Davis Family Charitable Foundation
The Davis Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports organizations working on children’s and young people’s opportunities, family needs, equitable health care, environmental protection, humanitarian relief, and community vitality.
Key facts about Davis Family Charitable Foundation
In short: Davis Family Charitable Foundation gave $2.2M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $40K), mostly in Massachusetts. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 05-6149205
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,240,106
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- Average grant
- $40,002
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (19 of 56, 2024)
- Total assets
- $37,363,067
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.4M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
-3.9% YoY
Grant Count
56
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Davis Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Davis Family Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 56 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $49K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to unlock the potential of young people, expand families’ access to resources and services, invest in the wellbeing of local and global communities, and conserve and restore natural habitats for future generations.
Its focus areas include education and opportunity for children and young people; hunger and homelessness prevention and services for unhoused people and families, including immigrant and refugee populations; equitable access to health care; climate change mitigation, habitat conservation and restoration, and policy advocacy; humanitarian aid and disaster relief; and community support through arts, culture, outdoor spaces, and advocacy for a more just and equitable community. The foundation also notes a particular commitment to supporting the local Jewish community.
Among its 2024 grantees, Heading Home describes its work as providing housing and support services to homeless and formerly homeless people and families in Greater Boston. Save the Children describes its mission as improving children’s lives through immediate and lasting change. Boston Medical Center says it provides accessible health services to people in need regardless of status or ability to pay. Lake Sunapee Protective Association says it works to preserve and enhance the region’s environment. These are grantees’ own descriptions of their work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $2,240,106. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $275,000, with a median of $25,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes Boston as its home and says it supports its local community as well as global communities. In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, followed by Connecticut (7%), New York (6%), New Hampshire (3%), and Washington, D.C. (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2020) to $2.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Heading Home ($275K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
211 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 211 (65%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heading Home Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $275,000 |
| Wbur Boston Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $250,000 |
| Save the Children Federation Fairfield, CT | Charitable Gift | $150,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | Charitable Gift | $125,000 |
| Family Aid Boston Inc Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $100,000 |
| Boston Medical Center Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $75,000 |
| Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation Malden, MA | Charitable Gift | $75,000 |
| Boston Childrens Hospital Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $70,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs Boston Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $61,272 |
| JVS Boston, MA | Charitable Gift | $60,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,363,067 | $5,075,681 | $3,290,050 | $2,240,106 |
| 2023 | $35,577,436 | $4,995,647 | $3,603,877 | $2,330,500 |
| 2022 | $34,185,666 | -$324,064 | $4,126,123 | $2,498,000 |
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,363,067 | $35,577,436 | $34,185,666 |
| Revenue | $5,075,681 | $4,995,647 | $-324,064 |
| Expenses | $3,290,050 | $3,603,877 | $4,126,123 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,643,002 | $2,793,772 | $2,961,067 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,434,035 | $3,143,196 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $2,588,691 | $2,303,711 | $2,343,428 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jonathan G. Davis, Margot T. Davis, and Stephen T. Davis as trustees, and Molly Davis MacLeod as trustee and executive director. The foundation’s website lists Nicole Kelley as administrative director.
Davis Family Charitable Foundation is led by Molly Davis Macleod, Trustee & Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Molly Davis Macleod
Trustee & Executive Director
Trustee & Program Officer → Trustee & Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$51K (2020) → $89K (2024)
Jonathan G. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margot T. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen T. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $89K, to Molly Davis Macleod (Trustee/Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 125 High St Ste 2111, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 451-1300
Website: https://davisfamilycf.org
Frequently asked questions about Davis Family Charitable Foundation
How much does Davis Family Charitable Foundation give each year?
Davis Family Charitable Foundation gave $2.2M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 42 grants.
What is Davis Family Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Davis Family Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $40,002, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Davis Family Charitable Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Davis Family Charitable Foundation give grants?
Davis Family Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (7%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (24 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Brookline, MA (3 grants) and Waltham, MA (2 grants).
Does Davis Family Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 56 grants with a stated purpose on Davis Family Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Gift" (56 grants).
Who are Davis Family Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Davis Family Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Heading Home ($275,000), Wbur Boston ($250,000) and Save the Children Federation ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Davis Family Charitable Foundation?
Davis Family Charitable Foundation reported $37.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Davis Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to unlock the potential of young people, expand families’ access to resources and services, invest in the wellbeing of local and global communities, and conserve and restore natural habitats for future generations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Davis Family Charitable Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Davis Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Davis Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-6149205. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Davis Family Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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