The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation
The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation is a private foundation based in Greenwich, Connecticut, established in 1992. Founded by financier Gary Davis and his wife Ellen, the foundation focuses on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors including education, health and medical research, Jewish causes, youth initiatives, and the arts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+9.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+191.3% YoY
Grant Count
35
-23.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
+282.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $172K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education — particularly higher education
- Health and Medical Research — including immunotherapy and epilepsy research
- Jewish Causes
- Youth
- Arts and Culture
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not provide a clear public mechanism for grant applications, making it difficult for grantseekers to identify submission procedures or contact information.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $3,409,913 (as of most recent filing)
- Total Annual Giving: $1,297,500 (2024)
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since December 1993
- EIN: 06-1357318
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,409,913 | $3,129,493 | $2,381,246 |
| Revenue | $1,147,577 | $1,217,695 | $1,059,658 |
| Expenses | $1,355,757 | $484,448 | $473,907 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,299,420 | $450,236 | $404,605 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,002,660 | $884,651 | $532,191 |
| Distributable Amount | $172,454 | $114,746 | $110,838 |
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
224 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Weill Cornell Medicine ($1,000,000), Roitman Chabad Center at Cornell University ($100,000), Uja Jcc Greenwich ($45,400).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALIYT INC BALA CYNWYD, PA | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| ASCENDIGO AUTISM SERVICES INC CARBONDALE, CO | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| AUTISM SPEAKS BOONE, IA | GENERAL | $500 |
| BRIDGE GOLF FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $1,500 |
| CHABAD AT DUKE DURHAM, NC | GENERAL | $7,200 |
| CHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ASPEN VALLEY ASPEN, CO | GENERAL | $3,600 |
| CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF GREENWICH INC GREENWICH, CT | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CHABAD OF CHARLESTON MT PLEASANT, SC | GENERAL | $180 |
| CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FARMINGDALE, NY | GENERAL | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Key Figures:
Gary Davis — Founder; financier who established AIG Trading Group and later founded DKR Capital in Connecticut. He is a trustee of Cornell University and holds an endowed professorship there (Gary S. Davis Professorship of Government).
Ellen Davis — Co-founder and active principal, investor, and advisor for early-stage businesses. She serves on the Weill Cornell Medicine board of overseers and is active on multiple boards.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELLEN DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RICHARD J BRONSTEIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated sustained commitment to Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medicine:
Ellen and Gary Davis Immune Monitoring Core Established at Weill CornellEndowed the **Gary S. Davis Professorship of Government** at Cornell University
Ellen and Gary Davis Immune Monitoring Core Established at Weill CornellEstablished the **Gary and Ellen Davis Curator of Photography** at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art in Ithaca
Ellen And Gary Davis Foundation - Full Filing - Nonprofit ExplorerCreated a joint fellowship at the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine focused on epilepsy research
Ellen and Gary Davis Immune Monitoring Core Established at Weill CornellIn 2016, made a $2 million gift to Weill Cornell Medicine to support immunotherapy research, which led to the establishment of the **Ellen and Gary Davis Immune Monitoring Core**
Ellen and Gary Davis Immune Monitoring Core Established at Weill CornellFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • **Education** — particularly higher education • **Health and Medical Research** — including immunotherapy and epilepsy research • **Jewish Causes** • **Youth** • **Arts and Culture** • **Human Services** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking**
How do I apply for a grant from The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $1,000,000. **Recent Activity:** Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024), the foundation distributed $1,297,500 in total giving. **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not provide a clear public mechanism for grant applications, making it difficult for grantseekers to identify submission procedures or contact information.
Where does The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and California.
What size grants does The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $172K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation's EIN?
The Ellen and Gary Davis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1357318. 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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