The Durham Foundation
The Durham Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2023 IRS filing is marked as a final return, indicating that it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Durham Foundation at a glance
In short: The Durham Foundation gave $4.8M across 30 grants in 2023 (avg $159K), mostly in Virginia. 10% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $4,755,862
- +1577.6% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 30
- -38.8% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $158,529
- +2640.0% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (3 of 30, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (99% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Durham Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing specified a written form and year-round acceptance of applicants. Because the filing is marked as final, these instructions are not presented as current.
- Review Cycle
- The 2023 filing stated that applicants would be accepted year-round; this is not a current application cycle.
- Deadline
- The 2023 filing stated that applicants would be accepted year-round; this is not a current application cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Joelle Cosby Co Bank Of America
Mailing address: PO Box 26688, Richmond, VA 23261
Phone: (804) 887-8795
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Durham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was The Community Fdn Incshivel ($2.3M). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
170 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 167 grants of 170 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2023 grant-dollar distribution was reported as 99% to recipients in Virginia and 0% each to recipients in Florida, Maine, Connecticut, and Arizona. The listed grants include recipients in those states, as well as grants to organizations in other locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Durham Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 3 of 30 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.5M; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $2.3M first-time, $5K repeat.
- 90% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 2189% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $208K (2020) to $4.8M (2023). In 2023 it made 30 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Community Fdn Incshivel Richmond, VA | Grant for DAF for | $2,260,715 |
| Community Foundation Incdavenport Richmond, VA | Support for DAF for | $2,260,472 |
| Byrd Theatre Foundation Richmond, VA | Unrestricted General | $100,000 |
| Elijah House Academy Richmond, VA | Operating Expenses | $17,225 |
| Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design Arundel, ME | Gift in Name of Glen L | $10,000 |
| La Leche League Alliance for Breastfeeding Education Sandy Hook, CT | Unrestricted General | $10,000 |
| Northern Neck of Virginia Food Bank Warsaw, VA | Unrestricted General | $8,500 |
| Central Virginia Food Bank Richmond, VA | Unrestricted General | $8,500 |
| Tampa Preparatory School Tampa, FL | Unrestricted General | $7,500 |
| Richmond Cnty Volunteer Fire Dept Farnham, VA | Operating Expenses | $6,450 |
Ready to take the next step with The Durham Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2022 filing reported 49 grants, and the 2021 filing reported 52 grants.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $191,337 | $4,774,707 | $4,755,862 | 30 | $4,763,540 | $180,762 | $127,271 |
| 2022 | $4,599,313 | $1,136,051 | $312,781 | $283,500 | 49 | $292,806 | $198,788 | $305,846 |
| 2021 | $4,059,207 | $705,873 | $325,883 | $300,500 | 52 | $309,571 | $222,434 | $303,644 |
| 2020 | $3,679,496 | $567,056 | $226,998 | $207,750 | 39 | — | $134,887 | $236,678 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Durham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $127K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, Elijah House Academy received $17,225 for operating expenses; the school describes its mission as providing a Christ-centered, accessible education and says most of its students are economically disadvantaged or educationally disenfranchised. CARITAS received $6,000 in unrestricted general support and describes its work as creating “a safe space to heal and time to rebuild.” Maymont Foundation received $6,000; it says it is committed to creating experiences that “delight, educate and inspire.”
Other 2023 recipients included Comfort Zone Camp, which says it supports grieving children, and Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, which says it provides emergency and medical services to Henrico County residents.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $4,755,862. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,260,715, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed grants were $2,260,715 to THE COMMUNITY FDN INCSHIVEL and $2,260,472 to COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INCDAVENPORT, both in Richmond, Virginia. Their stated purposes were “GRANT FOR DAF FOR” and “SUPPORT FOR DAF FOR,” respectively. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Byrd Theatre Foundation for unrestricted general support and $17,225 to Elijah House Academy for operating expenses.
The 2023 filing says the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It also says applicants should be qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and should attach a copy of their IRS determination letter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing listed Eleanor D Davenport as president, Victoria A Shivel as secretary, W Martin Davenport Jr as treasurer, Joelle Cosby as assistant secretary, and Bank of America as agent for fiduciary.
The Durham Foundation is led by Eleanor D. Davenport, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Eleanor D. Davenport
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bank Of America
Agent for Fiduciary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$17K (2020) → $14K (2023)
Joelle Cosby
Assistant Sec'y
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Victoria A. Shivel
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
W. Martin Davenport Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $14K, to Bank of America (Agent for Fiduciary).
Frequently asked questions about The Durham Foundation
How much does The Durham Foundation give each year?
The Durham Foundation gave $4.8M across 30 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $284K across 49 grants.
What is The Durham Foundation's typical grant size?
The Durham Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $5,000, and its average grant was $158,529, across 30 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Durham Foundation that year got $1.5M on average.
Where does The Durham Foundation give grants?
The Durham Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, VA (15 grants), Tampa, FL (3 grants) and Warsaw, VA (2 grants).
Does The Durham Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of The Durham Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Durham Foundation's largest grantees?
The Durham Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include The Community Fdn Incshivel ($2,260,715), Community Foundation Incdavenport ($2,260,472) and Byrd Theatre Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does The Durham Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Durham Foundation?
The 2023 filing specified a written form and year-round acceptance of applicants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Durham Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Durham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $127K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Durham Foundation's EIN?
The Durham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1396485. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Durham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Durham Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?