Davis Conservation Foundation
The Davis Conservation Foundation is a public charity based in Yarmouth, Maine, established in 1989. It supports 501(c)(3) charitable organizations working on wildlife, wildlife habitat, environmental protection, and outdoor recreation, with particular interest in projects that build volunteer activity and community involvement.
Davis Conservation Foundation at a glance
In short: Davis Conservation Foundation gave $1.5M across 62 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state Maine. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,504,783
- +44.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 62
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,271
- +44.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $16,827
- Total assets
- $40,317,811
- +12.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (23 of 62, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maine (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Davis Conservation Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application online after reviewing eligibility and project guidance. The Foundation does not accept applications by email or mail. It requires a completion report 12 months after the award letter date, consisting of a questionnaire and a budget showing how the grant was spent.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 1 and October 1. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications are due by 5 p.m. on the next business day. The October 1, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- Applications are due by 5 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 30 Forest Falls Dr Ste 5, Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: (207) 846-9132
Website: https://davisfoundations.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Davis Conservation Foundation
Who Davis Conservation Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Maine Coast Heritage Trust ($181K). Together the top 10 received $690K.
Grant Size Distribution
304 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 298 grants of 304 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation ranks the Northern Forest and Gulf of Maine as its highest geographic priorities, followed by Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont within Northern New England. Other New England is a lower priority, and few organizations outside New England receive grants. In rare exceptions, the website says a project may be considered if its impact and expenditures will primarily be within the Foundation’s geographic priority areas.
In filing year 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as Maine 45%, New Hampshire 24%, Massachusetts 16%, Vermont 11%, and Virginia 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Davis Conservation Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 62 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $700K (2020) to $1.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 62 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, ME | Marsh Restoration on the Coast of Maine | $181,000 |
| Manomet Inc Manomet, MA | Mud Matters: Improving our Understanding of Mudflat Habitat to Benefit Shellfish Resources and Harvester Livelihoods | $151,275 |
| Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Concord, NH | Connecting with our Community in Concord, NH - $75,000. General support - $1,000. | $76,000 |
| Upper Saco Valley Land Trust Conway, NH | Chain of Ponds Community Forest - A Landmark Conservation Effort for Biodiversity, Education and Climate Resilience | $50,000 |
| Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Brunswick, ME | Conservation of Pleasant Hill Road Corridor - Hill Property | $50,000 |
| Northern Forest Center Concord, NH | Building Local Capacity for Climate Resilience and Community Forest Stewardship | $45,000 |
| University System of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Durham, NH | Integrated Assessment of PFAS Contamination in the Southern Gulf of Maine Marine Food Web | $37,170 |
| Conservation Law Foundation Boston, MA | Fiscal Sponsor for Healthy Ocean Coalition's Gulf of Maine Healthy Ocean Advocacy Academy - $15,000. Maine Dam Removal and River Restoration - $20,000. | $35,000 |
| National Wildlife Federation Reston, VA | Engaging Tribes and Indigenous Partners to Advance Northeast Conservation | $34,950 |
| Scarborough Land Conservation Trust Scarborough, ME | Silver Brook Preserve | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Davis Conservation Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,317,811 | $3,357,646 | $1,776,059 | $1,504,783 | 62 | $3,098,516 |
| 2023 | $35,733,405 | $1,632,636 | $1,326,525 | $1,038,719 | 62 | $1,632,636 |
| 2022 | $30,564,237 | $1,566,401 | $1,225,514 | $984,576 | 68 | $1,566,401 |
| 2021 | $38,424,297 | $4,580,592 | $1,028,739 | $752,677 | 56 | $4,570,592 |
| 2020 | $32,803,851 | $1,864,501 | $1,003,340 | $700,220 | 56 | $1,364,501 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support the wise utilization, protection, and advancement of the physical environment and the natural forms of life it supports, including wildlife and sea life. Its website describes its giving as focused on wildlife, wildlife habitat, environmental protection, outdoor recreation, and projects that strengthen volunteer activity and community involvement in those areas. It identifies climate change mitigation and environmental resilience, as well as work benefiting the Gulf of Maine or Northern Forest, as priorities.
Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), classified as 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2), and have a primary purpose aligned with the Foundation’s giving areas. The Foundation does not fund organizations classified as 509(a)(3), individuals, or organizations whose primary mission does not fit its funding categories. Governmental entities are asked to confirm eligibility with staff; cities, towns, and public elementary and secondary schools are listed as ineligible.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of conservation work in the portfolio. Maine Coast Heritage Trust describes its work as advancing conservation of Maine’s lands and waters; Manomet says it uses science and collaboration to improve the health of flyways, coastal ecosystems, and working lands and seas. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests describes its mission as protecting important landscapes and promoting wise use of the state’s natural resources.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 62 grants totaling $1,504,783. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $181,000, with a median of $16,827. The largest awards included $181,000 to Maine Coast Heritage Trust for marsh restoration on the coast of Maine and $151,275 to Manomet for work on mudflat habitat, shellfish resources, and harvester livelihoods. Other notable awards included $76,000 to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, $50,000 each to Upper Saco Valley Land Trust and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and $45,000 to Northern Forest Center.
Applications are submitted through the online application system; the Foundation says it does not use a pre-proposal or letter-of-inquiry process. Applicants should review the eligibility requirements and project guidance first. The application materials include a project budget and recent financial statements; the website accepts audits, reviews, or compilations, and says the most recent Form 990 may be submitted if those statements are unavailable. Project budgets should identify project-specific costs, the amount requested, and other project funding and its status.
The Foundation discourages general operating requests, overhead not tied to project-specific costs, repetitive requests, project shortfalls, re-granting projects, multi-year grants, scholarships for outdoor recreation programs, endowments, and travel. It prohibits funding for religious programs or projects, annual giving campaigns, deficit reduction, fellowships, and loans. Returning organizations must wait at least 24 months after their last approved grant and submit the required completion report before applying again. Declined applicants may not resubmit the same project request within 12 months of the deadline date.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Yvonne B Mumme as Chief Finance and Administrative Officer. Trustees listed on that filing are Thomas M Armstrong Jr, Thomas S Deans, Jameson French, Anne C J Hayden, David J Bucci, Rebekah A Bucci, and Erin B Ambrose. David J Bucci is listed as Chairman.
Davis Conservation Foundation is led by David J Bucci, Chairman on every filing since 2020; 5 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David J Bucci
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne C J Hayden
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Jameson French
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Thomas M Armstrong Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Thomas S Deans
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Erin B Ambrose
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebekah A Bucci
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yvonne B Mumme
Chief Finance & Administrative Officer
On filings since 2020
4.8 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Andrew A Cadot (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $20K, to Yvonne B Mumme (Chief Finance and Administrative Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Davis Conservation Foundation
How much does Davis Conservation Foundation give each year?
Davis Conservation Foundation gave $1.5M across 62 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 62 grants.
What is Davis Conservation Foundation's typical grant size?
Davis Conservation Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $16,827, and its average grant was $24,271, across 62 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Davis Conservation Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Davis Conservation Foundation give grants?
Davis Conservation Foundation's top state is Maine, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New Hampshire (24%) and Massachusetts (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Concord, NH (3 grants), Augusta, ME (3 grants), Portland, ME (3 grants) and Falmouth, ME (2 grants).
Does Davis Conservation Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Davis Conservation Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 62) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Davis Conservation Foundation's largest grantees?
Davis Conservation Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Maine Coast Heritage Trust ($181,000), Manomet Inc ($151,275) and Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests ($76,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Davis Conservation Foundation?
Davis Conservation Foundation reported $40.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What does Davis Conservation Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support the wise utilization, protection, and advancement of the physical environment and the natural forms of life it supports, including wildlife and sea life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Davis Conservation Foundation?
Submit an application online after reviewing eligibility and project guidance. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Davis Conservation Foundation's EIN?
Davis Conservation Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2976811. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Davis Conservation Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Davis Conservation Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/davis-conservation-foundation-morg_61938741a5d74c5cbcedb4a38ad73231
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222976811_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Davis Conservation Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/davis-conservation-foundation-morg_61938741a5d74c5cbcedb4a38ad73231},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Davis Conservation Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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