Davis Family Foundation Implementation Grants

The Davis Family Foundation Implementation Grants support innovative projects that enhance teaching and learning at accredited colleges in New England. Established in 1985, the foundation has awarded over $140 million to improve educational outcomes and reduce costs. Applicants are encouraged to consult with program staff prior to submission. Funded projects typically focus on curriculum improvement, faculty development, and collaborative cost-reduction efforts, all aimed at enriching the undergraduate experience.

Davis Educational Foundation
Elisabeth K. Davis and Stanton W. Davis co-founded the foundation after Mr. Davis's retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. The foundation is an expression of the couple’s shared support and value for higher education and has provided more than $140 million in grants to more than 180 institutions.
Mr. Davis contributed tremendous vision to his business and the industry during periods of remarkable growth and transformation. Through automation and technological changes, he remained true to his core value of listening to the customer. This core value continues in the foundation’s highly individualized approach to grant making.
The foundation’s objectives in making grants are to assist institutions in supporting more effective teaching and learning and/or controlling costs. The foundation operates two grant programs. Implementation Grants represent the original grantmaking program and are available for any of the foundation's objectives - teaching and learning and/or cost and affordability. The Presidential Grant Program (see tab on menu bar) was more recently introduced as an entry point for addressing cost and affordability objectives.
Applicants are strongly urged to contact program staff well in advance of the submission deadline to discuss proposal ideas and to confirm eligibility. All submissions must be coordinated through the college or university development office.  Applications must be uploaded to the foundation portal by 12:00 noon.
Examples of funded projects include:
Projects that improve the curriculum, the learning environment, assessment of undergraduate learning outcomes, faculty development, incentive systems, and administrative structures. Preference is given to projects aimed at strengthening the general education core of the undergraduate experience.Individual as well as collaborative efforts among colleges and universities to reduce costs and improve learning.Studies and planning efforts central to the foundation’s concerns and interests.