S & G Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $125.6 million
Total Assets: $1.49 billion
Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
Decision Time: N/A (invitation/trustee discretion only)
Grant Range: Varies widely - from $65,000 to $110+ million
Geographic Focus: New York State (especially Albany), Wyoming, Florida, Maine, and international (through Davis UWC Scholars Program)

Contact Details

S & G Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 860 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Telephone: (518) 886-4220

Note: The foundation does not provide a clear avenue for grantseekers to contact them directly regarding funding opportunities.

Overview

The S & G Foundation was established in 1995 (receiving 501(c)(3) status in January 1998) by philanthropists Shelby M.C. Davis and Gayle Davis. Based in Albany, New York, the foundation has grown to hold approximately $1.49 billion in assets as of 2023 and distributed $125.6 million in grants that year. The foundation is a private independent foundation that exists solely to support other charitable organizations exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The foundation is led by the Davis family, with all officers serving on a voluntary basis without compensation. Shelby and Gayle Davis live by the mantra "Learn, earn, return," viewing their philanthropic support "not as gifts but investments" in creating a better, safer, and more peaceful world. Much of the foundation's recent funding flows through a Vanguard Charitable Trust donor-advised fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The S & G Foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Recent giving patterns show:

Davis United World College Scholars Program: The foundation's flagship initiative, co-founded by Shelby Davis in 2000, provides scholarships to UWC graduates attending 106 partner U.S. colleges and universities. The program awards up to $40,000 per student based on demonstrated need, with partner institutions matching the contribution. Since inception, the program has supported over 12,446 scholars from more than 165 countries, making it the world's largest privately funded international scholarship program. Annual funding reaches tens of millions of dollars.

Large Institutional Grants: Recent 990 filings show the foundation making very large grants - including a $110.6 million stock grant and a $14.9 million cash grant in 2023 - distributed to various organizations through intermediary management.

Environmental Conservation: Grants ranging from $65,000 to $200,000 to organizations including:

Grand Teton National Park Foundation (Wyoming) - $65,000 over two years
Jackson Hole Land Trust (Wyoming) - $200,000 in 2014
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance (Wyoming)
Nature Conservancy-Wyoming
Friends of Acadia (Maine)
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Farmland Trust
National Resources Council of Maine

Regional Cultural & Community Organizations:

National Museum of Wildlife Art (Wyoming)
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum (Wyoming)
Bar Harbor Music Festival (Maine)

Priority Areas

International Education (Primary Focus): The Davis family devotes the bulk of their philanthropy to growing the Davis United World College Scholars Program, advancing international understanding through education
Higher Education: Support for arts, educational institutions and organizations
Environmental Conservation: Land conservation, national parks, heritage trusts
Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions and museums
Religion: Christian agencies and churches

Geographic Priorities:

New York State (especially Albany area)
Wyoming (where the couple lives)
Florida (where Davis' parents lived)
Maine
International (through education programs)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation:

Does not engage in direct charitable activities
Focuses exclusively on supporting other 501(c)(3) organizations
Does not appear to fund outside their established priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Officers (all serve without compensation):

Shelby M.C. Davis - President
Gayle L. Davis - Secretary
Lansing A. Davis - Treasurer
Craig Cornelius - Vice President

About the Founders:

Shelby M.C. Davis is a Princeton University alumnus (Class of 1958) and veteran Wall Street investor who has dedicated his later years to philanthropy. He has also served as a trustee of Princeton University starting in 2006 and was one of the university's most generous donors while on the board.

Regarding his philanthropic philosophy, Davis has stated: "I believe education creates possibilities. It's always about young people and their futures, and we all realize that with education, young people have more possibilities than without it."

On the Davis UWC Scholars Program, Davis explained: "For me, supporting the Davis UWC Scholars Program has been a way to invest in future leaders who can make a difference in this world...We are all in, believing there will be many positive returns on our investments."

Davis hopes his philanthropy will make American campuses better places for all students to "expand their global knowledge, improve their cross-cultural skills, and befriend a network of future leaders from all walks of life in all parts of the world."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The S & G Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or provide a clear avenue for grantseekers to apply for funding.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees, primarily the Davis family. Based on public records, the foundation's grantmaking follows several patterns:

Davis United World College Scholars Program: Funding is distributed through the established program to partner universities
Donor-Advised Fund: Much of the foundation's grantmaking (approximately $25 million out of $25.8 million in 2014) flows through a donor-advised fund at Vanguard Charitable Trust
Direct Trustee Selection: The foundation identifies and selects organizations aligned with the Davis family's interests in education, environment, and regional causes in areas where they have personal connections

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Davis Philanthropic Approach

Since the S & G Foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model without accepting applications, organizations seeking support should understand the foundation's distinctive approach:

Investment Mindset: Shelby Davis regards philanthropic support "not as gifts but investments," seeking major long-term returns in the form of a better, safer, and more peaceful world. Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate measurable impact and long-term outcomes.

Focus on Young People and Education: Davis has stated, "It's always about young people and their futures." Educational initiatives, particularly those that create possibilities through learning, align most closely with the foundation's mission.

International Understanding: The foundation's flagship program aims to "advance international understanding through education." Projects that promote cross-cultural skills, global knowledge, and international leadership development resonate with their priorities.

Partnership Approach: The Davis UWC Scholars Program demonstrates the foundation's preference for collaborative models - partner universities must match the foundation's contribution, creating shared investment in student success.

Regional Connections: The foundation supports organizations in places where the Davis family has personal connections - New York (their base), Wyoming (where they live), Florida (where Davis' parents lived), and Maine.

Environmental Stewardship: Support for land trusts, conservation alliances, and national parks reflects a commitment to preserving natural heritage, particularly in the Western United States.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: This foundation awards grants exclusively through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited proposals
Education is paramount: The vast majority of the foundation's philanthropic focus centers on international education, particularly the Davis UWC Scholars Program
Investment philosophy: Present your work as an "investment" with measurable returns rather than a charitable gift - emphasize long-term impact and outcomes
Geographic strategy: The foundation focuses on regions where the Davis family has personal connections (Albany/NY, Wyoming, Florida, Maine) plus international education
Very large grants: Recent grants range from $65,000 to over $110 million, suggesting the foundation prefers significant investments in aligned causes rather than small grants
Donor-advised fund: Much funding flows through Vanguard Charitable Trust, making the full scope of their philanthropy difficult to track publicly
Established relationships matter: Without a public application process, the foundation supports organizations already known to the trustees or within their established program frameworks

References

Accessed: December 2025