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Chuck and Marna Davis Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.7M

Chuck and Marna Davis Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,684,017 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $148.6 million (Dec 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies by program (specific amounts not publicly listed)
  • Geographic Focus: Vermont (primary), with select national causes aligned with family interests

Contact Details

Official Website: www.chuckandmarnadavisfoundation.org

Location: Key Largo, FL (administrative address; Vermont-focused operations)

EIN: 13-3437924

Overview

The Chuck and Marna Davis Foundation was established in 1987 with assistance from Goldman Sachs and formally renamed in 2022 from the Charles A. and Marna Davis Foundation. With total assets of approximately $148.6 million as of December 2024 and annual giving of approximately $1.68 million in 2023, the foundation represents a significant philanthropic commitment to Vermont communities. In 2020, founders Chuck Davis (founder, chairman, and co-chief executive officer of Stone Point Capital) and Marna Davis made a strategic decision to shift their foundation's focus to become more Vermont-centric, recognizing that while Vermont has among the highest volunteerism rates in the country, its residents' capacity for financial giving doesn't match those levels. The foundation aims to help improve the quality of life for all Vermonters by providing support, resources, and guidance to local organizations and causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily through proactive grantmaking rather than open application cycles. Grants are made to U.S. tax-exempt organizations independently identified by foundation staff.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four main areas:

  1. Education: Supporting educational programs that equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive, with initiatives focused on providing access to quality education, scholarships, and learning resources.

  2. Community Development: Enabling community development through various projects aimed at enhancing social welfare and cohesion, working closely with local partners to address community needs, promote inclusivity, and drive positive change.

  3. Sustainability: Promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship through initiatives that preserve Vermont's natural landscapes.

  4. Arts and Culture: Promoting creativity and community involvement through the arts, advocating for initiatives that make the arts accessible to all Vermonters.

Known Vermont Recipients Include:

  • Shelburne Museum
  • University of Vermont (including a $4 million gift for the Multi-Purpose Center and the Dudley H. Davis Center, named for Chuck's father)
  • Shelburne Farms
  • Spectrum Youth and Family Services
  • Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center
  • Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
  • Hack Club (network of high school computer science clubs)

National Causes: The foundation also supports outside causes that share the family's interests and values, most notably the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (all overhead and administrative costs paid by the foundation and Stone Point Capital).

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not provide support to:

  • For-profit businesses
  • Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
  • Direct donations or grants to individuals
  • Political campaigns and legislative lobbying efforts
  • Organizations with values that are not in alignment with theirs

Governance and Leadership

Chuck Davis (Co-Founder and Trustee): Founder, chairman, and co-chief executive officer of Stone Point Capital. A 1972 graduate of the University of Vermont, Davis served as a university trustee from 1996 to 2002. He delivered the 2025 commencement address at Middlebury College, where he shared six points of advice drawn from his 50-year career, including the memorable quote: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." Davis has emphasized that failure can often be more important to personal development than success, noting it was something he "knew quite a bit about."

Marna Olsen Davis (Co-Founder and Trustee): A graduate of St. Lawrence University who serves on the board of directors for the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont. Marna chairs the board of the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit grant-making organization founded by her and Chuck's late son Tucker.

Tyler Davis (Trustee, joined 2024): Studied at Colorado College and has worked with youth for the Greenwich Youth Soccer League and The Burlington Community Sailing Program.

On Philanthropic Approach: When asked by David Rubenstein to reflect on his greatest accomplishments during a fireside chat at the Greenwich Economic Forum, Chuck Davis notably did not tout any big moneymaking deals, suggesting his loss grounded him and shifted his priorities toward meaningful impact rather than financial success alone. Regarding the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (established after their son Tucker told his parents: "if we can't cure this for me, I want you to cure it for everybody else"), Davis described it as "the one that we have certainly the most emotion involved in."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Chuck and Marna Davis Foundation does not have a public application process. The majority of the foundation's funding is proactive and made to U.S. tax-exempt organizations that are independently identified by their staff.

This means:

  • Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and staff identification
  • The foundation reaches out to organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications
  • Organizations cannot apply through an online portal or formal application process

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to the proactive grantmaking model. The foundation identifies and approaches potential grantees directly.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only grantmaking approach.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on a proactive identification model rather than accepting applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, the foundation's documented funding patterns and leadership statements provide insight into what they value:

Vermont-Centric Focus: The foundation's 2020 strategic shift to become "more Vermont-centric" reflects a deliberate choice to address the gap between Vermont's high volunteerism rates and lower capacity for financial giving. Organizations serving Vermont communities are clearly prioritized.

Mission Alignment in Four Core Areas: The foundation's support concentrates on education, community development, sustainability/environmental stewardship, and arts/culture accessibility. Organizations working in these areas—particularly those serving Vermont—align with documented priorities.

Community Impact and Inclusivity: The foundation emphasizes "projects aimed at enhancing social welfare and cohesion" and "initiatives that make the arts accessible to all Vermonters," suggesting they value inclusive programming with broad community benefit.

Educational Access and Skills Development: The foundation specifically supports "programs that equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive," indicating interest in capacity-building and educational equity.

Environmental Stewardship: The foundation promotes "initiatives that preserve Vermont's natural landscapes," reflecting environmental values consistent with Vermont's conservation ethic.

Values Alignment: The foundation explicitly states they do not fund "organizations with values that are not in alignment with theirs," and their funding of causes like the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (founded by their late son) and Chuck Davis's emphasis on failure as important to personal development suggests they value resilience, innovation, and addressing underserved needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists – The foundation identifies and approaches grantees proactively through staff research rather than accepting proposals
  • Vermont organizations are strongly prioritized – The 2020 strategic shift to become "more Vermont-centric" makes Vermont-based nonprofits the primary focus
  • Relationship building may be key – Given the proactive identification model, visibility within Vermont's nonprofit sector and board connections (Marna Davis serves on Shelburne Museum's board) may influence discovery
  • Focus areas are clearly defined – Education, community development, sustainability, and arts/culture are the four documented priority areas
  • Significant capacity for major gifts – The $4 million UVM gift and $148.6 million in assets indicate capacity for transformational funding to aligned organizations
  • Family values drive funding decisions – The foundation's work reflects personal experiences (Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation) and deeply held values about Vermont community needs
  • Tax-exempt status is required – All grants go to U.S. tax-exempt organizations; individuals, for-profits, and religious-exclusive projects are ineligible

References

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