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Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$114.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $26.0M

Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $114.4 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $2.7 billion
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $26,000,000
  • Number of Grants: 112 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: United States (national)
  • Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Location: Wilmington, Delaware
EIN: 20-3734688
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Foundation

Note: This foundation does not have a public website or contact information for grant inquiries. They only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund Inc was established in 2008 when the original Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation closed after nearly 40 years of philanthropy. The foundation transferred 64.8% of its assets to create this new fund, with the remaining assets going to what became the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation. With assets totaling approximately $2.7 billion, the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. The foundation continues the Davis family's philanthropic legacy, focusing primarily on education, particularly international education through the United World Colleges (UWC) system, as well as environmental conservation, arts and culture, and human services. The foundation's approach reflects founder Shelby Cullom Davis's mantra of "Learn, earn, return."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates multiple significant grant programs, though specific program names are not publicly designated. Recent major grants demonstrate the foundation's funding priorities:

Davis UWC Scholars Program - The foundation's flagship initiative, providing need-based scholarships to UWC graduates attending U.S. universities:

  • Armand Hammer United World College of the American: $26,000,000 (2023) for UWC Forever fund and Davis Scholars program fund
  • University of Oklahoma Foundation: $11,800,000 (2023) for Davis UWC Scholar Program
  • Scholarships up to $40,000 per year for undergraduate study at 106+ partner universities

Davis Maine Scholarship - Full, renewable four-year scholarships for first-generation college students from Maine at partner institutions

Environmental Conservation and Parks:

  • Central Park Conservancy: $8,500,000 (2023) for re-envisioned Harlem Meer pool and rink
  • Petaluma River Park Foundation: $5,000,000 (2023) for property acquisition

Education Infrastructure:

  • Santa Fe Preparatory School: $8,000,000 (2023) for Davis New Mexico Scholars
  • Sonoma Academy: $5,300,000 (2023) for Performing Arts Center

The foundation has also historically supported conservative policy organizations, including a $16.8 million grant to the Heritage Foundation in 2013.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

  • International Education: Support for United World Colleges and the Davis UWC Scholars Program, which advances international understanding through education
  • Higher Education: Scholarships and institutional support for colleges and universities, particularly those serving UWC graduates
  • First-Generation Students: Programs supporting students who are first in their families to attend college
  • Environmental Conservation: Urban parks, river conservation, and green spaces
  • Science and Environmental Studies: Support for scientific research and environmental initiatives
  • Arts and Culture: Performing arts facilities and cultural institutions
  • K-12 Education: Support for preparatory schools and educational access

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, effectively limiting funding to organizations already known to the trustees. Based on their stated policy and grant history:

  • Organizations not already on their radar or preselected by trustees
  • General operating support requests from unknown organizations
  • First-time applicants without prior relationship to the foundation

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a family board of directors, all descendants of founder Shelby Cullom Davis:

Board of Directors:

  • Shelby M.C. Davis - Chairman and Director (son of founder Shelby Cullom Davis)
  • Victoria Davis Nosler - Vice Chairman and Director
  • Christopher C. Davis - Secretary and Director
  • Andrew A. Davis - Treasurer and Director
  • Lansing Davis - Assistant Treasurer and Director
  • Alida Davis - Director
  • Charles Cullom Davis - Independent Director
  • Edith Winkler - Director

Executive Leadership:

  • Philip O. Geier, Ph.D. - Executive Director and Assistant Secretary (Compensation: $200,000)

Dr. Geier is a veteran international educator who co-founded the Davis United World College Scholars Program with Shelby Davis in 2000, serving as former President of UWC-USA.

On the Foundation's Philosophy: Shelby M.C. Davis has stated that supporting the Davis UWC Scholars Program "has been a way to invest in future leaders who can make a difference in this world" and reflects his commitment to the family mantra of "Learn, earn, return."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations they have selected through their own research and relationships. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Getting on Their Radar

The Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund identifies grant recipients through trustee discretion and existing relationships rather than through a public application process. While specific strategies for building relationships with this foundation are not publicly documented, the foundation's grant history reveals certain patterns:

Focus on United World Colleges Network: The foundation has a deep, long-standing commitment to the UWC movement. Organizations connected to UWC schools, UWC alumni networks, or serving UWC scholars have received significant support.

Family Connections: As a family foundation governed entirely by Davis family members, personal connections and shared interests with family trustees appear to influence grant decisions.

Princeton University Connection: Shelby M.C. Davis is a Princeton alumnus (Class of 1958), and the family has historically supported Princeton, which may indicate openness to institutions with Princeton connections.

Geographic Considerations: While the foundation supports organizations nationwide, recent grants show concentrations in certain regions, including California, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and Maine.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by the board of trustees based on their own selection process and timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - with no public application process, there are no application or success rate statistics available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from outside organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, examining the foundation's grant history and stated mission reveals what the foundation values:

Alignment with Core Mission - International Understanding Through Education: The Davis family's philanthropic philosophy centers on international education as a vehicle for peace and understanding. The foundation's two guiding principles for the Davis UWC Scholars Program demonstrate their priorities: 1) Provide exceptional students with great educational opportunities they might not otherwise be able to afford, and 2) Transform collegiate campuses in the United States into more globally-engaged spaces where students from all backgrounds benefit from international perspectives.

Support for First-Generation Students: The foundation has demonstrated commitment to students who are "first in their families to go to college" and who "excel in their studies, persist through hardship" through programs like the Davis Maine Scholarship.

Large-Scale, Transformative Impact: Grant amounts suggest the foundation prefers significant investments that create substantial impact rather than numerous small grants. Recent grants range from $5 million to $26 million, indicating preference for projects with measurable, large-scale outcomes.

Long-Term Relationships: The foundation's decades-long commitment to UWC (since 2000) and endowed programs suggest they value sustained partnerships over one-time grants. The Davis UWC Scholars Program has grown to serve almost 4,000 current scholars and over 13,000 alumni, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to building lasting programs.

Educational Excellence and Access: The foundation's support extends to institutions serving talented students from diverse backgrounds, combining academic excellence with financial need and geographic diversity.

Environmental Conservation with Community Benefit: The $8.5 million grant to Central Park Conservancy and $5 million to Petaluma River Park Foundation indicate interest in environmental projects that serve communities, particularly urban green spaces.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis. There is no application portal, deadlines, or public process for seeking grants.

  • Family foundation with clear priorities: The Davis family maintains direct control through the board, with international education (particularly UWC) as the primary focus, reflecting founder Shelby Cullom Davis's belief that education creates opportunities and fosters international understanding.

  • Emphasis on transformative scale: With 112 grants totaling $114.4 million annually, average grant size exceeds $1 million. The foundation makes large, high-impact investments rather than numerous small grants.

  • Long-term commitment model: The foundation's 24+ year partnership with United World Colleges demonstrates preference for sustained relationships and enduring programs over one-time projects.

  • Educational philosophy - "Learn, earn, return": This mantra guides the foundation's approach, supporting students who will use their education to make a difference in the world and give back to society.

  • First-generation and international students: Strong focus on providing access to education for students who might not otherwise afford it, particularly those bringing international perspectives to U.S. campuses.

  • Relationship-dependent funding: Without a public application process, any potential funding would require existing relationships with trustees, connections through funded institutions (especially UWC network), or trustee-initiated contact.

References

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