The Davis Educational Foundation is a public charitable foundation established in 1985 and based in Yarmouth, Maine. The foundation was created by Elisabeth K. Davis and Stanton W. Davis following Mr. Davis's retirement as chairman of Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. The foundation is a subordinate organization under Northeastern University and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$130.3M
+10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+58.5% YoY
Grant Count
22
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$156K
+15.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Davis Educational Foundation awards grants to strengthen undergraduate programs of public and private, regionally accredited baccalaureate degree-granting colleges and universities located in New England. The foundation focuses exclusively on higher education support.
Grantmaking
The foundation has provided more than $140 million in grants to over 180 institutions since its founding. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
Review Cycle
February and October
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds institutions throughout the six New England states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $130,344,004
- Total giving: $3,426,585
- Annual income: $14.6 million
- Total revenues: $5,154,414
- Total expenses: $4,519,063
Historical Context: The foundation has distributed approximately $118 million in assets and provided more than $140 million in grants since its founding in 1985.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $130,344,004 | $118,326,807 | $103,795,591 |
| Revenue | $5,154,414 | $3,596,754 | $2,690,787 |
| Expenses | $4,519,063 | $3,273,990 | $4,986,116 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,863,220 | $3,335,909 | $2,473,661 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
142 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Vermont ($322,148), College of Our Lady of the Elms ($317,627), Rhode Island School of Design ($315,247).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of New England Biddeford, ME | Introducing Open Educational Resources at UNE | $80,000 |
| Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | AI in Teaching Initiative | $249,300 |
| Plymouth State University Plymouth, NH | Designing Forward: Reimagining Instructional Design for Cluster Learning | $231,985 |
| University System of New Hampshire Durham, NH | Online Peer Academic Leaders Phase II Program Cluster | $127,794 |
| Saint Michael's College Colchester, VT | Strategic Planning | $10,000 |
| University of Vermont Burlington, VT | Study CATS: Empowering Learners for Long Term Educational Success | $322,148 |
| Boston University Boston, MA | Diversifying Curriculum to Improve Student Learning | $140,000 |
| Babson College Wellesley, MA | Technology Entrepreneurship: Layered Learning Opportunities for Students Across the Curriculum | $240,000 |
| Lasell University Newton, MA | High-Demand Academic Programs for More than 100 Colleges | $233,000 |
| American International College Springfield, MA | AIC Roadmap to Success | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Staff:
- Yvonne Mummé, Chief Finance and Administrative Officer
- Suzanne Muir, Grants Specialist
- Stefanie Millette, Program Officer
- Bill Wheeler, Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leanne Greeley Bond | Director of Grants & Programs | 36 | $137,281 |
| Yvonne B Mumme | Chief Finance & Admin. Officer | 32 | $129,592 |
| Edward MacKay | Chair | 12 | $43,750 |
| Sister M Therese Antone | Trustee | 8 | $28,750 |
| Richard Freeland | Trustee | 8 | $28,750 |
| A Clayton Spencer | Trustee | 8 | $28,750 |
| Dennis Berkey | Past Trustee | 8 | $13,750 |
| William Wheeler | Trustee | 8 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 30 Forest Falls Drive, Suite 5, Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: (207) 846-9132
Email: def@davisfoundations.org
Website: https://www.davisfoundations.org/def
Application Portal: https://davisfoundations-portal.givingdata.com/campaign/DEFImplementation
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Davis Educational Foundation fund?
The Davis Educational Foundation awards grants to strengthen undergraduate programs of public and private, regionally accredited baccalaureate degree-granting colleges and universities located in New England. The foundation focuses exclusively on higher education support.
How do I apply for a grant from Davis Educational Foundation?
**Grant Ranges:** • Implementation Grants: $10,000–$735,000 • Presidential Grants: $2,500–$10,000 **Application Process:** • Two annual deadlines: February and October • Decision timeline: 3–4 months (February deadline decisions by mid-May; October deadline decisions by early December) • Online application portal available **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation has provided more than $140 million in grants to over 180 institutions since its founding. Recent grants include: • University of Ve…
Where does Davis Educational Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds institutions throughout the six New England states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
What size grants does Davis Educational Foundation award?
In 2024, Davis Educational Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $156K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Davis Educational Foundation's EIN?
Davis Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2864042. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Davis Educational Foundation'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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