The Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation concentrates its giving on local community infrastructure in Wisconsin, prioritizing capital projects that expand recreational, educational, cultural, and social service facilities. They favor place-based investments that create or upgrade physical spaces—YMCA centers, community centers, botanical gardens, theatres, and mission buildings—that serve youth and families. Grants are sizable and often one-time capital commitments, with a pattern of supporting repeat local partners for major construction and renovation efforts.
A $1 million grant to Monk Botanical Gardens for an expansion and new entrance project is a good starting point for understanding the Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation. The foundation repeatedly backs physical spaces that shape local life in Wisconsin, especially facilities used by youth, families, and community institutions. Its recent grants include major commitments for YMCA construction and expansion, community center projects, shelter and mission buildings, and cultural venues. That pattern shows a preference for capital work rather than short-term program support, with funding often tied to building, renovating, or equipping place-based assets. The foundation’s portfolio also reaches into education-adjacent and civic infrastructure. It has supported shared nonprofit facilities, school-linked community spaces, and public-facing venues such as museums and theaters. Several recipients appear in more than one year, which suggests ongoing relationships around multi-stage projects. Recent awards range from five figures to seven figures, and the foundation also makes program-related investments and funds individuals. Across the grants listed here, the common thread is investment in durable local infrastructure that can serve a community over time.
The Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation gives heavily to youth recreation and community gathering spaces. A $900,000 grant to Woodson YMCA Foundation supported expansion of The Landing at the Woodson YMCA, while other YMCA awards financed original construction, a remodel and expansion in Sturgeon Bay, and a fiscal subsidy with bus support in Wausau. It also funds educational and civic facilities. DC Everest Education Foundation received $1 million for the Greenheck Turner Community Center, and Wausau School Foundation got $100,000 for Environmental Learning Center enhancements. Cultural and public-engagement projects appear as well. The foundation gave $300,000 to Peninsula Players Theatre Foundation for a housing project and $175,000 to Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum for a Glass Box Studio grant. In the social-service space, Bridge Street Mission received $250,000 for a new building and renovation.
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $68,750 at the 75th percentile, with several large capital awards at the top end. The foundation’s giving is strongly relationship-based: multiple recipients reappear across different years, often tied to phased building or renovation work. It functions as a private foundation with program-related investments and also funds individuals. The recent grants list shows project-restricted awards, subsidies, construction support, staffing support, and matching-style capacity work, rather than open application general operating grants.
$3.3M
$116.7M
$22.5M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $5K and $69K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$69K
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Concentrated, large capital grants to a small number of local organizations — repeat funding to core partners (notably Woodson YMCA) and multi-hundred-thousand-dollar commitments focused on construction, expansion, and facility sustainability rather than many small or unrestricted operational grants.
Notable grantees: Woodson YMCA / Woodson YMCA Foundation, DC Everest Education Foundation, Monk Botanical Gardens, Door County YMCA, Bridge Street Mission
This is a local giver with 95% of grants going to recipients in Wisconsin. Wausau is the most common city in the recent grants list, alongside Schofield, Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek, Hancock, Chippewa Falls, Madison, and Naples, Florida. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 130 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. grants in the data provided.
Its recent grants focus on physical projects: expansion, new construction, remodels, tenant improvements, exhibit construction, and facility purchases. Examples in the data include YMCA expansion work, community center development, botanical garden expansion, shelter and mission buildings, and theater and museum-related facilities.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $5,000, a median of $20,000, and a 75th percentile of $68,750. The recent grants list also includes several six-figure and seven-figure awards, including $1 million grants.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, often for different phases of the same project. Woodson YMCA Foundation, Door County YMCA, Children’s Imaginarium, Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership Ltd, Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area Inc, and Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum all show repeated awards in the recent grants list.
The foundation gives most often in Wisconsin, and 95% of grants in the data went to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grants list includes many Wisconsin recipients in Wausau, plus Schofield, Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek, Hancock, Chippewa Falls, and Madison.
No. The data says the foundation funds individuals and makes program-related investments. The recent grants list primarily shows nonprofit and community-institution recipients, but the foundation’s profile includes both of those additional funding types.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONK BOTANICAL GARDENS | WAUSAU, WI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | EXPANSION AND NEW ENTRANCE PROJECT |
| WOODSON YMCA FOUNDATION | WAUSAU, WI | $900,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE FOR GRANT FOR EXPANSION OF THE LANDING AT THE WOODSON YMCA |
| WOODSON YMCA | WAUSAU, WI | $359,894 | 2025 | FISCAL 24 SUBSIDY ($150,000) AND CONSTRUCTION ($209,894) |
| BRIDGE STREET MISSION | WAUSAU, WI | $250,000 | 2025 | NEW BUILDING & RENOVATION |
| GREATER WAUSAU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | WAUSAU, WI | $125,000 | 2025 | CENTRAL WISCONSIN AI CENTER STARTUP SUPPORT |
| GREATER WAUSAU PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP LTD | WAUSAU, WI | $100,500 | 2025 | STAFFING GRANT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE WAUSAU AREA INC | WAUSAU, WI | $50,600 | 2025 | BUILD FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH IMPROVED FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING |
| CITY OF CHIPPEWA FALLS | CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | FLAG HILL PLAYGROUND PROJECT GRANT |
| WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | PRESERVING DEMOCRACY PROJECT GRANT |
| NORTHERN DOOR CHILDREN'S CENTER | SISTER BAY, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | ESSENTIAL CAMPAIGN - FACILITY EXPANSION GRANT |
| BADGER INSTITUTE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | PROJECT TO VASTLY GROW REACH |
| CHILDREN'S IMAGINARIUM INC | WAUSAU, WI | $40,575 | 2025 | GRANT FOR NEW HVAC UNIT PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION |
| INSTITUTE FOR REFORMING GOVERNMENT | DELAFIELD, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | BUILDING BRIDGES GRANT |
| LIBERTAS INSTITUTE | LEHI, UT | $30,000 | 2025 | CHILDREN'S ENTREPRENEUR MARKET PROJECT FOR CENTRAL WI |
| UNITED WAY OF MARATHON COUNTY | WAUSAU, WI | $28,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| STOUT UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | MENOMONIE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | 2024 SCHOOL YEAR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPLEMENT PASS THROUGH GRANT |
| NORTHLAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL | KRONENWETTER, WI | $20,297 | 2025 | FOR BIOMEDICAL PROGRAM STARTUP |
| ST PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH | PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO REPLACE SINKS AND CABINETS IN DAYCARE FACILITY |
| WAUSAU CURLING CLUB INC | WAUSAU, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR STREAMING EQUIPMENT PROJECT |
| ICE AGE TRAIL ALLIANCE | CROSS PLAINS, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL PROJECT IN PLOVER RIVER SEGMENT OF ICE AGE TRAIL |
| CASA OF MARATHON COUNTY | WAUSAU, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT GRANT |
| MONK BOTANICAL GARDENS | WAUSAU, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO SUPPORT A CURRENT PUBLIC RELATIONS NEED. |
| GREATER WAUSAU PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP LTD | WAUSAU, WI | $12,500 | 2025 | SENIOR LIVING CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF MARATHON COUNTY | WAUSAU, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN STEVENS POINT FOUNDATION INC | STEVENS POINT, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | ROSS AND ELEANORE ROBERTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| WMC FOUNDATION INC | MADISON, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | CIVICS BEE GRANT |
| WAUSAU KAYAK & CANOE CORPORATION | WAUSAU, WI | $6,500 | 2025 | REPAIRS & IMPROVEMENTS TO WHITEWATER PARK |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE WAUSAU AREA INC | WAUSAU, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BADGER INSTITUTE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BRIDGE STREET MISSION | WAUSAU, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE GRANT |
| PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION | WAUSAU, WI | $3,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM | WAUSAU, WI | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| NORTHCENTRAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION | WAUSAU, WI | $3,000 | 2025 | DAVIS SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| PENINSULA PLAYERS THEATRE FOUNDATION | FISH CREEK, WI | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BIRCH CREEK MUSIC PERFORMANCE CENTER | EGG HARBOR, WI | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| PRAIRIE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI | $2,500 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE GRANT |
| ASSUMPTION HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC | WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI | $2,500 | 2025 | EMPLOYEE GRANT |
| DOOR COUNTY LAND TRUST | STURGEON BAY, WI | $2,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| DC EVEREST EDUCATION FOUNDATION | SCHOFIELD, WI | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GREENHECK TURNER COMMUNITY CENTER |
| DOOR COUNTY YMCA | STURGEON BAY, WI | $400,000 | 2024 | REMODEL AND EXPANSION PROJECT |
| PENINSULA PLAYERS THEATRE FOUNDATION | FISH CREEK, WI | $300,000 | 2024 | HOUSING PROJECT |
| WOODSON YMCA | WAUSAU, WI | $215,000 | 2024 | FISCAL 23 SUBSIDY ($120,000) AND SUPPORT FOR BUS PURCHASE ($95,000) |
| LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM | WAUSAU, WI | $175,000 | 2024 | GLASS BOX STUDIO GRANT |
| FARMING FOR THE FUTURE FOUNDATION | HANCOCK, WI | $125,000 | 2024 | FARM & FOOD EXOP BUILDING AND EXHIBITS |
| GREATER WAUSAU PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP LTD | WAUSAU, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | STAFFING GRANT |
| NORTHERN WISCONSIN STATE FAIRGROUNDS | CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | BARN REPLACEMENT PROJECT |
| WAUSAU SCHOOL FOUNDATION | WAUSAU, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER ENHANCEMENTS |
MONK BOTANICAL GARDENS
$1,000,000EXPANSION AND NEW ENTRANCE PROJECT
WOODSON YMCA FOUNDATION
$900,000PLEDGE FOR GRANT FOR EXPANSION OF THE LANDING AT THE WOODSON YMCA
WOODSON YMCA
$359,894FISCAL 24 SUBSIDY ($150,000) AND CONSTRUCTION ($209,894)
BRIDGE STREET MISSION
$250,000NEW BUILDING & RENOVATION
GREATER WAUSAU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$125,000CENTRAL WISCONSIN AI CENTER STARTUP SUPPORT
GREATER WAUSAU PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP LTD
$100,500STAFFING GRANT
BUILD FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH IMPROVED FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING
CITY OF CHIPPEWA FALLS
$50,000FLAG HILL PLAYGROUND PROJECT GRANT
NORTHERN DOOR CHILDREN'S CENTER
$50,000ESSENTIAL CAMPAIGN - FACILITY EXPANSION GRANT
STOUT UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$25,0002024 SCHOOL YEAR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPLEMENT PASS THROUGH GRANT
NORTHLAND LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
$20,297FOR BIOMEDICAL PROGRAM STARTUP
ST PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
$20,000GRANT TO REPLACE SINKS AND CABINETS IN DAYCARE FACILITY
WAUSAU CURLING CLUB INC
$20,000GRANT FOR STREAMING EQUIPMENT PROJECT
TRAIL PROJECT IN PLOVER RIVER SEGMENT OF ICE AGE TRAIL
CASA OF MARATHON COUNTY
$15,000INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT GRANT
MONK BOTANICAL GARDENS
$15,000GRANT TO SUPPORT A CURRENT PUBLIC RELATIONS NEED.
GREATER WAUSAU PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP LTD
$12,500SENIOR LIVING CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MARATHON COUNTY
$10,000DIRECTOR GRANT
ROSS AND ELEANORE ROBERTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
WMC FOUNDATION INC
$7,500CIVICS BEE GRANT
WAUSAU KAYAK & CANOE CORPORATION
$6,500REPAIRS & IMPROVEMENTS TO WHITEWATER PARK
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN INC
$5,000OPERATIONS
BRIDGE STREET MISSION
$5,000EMPLOYEE GRANT
PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION
$3,500OPERATIONS
LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM
$3,000OPERATIONS
BIRCH CREEK MUSIC PERFORMANCE CENTER
$3,000OPERATIONS
PRAIRIE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$2,500EMPLOYEE GRANT
ASSUMPTION HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC
$2,500EMPLOYEE GRANT
DOOR COUNTY YMCA
$400,000REMODEL AND EXPANSION PROJECT
WOODSON YMCA
$215,000FISCAL 23 SUBSIDY ($120,000) AND SUPPORT FOR BUS PURCHASE ($95,000)
LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM
$175,000GLASS BOX STUDIO GRANT
FARMING FOR THE FUTURE FOUNDATION
$125,000FARM & FOOD EXOP BUILDING AND EXHIBITS
GREATER WAUSAU PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP LTD
$100,000STAFFING GRANT
NORTHERN WISCONSIN STATE FAIRGROUNDS
$100,000BARN REPLACEMENT PROJECT
WAUSAU SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$100,000ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER ENHANCEMENTS