OVERVIEW: The Hilda and Preston Davis Foundation’s interests include research on eating disorders, eating disorder treatment and education.
IP TAKE: A majority of this funder’s grants go to two very specific areas: eating disorders and K-12 education in Philadelphia. Applications for funding are accepted on an ongoing basis via the foundation’s website. Though this funder is laser-focused on its focus areas, it’s accessible and likes to build long-term relationships with grantees.
PROFILE: Based in Philadelphia, the Hilda and Preston Davis Foundation was established in 1998 to improve the lives of children and young adults. Preston Davis was an attorney and an executive who served on the board of directors of the United Parcel Service. Hilda worked for State Farm Insurance and was a longtime volunteer with the American Red Cross. More than half of this funder’s grantmaking is directed toward research and treatments of eating disorders. The foundation also prioritizes education for underprivileged students, collaborative projects and interventions that aim to effect long-term improvement mental health and academic achievement.
Grants for Mental Health
Mental health funding focuses mainly on research and treatment of eating disorders including bulimia nervosa. Funded research has invested in studies of pharmacotherapies, cognitive behavioral therapies and psychotherapies at medical schools and mental health institutes. The foundation prioritizes pilot projects of new therapies. Past mental health grantees include the Carl Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and the Irving Medical Center at Columbia University. The foundation also supports organizations providing care and treatment of patients who suffer from eating disorders, some of which are connected to Christian organizations. Grants have gone to the Greenwich Center for Hope and Renewal, the National Eating Disorder Association and Ophelia’s Place, in Liverpool, New York.
Grants for Education
The foundation supports education broadly with the goal of improving outcomes for underserved students. In addition to schools, the foundation has supported youth development, arts education and religious education organizations.
Grants for K-12 Education
The foundation directs a significant portion of K-12 funding toward private and charter schools in Philadelphia. K-12 grantees include Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, Mastery Charter Schools, the Gesu School and CB Community Schools. In arts education, the foundation has given to the Philadelphia Schools Project, which used funding to improve arts programming at public, private and charter schools in the city. Some funding is also directed toward youth organizations that offer out-of-school learning opportunities. One grantee, Student Diplomacy Corps, works internationally to provide underserved high school students with “summer programs that build college readiness, deepen empathy and unleash the potential of youth.” Another grantee, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, provides summer learning opportunities to middle- and high-school students who are interested in education careers.
Grants for Higher Education
This funder does not outline specific goals for its higher education funding, but tax filings suggest that its priorities include science programs and religious education. Past grantees include Stanford University, the University of California at San Diego, the College of St. Joseph and the Tyndale Seminary.
Important Grant Details:
The Hilda and Preston Davis Foundation awards grants in amounts between $10,000 and $100,0000, and its average grant size is about $25,000. Grants are usually distributed over a period of three years or less. More than half of its annual grantmaking goes to eating disorder research and treatment. For additional information about past grantees, see the foundation’s recent tax filings. The foundation’s geographic areas prioritize southern New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the West Coast.
This funder accepts applications for funding on an ongoing basis and posts guidelines on its website. General inquiries may be directed to foundation staff via email or telephone at 203-547-6112.
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