Davies Charitable Trust
The Davies Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in San Bruno, California, established in December 1974. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is entirely self-supported through earnings on a portfolio of investments and gains or losses on the sale of securities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.9M
-30.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+518.0% YoY
Grant Count
4
-55.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$386K
+1290.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Davies Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $292K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust supports philanthropic initiatives across multiple subject areas:
- Arts and Culture: Performing arts, music, opera, orchestral music, museums, and art museums
- Education: General educational initiatives
- Environment: Natural resources, biodiversity, and wildlife biodiversity
- Health: Diseases and conditions, including cancers
- Human Services: General purpose support
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$121 (based on 1,857 total grants in previous year data)
Average Grant
$121 (based on 1,857 total grants in previous year data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust supports projects in California and Missouri, with specific activity in:
- Carpinteria, CA
- Kansas City, MO
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Soquel, CA
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,172,974
- Total Revenue: $892,585
- Total Expenses: $302,939
- Total Liabilities: $0
The organization maintains a strong financial position with assets significantly exceeding annual expenses.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,890,861 | $4,172,974 | $3,582,799 |
| Revenue | $330,481 | $892,585 | $105,533 |
| Expenses | $1,613,437 | $302,939 | $348,420 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,598,353 | $285,377 | $330,926 |
| Net Investment Income | $241,955 | $805,710 | $58,537 |
| Distributable Amount | $291,541 | $278,770 | $316,337 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Santa Fe Opera ($1,000,000), The Ireland Funds America ($500,000), Cate School ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTISTS FOR CHANGE INC LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| CATE SCHOOL CARPINTERIA, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| SANTA FE OPERA SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000,000 |
| THE IRELAND FUNDS AMERICA LOS ALTOS, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trust is managed by trustees from Whittier Trust Company:
- Lucy Lewis Dreyer
- Ralph Davies Lewis
Both trustees serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHITTIER TRUST COMPANY | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| LUCY LEWIS DREYER CO WHITTIER TRUST | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| RALPH DAVIES LEWIS CO WHITTIER TRUS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Davies Charitable Trust fund?
The trust supports philanthropic initiatives across multiple subject areas: • **Arts and Culture**: Performing arts, music, opera, orchestral music, museums, and art museums • **Education**: General educational initiatives • **Environment**: Natural resources, biodiversity, and wildlife biodiversity • **Health**: Diseases and conditions, including cancers • **Human Services**: General purpose support
How do I apply for a grant from Davies Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Made eight grants in fiscal year 2023 • Average grant size: $121 (based on 1,857 total grants in previous year data) • Total awarded in recent year: $250,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Camphill Communities California: $100,000 (General Purpose) • Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation: $40,000 (General Purpose) • Cate School: $25,000 (General Purpose) • Six additional grants made in 2023
Where does Davies Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust supports projects in California and Missouri, with specific activity in: • Carpinteria, CA • Kansas City, MO • Los Angeles, CA • San Francisco, CA • Santa Barbara, CA • Soquel, CA
What size grants does Davies Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Davies Charitable Trust awarded 4 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $386K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Davies Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Davies Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $292K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Davies Charitable Trust's EIN?
Davies Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7417287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Davies Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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