Private Higher Education Grant

The Private Higher Education Grant, offered by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, supports colleges and universities dedicated to undergraduate education and the liberal arts. Grants typically range from $25,000 to $300,000, encouraging projects that enhance student outcomes and faculty leadership. Proposals promoting advocacy for liberal arts, civil discourse, and purpose-oriented education are especially welcomed, fostering an environment of respectful dialogue and a strong sense of purpose among students.

The Private Higher Education Program Area supports colleges and universities that prioritize undergraduate education and emphasize the liberal arts. The Foundations provide grants directly to private colleges and universities as well as to consortia that support those institutions in their educational mission.
As a graduate of Amherst College, Arthur Vining Davis experienced first-hand the value of a liberal arts education. The broad training that he received as a student equipped him to play a number of roles during his career: scientific innovator, corporate entrepreneur, real estate developer, and orchid farmer, to name just a few. His recognition of the transformative impact of liberal learning led him to give regularly to numerous private colleges and universities, and to encourage his Foundations to continue to provide this support.
Although the Foundations fund a variety of programs in higher education, grants typically support projects that improve student outcomes or enhance faculty leadership.
Request Amounts
Private Higher Education grants typically range from $25,000 to $300,000, although the Foundations will entertain larger requests. Grants may support projects that span multiple years.
While the Foundations are open to any funding request aimed at supporting Private Higher Education, proposals are especially encouraged concerning the Areas of Focus described below.
Advocacy for the Liberal Arts
The Foundations are committed to the value of the liberal arts in undergraduate education.
As a result, AVDF encourages proposals that aim to provide more students with opportunities to engage the liberal arts regardless of their major or course of study. In addition, the Foundations invite proposals which seek to educate parents, students, and the general population about the nature and benefits of the liberal arts.
Civil Discourse on Campus
Learning and growth require the opportunity and ability to engage respectfully and empathetically across lines of difference and disagreement.
The Foundations encourage proposals to develop curricular and extra-curricular programs that promote civil discourse and dialogue across social, moral, political, and religious differences. This would include projects that help campus stakeholders to encourage and internalize characteristics that foster respectful, productive dialogue across differences, as well as programs that provide opportunities for such dialogue.
Purpose-Oriented Education
For many students, the undergraduate years are a time to explore how their interests and skills can translate into a life of purpose.
The Foundations encourage proposals aimed at developing courses or curricula that provide opportunities for students to discover and develop a sense of purpose concerning their education, their eventual occupations, and their roles as citizens.

Eligibility

Our Private Higher Education funding is limited to grants that support undergraduate education at four-year, residential colleges and universities. We only support 501c(3) institutions based in and operating out of the United States.Generally we fund discrete projects rather than providing organizational support.

Ineligibility

The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations will not support scholarships, endowments, or any proposal with indirect costs that exceed 5% of the budget for direct costs.Generally the Foundations do not fund capital projects.In addition, we do not award grants to individuals, or to direct service programs such as housing services and food pantries.The Foundations do not support organizations outside the United States.