The Dorothy B Davis Foundation
The Dorothy B Davis Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska, with a registered address in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation was established by the descendants of Dr. Edwin G. Davis and Dorothy Balbach Davis of Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Edwin Davis was a prominent urologist who served as chairman of the urology department at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine from 1920 to 1953. He married Dorothy Balbach of Omaha in 1921, and they raised three children: Edwin Jr., Neal, and Willa. The foundation was created to honor their legacy and continues their commitment to philanthropy in the Great Plains region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-77.1% YoY
Grant Count
26
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
-77.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Children
- Healthcare
- Education
- Research
- Senior citizens
- Military families
Additional program areas include general operating support, scholarships, low-income housing, capital campaigns, volunteer programs, and suicide prevention.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not currently accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$10,000 to $2,500,000
Average Grant
$235,597
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Nebraska (primary focus)
- Iowa (primary focus)
- Colorado
- Minnesota
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023-2024:
- Total assets: $26.2 million to $31.2 million
- Total annual giving: $5.8 million to $6.1 million
- Total revenues: $6.9 million (2023)
- Total expenses: $6.9 million (2023)
- Giving rate: 22% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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
160 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Avenue Scholars Foundation ($200,000), Guardian Angels Catholic School ($100,000), Habitat for Humanity International Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF OMAHA NEBRASKA INC OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| AUTISM ACTION PARTNERSHIP OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| AVENUE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MIDLANDS OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| CAMP FOSTER YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION INC SPIRIT LAKE, IA | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| CASA CONNECTION COLUMBUS, NE | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| CHILDRENS SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF OMAHA OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| COLLECTIVE FOR HOPE OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLEARWATER, FL | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Pamela Swisher
- Compensation: $241,908 (2024 fiscal year)
- Full-time position
Contact: Lexie Seemann (lseemann@dorothybdavis.org)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee D Seemann Jr | Pres, Dir | 1 | — |
| Clint D Seemann | VP, Dir | 1 | — |
| Thomas L Nichols | Dir | 1 | — |
| Alexis Seemann | Exec Dir | 40 | $48,654 |
| Pamela Swisher | Exec Dir | 40 | $241,908 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a transformational leadership gift to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning, a $118.9 million clinical simulation facility that opened in 2020. This represents a significant commitment to advancing medical education and interprofessional learning in the region.
Community Foundation\u2019s George R. Davis Fund for Lowville Awards $20,000\Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Dorothy B Davis Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Children • Healthcare • Education • Research • Senior citizens • Military families Additional program areas include general operating support, scholarships, low-income housing, capital campaigns, volunteer programs, and suicide prevention.
How do I apply for a grant from The Dorothy B Davis Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: Approximately $5.8 million to $6.1 million • Number of grants: 23-26 awards annually • Grant range: $10,000 to $2,500,000 • Average grant size: $235,597 • Median grant size: $40,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not currently accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only. **Recent Notable Grants:** • $2,500,000 to Habitat for Humanity - Omaha for low-income housing • $1,727,515 to Spirit Lake Kiwanis Foundation for ca…
Where does The Dorothy B Davis Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Nebraska (primary focus) • Iowa (primary focus) • Colorado • Minnesota
What size grants does The Dorothy B Davis Foundation award?
In 2024, The Dorothy B Davis Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Dorothy B Davis Foundation's EIN?
The Dorothy B Davis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2493491. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dorothy B Davis 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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