The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis
The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis and William C Davis Foundation is a public charity and supporting organization of The Columbus Foundation, based in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1993, the foundation continues the philanthropic philosophy of William H. Davis, Dorothy M. Davis, and William C. Davis in the Central Ohio community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.2M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+109.6% YoY
Grant Count
34
+13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$62K
+84.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to continue the philanthropic philosophy of William H. Davis, Dorothy M. Davis, and William C. Davis. During their lifetimes, the Davis family was generous to numerous deserving organizations, with Ohio State University—William H. Davis's alma mater—being the largest beneficiary.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Children's issues and services in Central Ohio
- Conservation
- Social services
- Advancing philanthropy
Grantmaking
Notable recipients have included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Central Ohio, with some giving in Ohio, Maryland, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $43,583,913
- Total revenues: $1,571,086
- Total expenses: $1,221,773
Program Expenses (2023):
- Conservation: $667,500
- Social Services: $527,500
- Health: $393,000
Rating: The foundation holds a Four-Star rating with a 90% overall score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,164,145 | $43,583,913 | $40,296,719 |
| Revenue | $3,665,004 | $1,571,086 | $3,023,395 |
| Expenses | $2,230,670 | $1,221,773 | $2,155,822 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,545,403 | $1,596,034 | $2,865,249 |
| 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
161 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens ($532,500), The Ohio State University Foundation ($319,000), The Arthur G James Cancer Hospital and the Richard J Solove Research Inst ($210,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2ND & 7 COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $30,000 |
| A KID AGAIN INC COLUMBUS, OH | HEALTH | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS GREATER COLUMBUSCENTRAL-SOUTHERN OHIO REGION COLUMBUS, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $30,000 |
| CANINE COMPANIONS NORTH CENTRAL REGION NEW ALBANY, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $30,000 |
| CHARITABLE PHARMACY OF CENTRAL OHIO COLUMBUS, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $30,000 |
| COLUMBUS HUMANE HILLIARD, OH | CONSERVATION | $75,000 |
| CONGREGATION TIFERETH ISRAEL COLUMBUS, OH | HEALTH | $10,000 |
| CORNERSTONE OF HOPE COLUMBUS, OH | HEALTH | $30,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR APPALACHIAN OHIO NELSONVILLE, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $37,500 |
| FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS COLUMBUS, OH | CONSERVATION | $532,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Douglas F. Kridler - Principal Officer
William D. (Bill) Wells - Chairman and President of the Davis Foundation, a founding board member who became president following Dorothy M. Davis's passing in 1996
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN C LUCAS | VICE CHAIR/TREAS/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RONALD L WHISLER MD | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JAMES L NICHOLS | VICE CHAIR/TREAS/TRUSTEE (THRU 3/24) | 2 | — |
| JACQUELYN L WELLS | CHAIR/PRES/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHASE P WELLS | TRUSTEE/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DOUGLAS F KRIDLER | ASST SECRETARY/ASST TREAS/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| SCOTT G HEITKAMP | TREASURER (AS OF 3/20/24) | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary in December 2012 with a special event at Davis Hall of The Columbus Foundation. To commemorate the occasion, foundation leadership distributed twenty $20,000 grants to nonprofit organizations.
[PDF] A Spirited Journey - The Columbus FoundationThe Davis family has funded significant projects at Ohio State University, including:
Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center
$5.5 million gift to support Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung ...Bill Davis Stadium, a 4,450-seat baseball stadium
Davis gift to help fund new baseball stadiumSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis fund?
The foundation's mission is to continue the philanthropic philosophy of William H. Davis, Dorothy M. Davis, and William C. Davis. During their lifetimes, the Davis family was generous to numerous deserving organizations, with Ohio State University—William H. Davis's alma mater—being the largest beneficiary. Primary funding focus areas include: • **Education** • **Healthcare** • **Children's issues and services in Central Ohio** • **Conservation** • **Social services** • **Advancing philanthropy…
How do I apply for a grant from The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $45,164,145 (as of 2024) • Total giving: $2,124,050 (most recent year) • Typical grant awards range from $6,000 to $1,000,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable recipients have included: • Columbus Foundation (Advancing Philanthropy): $130,000 • The Wilds (Conservation): $100,000 • Franklin Park Conservatory • James Cancer Hospital • Godman Guild • YMCA of Central Ohio • Capital Area Humane Society • Canine Companions for Independence Since its inception,…
Where does The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Central Ohio, with some giving in Ohio, Maryland, and Illinois.
What size grants does The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis award?
In 2024, The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis awarded 34 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $62K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis's EIN?
The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1372548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William H Davis Dorothy M Davis'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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