William Davidson Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-3899187 · since 2006williamdavidson.org·International, Israel, Michigan, North America·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$59.6M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$50,000 to $1.5M

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$288k

Typical grant (median)

94 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and publishes no further application steps, so a cold approach is unlikely to get anywhere.
A small charity should first look for a introduction through someone who already knows the foundation, since it says it builds meaningful relationships with the people it works with.
Its stated focus is Southeast Michigan, Israel and Jewish life, with Southeast Michigan named first, so your work fits best if it sits within its listed themes.
Most of its grants fall between $50,000 and $1,500,000, with a median of $300,000, so that is the typical size of request to consider, though its largest grant was about $6,100,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
In the most recent filing, 86% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first-time applicant should expect to be building a new relationship rather than joining a routine renewal.

Overview

William Davidson Foundation is a US private foundation based in Birmingham, MI.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The William Davidson Foundation invests in transformative ideas, institutions and initiatives intended to deliver lasting value across Southeast Michigan, Israel and the Jewish community. In Southeast Michigan, it seeks to expand good jobs and strengthen parks, museums, performing arts and other cultural and communal institutions, alongside entrepreneurship in technology, innovation and other high-potential sectors. In Jewish life, it focuses on Detroit’s Jewish community, leading Jewish educators in North America, and innovative education and engagement programmes for Jews around the world. In Israel, it supports security, prosperity and vibrancy, including policy understanding, entrepreneurship, scientific skills and communal spaces. Its approach emphasises gathering spaces, creativity, and leaders who educate and promote understanding.

Themes

Good jobs
Entrepreneurship and creativity
Cultural and communal spaces
Jewish education and engagement
Israel security and understanding
Israel prosperity
Israel communal vibrancy

Geographic Focus

Priority: Southeast Michigan; State of Israel; North America; around the world.

How to apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; no further application steps are published.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 278 grants to organisations were $300,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It invests in transformative ideas, institutions and initiatives that aim to deliver lasting value.
It builds meaningful relationships with others who share its optimism and obligation about Southeast Michigan, the State of Israel, and the Jewish people.
It focuses on growth-stage organizations with plans and the promise to engage or educate tens of thousands across a range of geographies and age groups.
It values leaders who build trust, see the potential in people, and actively create space for others to flourish.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Michigan47%

New York30%

District of Columbia5%

Maryland2%

Ohio2%

Georgia2%

5 other states: 3%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 8%

The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations William Davidson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
8% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Israel).
27% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

94 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $288k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 94 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k3%

$25k–$50k5%

$50k–$100k14%

$100k–$250k17%

$250k–$500k21%

$500k–$1M19%

$1M and over20%

Median $288k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Jewish Federation of Detroit · To support the Israel Emergency Campaign and to support the emergency in Israel
$6,090,0002024 tax year
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · To support the Unified Greenway Endowment Fund
$5,000,0002024 tax year
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science · To support the creation of a new campus for the Davidson Institute of Science Education and the Davidson Institute of Science Education Endowment
$3,000,0002024 tax year
AFSNC · For general operating support for Start Up Nation Central
$2,500,0002024 tax year
Jewish Federation of Detroit · To support the 2025 Annual Campaign, JLabs, and the Collective
$2,350,0002024 tax year
Jerusalem Botanical Gardens · To support the creation of a new gallery
$2,000,0002024 tax year
Detroit Opera · To support opera seasons
$2,000,0002024 tax year
Holocaust Memorial Center · To support the renovation of the permanent exhibit
$2,000,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Danielle Stewart Hanson — Vice president and Chief Financial Officer
Darin Mckeever — President And Chief Executive Officer
Ralph Gerson — Class A Director And Treasurer
Mary Aaron — Class A Director And Secretary
Karen Davidson — Class A Director
Jonathan Aaron — Class A Director And Chairman
Ethan Davidson — Class D Director
Eli Saulson — Class A Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$75,172,501	$59,744,262	$1,391,258,766	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$71,829,529	$60,000,409	$1,480,745,151	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$74,275,732	$59,609,722	$1,594,951,039	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.