since 1974) and Lovin' Spoonfuls (food recovery and hunger relief).

3. Health Care Supporting access to quality, equitable healthcare through community-based facilities, behavioral health initiatives, and programs linking health to other foundational needs. This area reflects co-founder Margot Davis's expertise in behavioral health and addiction treatment.

4. Climate Change Mitigation Protecting environments via habitat conservation, restoration efforts, and advocacy for policies reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding clean energy.

5. Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Responding rapidly to crises requiring immediate intervention and recovery support. Partners include Save the Children, an international non-profit dedicated to ensuring children grow up healthy, educated, and safe.

6. Community Support Investing in arts, culture, outdoor space access, and equity advocacy, with particular emphasis on the local Jewish community. This includes support for institutions like Brandeis University and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.

What They Fund

The foundation supports well-managed, high-performing organizations that align with their six focus areas. They prioritize organizations that:

  • Address systemic barriers to equity
  • Demonstrate strong management and evaluation practices
  • Support innovation through emerging and established organizations
  • Focus on prevention and early intervention
  • Engage in policy advocacy for systemic change

Governance and Leadership

Jonathan G. Davis — Trustee & Founder Founder and CEO of The Davis Companies, a Boston-based real estate development and investment firm established in 1976. A 1975 graduate of Brandeis University, Davis served as former Vice Chairman of Brandeis University's Board of Trustees, former Director and Past Board Chair of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, and former Director of WBUR public radio and The Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.

Davis has stated: "I am privileged and fortunate to have a magnificent family...if at the end of my life I couldn't look back and feel that I had contributed in at least a small way to making the world a better place, I would be deeply unfulfilled." He emphasizes the importance of pursuing philanthropic goals alongside family members across generations as "the gift of a lifetime."

Margot Davis, Ph.D., LICSW — Trustee & Founder Research Scientist at Brandeis University's Institute for Behavioral Health with a clinical therapy practice. She specializes in treating mental health and addiction disorders, and her research examines healthcare policy and approaches for building innovative behavioral health systems. She has created multiple programs serving youth populations, and more recently, military families and relatives of individuals struggling with opioid use disorders.

Molly Davis Macleod — Executive Director Oversees the foundation's programmatic and organizational structure, including governance, strategy, finances, grantmaking, grantee relationships, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships. She serves on multiple boards including Jewish Vocational Services' Client Service Committee, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston's Board of Trustees, The Trustees of Reservations' Development Committee, and Save the Children's 100 Strong Committee.

Stephen T. Davis — Trustee President of The Davis Companies. Serves as Chair of Heading Home's board of directors, joining the board in 2015.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Davis Family Charitable Foundation does not have a public application process. Applications for grants are by invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

This invitation-only approach reflects the foundation's selective, relationship-based funding model. The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

  • Their trustees' extensive board service and community involvement
  • Existing relationships with organizations in their focus areas
  • Recommendations from peers in the philanthropic community
  • Their own research and identification of high-performing organizations

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's leadership maintains active involvement in the Boston philanthropic and nonprofit community through extensive board service:

  • Molly Davis Macleod serves on boards at Jewish Vocational Services, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, The Trustees of Reservations, Save the Children's 100 Strong Committee, and Emerson Hospital's Corporators Committee
  • Stephen Davis chairs the board of Heading Home
  • Jonathan Davis has served on boards at Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, WBUR, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, and Brandeis University

Organizations seeking to build relationships with the foundation should focus on:

  • Demonstrating excellence in one of the foundation's six focus areas
  • Building relationships with organizations already in the Davis portfolio, as the foundation values peer recommendations
  • Participating in Boston-area philanthropic networks, particularly those focused on Jewish giving and youth development
  • Engaging with Brandeis University's programs and networks, given the family's strong connection to the institution

Grant Structure

The foundation made 44 grants totaling $2,498,000 in 2022, with grant activity ranging from 26 awards (2019) to 44 awards (2022) in recent years. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, but this suggests an average grant size of approximately $57,000.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations cannot apply directly. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations position themselves as potential future partners:

Core Values Driving Grantmaking

Collaboration: The foundation emphasizes partnerships and shared expertise. They state: "The Foundation believes in the power of relationships, and works in partnership with peers in the world of philanthropic giving and community-based partners to leverage knowledge, resources, and expertise."

High Impact: Strong organizational management and rigorous evaluation practices are essential. The foundation explicitly supports "well-managed, high-performing organizations."

Innovation: The foundation supports both emerging and established organizations, indicating openness to new approaches alongside proven models.

Equity: At the heart of their grantmaking is "a deep concern for issues of equity and opening pathways to opportunity," particularly for young people to realize their full potential.

Compassion: Rooted in listening to affected communities. The foundation emphasizes understanding needs directly from those impacted.

Philosophy and Approach

The foundation's approach reflects Jewish values, particularly Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). They focus on:

  • Addressing root causes rather than symptoms
  • Prevention and early intervention strategies
  • Policy advocacy for systemic change
  • Building long-term sustainability with grantees

Jonathan Davis's statement captures the foundation's philosophy: They seek to contribute to "making the world a better place" and view multigenerational family philanthropy as "the gift of a lifetime."

Types of Organizations Funded

Recent and current partners include:

  • Jewish Vocational Services: Education and employment services for immigrants from over 80 countries
  • Heading Home: Housing solutions for homeless families and individuals in Boston
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: After-school programming since 1893
  • Save the Children: International children's welfare organization
  • Lovin' Spoonfuls: Food recovery and hunger relief
  • Brandeis University: Higher education and research

These partnerships demonstrate the foundation's preference for established organizations with track records of impact, though they also support innovation and emerging approaches.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation operates entirely on an invitation-only basis. Traditional grant applications will not be accepted or reviewed.

  • Relationship-Driven Philanthropy: The foundation's approach emphasizes long-term partnerships with grantees, going beyond funding to provide collaborative support for troubleshooting challenges and strengthening sustainability.

  • Jewish Values Foundation: The foundation's work is deeply rooted in Jewish values, particularly Tikkun Olam. Organizations that understand and can articulate how their work connects to these values may resonate with the foundation's mission.

  • Multi-Generational Approach: With three generations of the Davis family involved in governance and operations, the foundation values legacy, long-term thinking, and family engagement in philanthropy.

  • Boston Focus with National/International Reach: While strongly rooted in Boston-area giving, the foundation also supports national and international programs, particularly in humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

  • Board Service as Gateway: The most direct pathway to the foundation's attention is through relationships with their board members, who serve on numerous nonprofit boards throughout the Boston area.

  • Emphasis on Systems Change: The foundation prioritizes prevention, early intervention, and policy advocacy over short-term relief, indicating preference for organizations working on root causes and systemic solutions.

References

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