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.
Key facts about The Dorothy B Davis Foundation
- EIN
- 47-2493491
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,400,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- Average grant
- $53,846
- Median grant
- $45,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (15 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
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.
Who The Dorothy B Davis Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Dorothy B Davis Foundation's 26 itemized 2024 grants were Nebraska (74%), Colorado (9%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (15 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Dorothy B Davis Foundation open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 26 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $68K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Dorothy B Davis Foundation
- How to evaluate The Dorothy B Davis Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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
Ready to take the next step with The Dorothy B Davis Foundation?
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
Share of all 26 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Avenue Scholars Foundation ($200,000), Guardian Angels Catholic School ($100,000), Habitat for Humanity International Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AVENUE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Clearwater, FL | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| PHOENIX ACADEMY DAY SCHOOL Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| PROJECT HARMONY-HAVEN FOR ABUSE RESPONSE MEMBERS S Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| USA HOCKEY FOUNDATION Colorado SPGS, CO | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| CASA CONNECTION Columbus, NE | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF OMAHA NEBRASKA INC Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MIDLANDS Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| CHILDRENS SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF OMAHA Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
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 IRS 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.
Does The Dorothy B Davis Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.