Davis Family Foundation
The Davis Family Foundation is a public charity and grantmaking foundation based in Yarmouth, Maine. Established in 1986 by Phyllis C. Davis and H. Halsey Davis of Falmouth, Maine (following H. Halsey Davis's retirement as President and Chairman of Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc.), the foundation operates with a strategic approach to philanthropy, supporting innovative, research-based projects that promote systemic change.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$100.5M
+12.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+66.1% YoY
Grant Count
92
+15.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+44.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide grants to colleges, universities, and other educational institutions; hospitals and other health organizations with a primary interest in programs designed to increase the effectiveness or decrease the cost of medical care; and organizations whose customary and primary activity is to promote music, theater, drama, history, literature, the arts, or similar cultural activities.
The foundation's overriding goal is "to make grants where they will do the most good and where our gifts make a real difference."
Primary funding areas include:
- Education (with emphasis on innovative, research-based projects promoting systemic change)
- Healthcare and medical care effectiveness/cost reduction
- Cultural and arts organizations
- Music, theater, drama, history, and literature
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $10,000 to $100,000 (typical awards range from $6,000 to $400,000)
Review Cycle
, providing one-year grants across three primary sectors.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Primary: Southern Maine
- Secondary: Other parts of Maine
- Tertiary: Rarely funds in New England
The foundation supports educational, medical, and cultural/arts organizations located primarily in Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $89.6 million to $100.5 million (as of 2023)
Total Revenues: $3.2 million to $9.2 million (varies by reporting year)
Total Expenses: $2.4 million to $3.4 million
Total Giving: $3.2 million to $3.3 million annually
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) public foundation; tax-exempt since September 1983
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $100,467,900 | $89,607,909 | $76,848,033 |
| Revenue | $3,692,698 | $3,243,299 | $2,395,241 |
| Expenses | $3,710,386 | $2,432,775 | $3,343,927 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,393,355 | $3,234,681 | $2,390,241 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Davis Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bethel Historical Society ($20,000), Center Theatre Inc ($20,000), Kennebunkport Historical Society ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Midcoast Literacy Bath, ME | Read Together Tutoring for Children | $6,000 |
| Belfast Area Child Care Services Inc WALDO, ME | Install Upgraded Security Systems at Child Care Centers in Belfast and Waldo | $7,000 |
| Friends of Congress Square Park Portland, ME | 2025 In the Square Programming | $7,500 |
| TEMPOart Portland Portland, ME | TEMPOart Commissions Dancing for Joy | $7,500 |
| Center for Maine Contemporary Art Rockland, ME | Pilot Year of Teen Immersive Workshops and Mentoring | $7,500 |
| Elder Grey Meeting House Cemetery Association N Waterboro, ME | The Elder Grey Meeting House Restoration Project | $7,500 |
| Kneisel Hall Blue Hill, ME | Repairs / Restoration of the Garage and the Purchase and Installation of a New Toolshed | $7,500 |
| Royal River Community Players Yarmouth, ME | Flexible Seating to Enhance Accessibility, Sustainability, and Comfort at RRCP Playhouse | $7,983 |
| Maine Historical Society Portland, ME | Replacement of Exterior Iron Gate to Brown Research Library and Longfellow House and Garden | $8,250 |
| Turner Public Library Turner, ME | Library Improvement and Expansion Initiative | $8,350 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Yvonne Mummé – Chief Finance and Administrative Officer (ext. 12)
- Suzanne Muir – Grants Specialist (ext. 16)
- Stefanie Millette – Program Officer (ext. 13)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yvonne B Mumme | Chief Finance and Administrative Officer | 15.3 | $56,783 |
| Samuel M DiCapua | Trustee | 2 | $6,000 |
| Edward L Dilworth III | Trustee | 2 | $6,000 |
| Al Noyes | Trustee | 2 | $6,000 |
| Anne B Pringle | Trustee | 2 | $6,000 |
| Amanda V Rand | Trustee | 2 | $6,000 |
| Rebekah A Bucci | Chair | 3.5 | — |
| David J Bucci | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Colleen Bucci Liddy | Trustee | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported notable initiatives including:
Grants to Northeast Hearing & Speech Center (2011) to fund training of speech-language pathologists to become Hanen certified, promoting change at the preschool level
Support for educational institutions including Thomas College, Colby College, and other Maine-based colleges and universities
UHart Receives $219,000 Davis Educational Foundation Grant to Support General\Funding for healthcare innovation and research-based medical programs through MaineHealth and other health organizations
Contact Information
Address: 30 Forest Falls Drive, Suite 5, Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: (207) 846-9132
Email: dff@davisfoundations.org
Website: www.davisfoundations.org/dff
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Davis Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide grants to colleges, universities, and other educational institutions; hospitals and other health organizations with a primary interest in programs designed to increase the effectiveness or decrease the cost of medical care; and organizations whose customary and primary activity is to promote music, theater, drama, history, literature, the arts, or similar cultural activities. The foundation's overriding goal is "to make grants where they will do the most g…
How do I apply for a grant from Davis Family Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $10,000 to $100,000 (typical awards range from $6,000 to $400,000) **Annual Giving:** Approximately $2.4 million to $3.3 million **Grant Program Structure:** The foundation operates a unified grant program with quarterly deadlines, providing one-year grants across three primary sectors. **Decision Timeline:** Approximately 60 days (roughly 14 days after quarterly trustee meetings) **Total Distributed:** The foundation has distributed more than $63.5 million in grants since its …
Where does Davis Family Foundation make grants?
• **Primary:** Southern Maine • **Secondary:** Other parts of Maine • **Tertiary:** Rarely funds in New England The foundation supports educational, medical, and cultural/arts organizations located primarily in Maine.
What size grants does Davis Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Davis Family Foundation awarded 92 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Davis Family Foundation's EIN?
Davis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0390443. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Davis Family 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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