The James A. "Buddy" Davidson Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2002 and based in Midland, Texas. The foundation advances health care, education, environmental conservation, and wildlife protection through strategic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$116.6M
+6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.0M
+0.4% YoY
Grant Count
72
+1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$70K
-1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James a Buddy Davidson reported a distributable amount of $5.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation allocates its spending across five primary areas according to a defined policy:
- Children — 25%
- Animals, Wildlife, and Environmental Conservation — 25%
- Nursing — 25%
- Religious — 15%
- Family and Community Services — 10%
Grantmaking
The foundation supports a range of grant types including endowed chairs, scholarships, equipment purchases, and program funding.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with particular emphasis on the Midland area and statewide institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $116,608,515
- Total Revenues: $12,702,291
- Total Expenses: $6,265,561
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $109,223,354
- Total Revenues: $5,440,000
- Total Expenses: $6,180,000
Organization Details:
- EIN: 73-1627705
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status since May 2002
- Address: 515 Tradewinds Boulevard, Midland, TX 79706-2968
- Telephone: 432-682-6482
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $116,608,515 | $109,223,354 | $109,457,798 |
| Revenue | $12,702,291 | $5,438,880 | $10,188,638 |
| Expenses | $6,265,561 | $6,183,511 | $5,516,770 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,400,661 | $5,369,045 | $4,625,388 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,212,662 | $6,044,317 | $7,790,575 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,699,329 | $5,405,073 | $5,211,275 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baylor Scott & White ($300,000), Cook Children's Medical Center ($300,000), Buckner Children & Family Services ($235,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGAPE COUNSELING OF WEST TEXAS MIDLAND, TX | COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIPS | $36,000 |
| AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOC MERRIFIELD, VA | CAMP NEW HORIZON | $15,000 |
| AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AUSTIN, TX | MEDICAL EQUIPMENT | $50,000 |
| AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE AUSTIN, TX | MEDICAL EQUIP & INCUBATORS | $10,000 |
| BARRIO DOGS INC HOUSTON, TX | TRAP-NEUTER RELEASE | $10,000 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE TEMPLE, TX | LAB/STUDENT LEARNING CENTRE | $300,000 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE TEMPLE, TX | CAMP DREAMCATCHER | $100,000 |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY KANAB, UT | CARE FOR HOMELESS PETS | $20,289 |
| BLUEBONNET EQUINE HUMANE SOCIETY COLLEGE STATION, TX | TRAINING CHALLENGE | $10,000 |
| BUCKNER CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES MIDLAND, TX | COUNSELING, SUPPLIES, FURNISHINGS | $235,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sandra Davidson Romine — President
- Elaine Greenhaw — Director of Animals, Wildlife, and Conservation
- Denise Newton — Advisor
- Gail McCall — Assistant (title partially listed)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANDRA DAVIDSON ROMINE | PRESIDENT | 30 | $106,218 |
| DENISE NEWTON | FOUNDATION A | 10 | $1,500 |
| ELAINE GREENHAW | SECRETARY | 40 | $204,291 |
| DOUG TULL | VICE PRESIDE | — | $1,500 |
| GAIL MCCALL | ASST SECRETA | 20 | $167,432 |
| KAREN MELTON | TREASURER | — | $1,500 |
| DOYLE SNOW | ASST TREASUR | — | $1,500 |
| DELMER SLOAN | DIRECTOR | — | $1,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In December 2024, the foundation awarded a $1.5 million endowment to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The endowed chair, named "The James A. 'Buddy' Davidson Endowed Chair for Conservation and Biodiversity," supports the Conservation and Biodiversity program and honors Davidson's lifelong commitment to wildlife, education, conservation, and environmental protection.
Davidson College Institute for Public Good Wins Historic $4M Federal GrantThe foundation established an endowed scholarship at Texas Tech University's Department of Natural Resources Management in 2008, reflecting its commitment to education in natural resource fields.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James a Buddy Davidson fund?
The foundation allocates its spending across five primary areas according to a defined policy: • **Children** — 25% • **Animals, Wildlife, and Environmental Conservation** — 25% • **Nursing** — 25% • **Religious** — 15% • **Family and Community Services** — 10%
How do I apply for a grant from James a Buddy Davidson?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation has made approximately 60 grants to various organizations • Total giving in 2023: $5,025,000 • Total giving in 2024: $6,265,561 **Recent Grants (2024):** • YMCA of Midland Texas: $350,000 (Furniture & Equipment) • Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation: $300,000 (Endowed Faculty/Research Chair) • Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper: $300,000 (Cellular Immunotherapy Endowment) • Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies: $1,500,000 (Endowed Chair …
Where does James a Buddy Davidson make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with particular emphasis on the Midland area and statewide institutions.
What size grants does James a Buddy Davidson award?
In 2024, James a Buddy Davidson awarded 72 grants totaling $5.0M — an average of about $70K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James a Buddy Davidson required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James a Buddy Davidson reported a distributable amount of $5.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James a Buddy Davidson's EIN?
James a Buddy Davidson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1627705. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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