The Davidson Family Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Silicon Valley, with large awards focused on higher education support at San Jose State University and on neighborhood- level community services for women and families. Its grants are few but substantial, split primarily between student support/education initiatives and YWCA-run community programs that address workforce readiness, housing, and domestic violence services. The foundation appears to favor direct impact in its home region rather than broad national philanthropy.
The Davidson Family Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a multi-year commitment to San Jose State University through the Tower Foundation, with awards of $460,000 in 2025, $355,000 in 2025, and $305,000 in 2024. That higher-education support sits alongside a steady line of community-service grants in Silicon Valley, especially to organizations serving women, families, students, and local neighborhoods. Across the recent grants list, the foundation shows a clear preference for direct program support rather than broad, unrestricted national philanthropy. Its largest named local community grants include $370,000 to YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley in 2023 and $105,000 to YMCA of Silicon Valley in 2025, both in the foundation’s core region. Other awards support education-related work at campuses and school-linked institutions, including Cabrillo College Foundation, Lincoln Law School of San Jose, and San Jose Conservation Corps. The pattern suggests a funder that concentrates substantial grants in a small set of recurring relationships, especially where the work ties back to student success, workforce readiness, and community services in the San Jose area.
Education is a major theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $400,000 in 2025 to First Academy in Orlando for education, $210,000 in 2024 to Almaden Country Day School in San Jose, and $150,000 in 2025 to Cabrillo College Foundation in Aptos. The foundation also supports community services tied to women, families, and basic needs. It awarded $253,000 to Good Samaritan Outreach in McAlester for community service and $200,000 to Common Sense Childbirth in Winter Garden for community service. In Silicon Valley, its grants include $125,000 to The Tech Museum of Innovation and $125,000 to Lincoln Law School of San Jose, both in San Jose, showing support for civic and educational institutions as part of the local funding mix.
Typical grant size is concentrated in the tens of thousands: the p25 is $20,000, the median is $30,000, and the p75 is $61,250. The recent record also includes several six-figure awards, indicating that the foundation makes a relatively small number of larger grants rather than many small ones. Recipients appear across multiple years, including the Tower Foundation - Sjsu, YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, Common Sense Childbirth, Cabrillo College Foundation, The First Academy, and Boy Scouts of America. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$4.4M
$53.5M
$4.8M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $20K and $61K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$61K
About 64% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving with very few grants per year; repeat funding to the Tower Foundation (SJSU) and large single grants to local community service providers, indicating a preference for deep, local impact rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Tower Foundation - San Jose State University (SJSU), YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, San Jose State University student support programs
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, and 64% of grants go to recipients in California. San Jose appears repeatedly, with awards to Tower Foundation - Sjsu, YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, The Tech Museum of Innovation, Lincoln Law School of San Jose, San Jose Conservation Corps, YMCA of Silicon Valley, Jw House, and Path San Jose. Outside California, recent grants reach Orlando and Winter Garden in Florida, McAlester in Oklahoma, Gardnerville in Nevada, and Eagleville in Tennessee.
Its recent grants cluster around education and community service, especially higher education support, campus-based student success, women’s services, and neighborhood programs in Silicon Valley. Examples include awards to the Tower Foundation - Sjsu, YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, Cabrillo College Foundation, and Lincoln Law School of San Jose.
The distribution centers on mid-sized grants: p25 is $20,000, median grant size is $30,000, and p75 is $61,250. The recent list also includes several awards at $100,000 or more.
California receives 64% of the foundation’s grants, making it the clear center of its giving. San Jose appears frequently among recipient locations, alongside other California cities such as Aptos, Santa Clara, and Orlando? No, Orlando is in Florida, so the California city set in the recent grants includes San Jose, Aptos, and Santa Clara.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple grant years, including the Tower Foundation - Sjsu, YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, Common Sense Childbirth, Cabrillo College Foundation, The First Academy, and Boy Scouts of America.
No. The provided data says it funds individuals: false and makes program-related investments: false.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOWER FOUNDATION - SJSU | SAN JOSE, CA | $460,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST ACADEMY | ORLANDO, FL | $400,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| TOWER FOUNDATION - SJSU | SAN JOSE, CA | $355,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GOOD SAMARITAN OUTREACH | MCALESTER, OK | $253,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| COMMON SENSE CHILDBIRTH | WINTER GARDEN, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| COMMON SENSE CHILDBIRTH | WINTER GARDEN, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| CABRILLO COLLEGE FOUNDATION | APTOS, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LINCOLN LAW SCHOOL OF SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| THE TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION | SAN JOSE, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| THE TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION | SAN JOSE, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| LINCOLN LAW SCHOOL OF SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SHARED BLESSINGS | MCALESTER, OK | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| DIMOND L RANCH | GARDNERVILLE, NV | $110,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| YMCA OF SILICON VALLEY | SANTA CLARA, CA | $105,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| PATH SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| SAN JOSE CONSERVATION CORPS | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DREAMSCAPE | EAGLEVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| CABRILLO COLLEGE FOUNDATION | APTOS, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE FIRST ACADEMY | ORLANDO, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SAN JOSE CONSERVATION CORPS | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HAPPY HORSE HAVEN RESCUE | GOLDTHWAITE, TX | $95,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| YMCA OF SILICON VALLEY | SANTA CLARA, CA | $85,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| DIMOND L RANCH | GARDNERVILLE, NV | $80,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| PATH SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| HUMANE SOCIETY of SILICON VALLEY | MILPITAS, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| DREAMSCAPE | EAGLEVILLE, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| HUMANE SOCIETY of SILICON VALLEY | MILPITAS, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| HAPPY HORSE HAVEN RESCUE | GOLDTHWAITE, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| PITTSBURG COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANI | MCALESTER, OK | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| HOPE HOUSE OF MCALESTER | MCALESTER, OK | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | OAKLAND, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| HOPE HOUSE OF MCALESTER | MCALESTER, OK | $65,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| LONE WOLF PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LONE WOLF, OK | $65,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST JAMES SCHOOL | LOUISVILLE, KY | $65,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| RANCHO ROBEN RESCUES INC | SAN JOSE, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | SAN JOSE, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| ST LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | ORLANDO, FL | $60,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| STEAMPUNK FARMS RESCUE BARN INC | RANCHITA, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | SAN JOSE, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| HEALTHIER KIDS FOUNDATION | SAN JOSE, CA | $56,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| LONE WOLF PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LONE WOLF, OK | $55,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| RUSTY RESCUE INC | LAKE EISINORE, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS | MILPITAS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| PALM LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ORLANDO, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ORANGE COUNT LIBRARY SYSTEM | ORLANDO, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| EMQ AUXILARY | LOS GATOS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| CALIFORNIA LINE DANCE ASSOC | SAN JOSE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
TOWER FOUNDATION - SJSU
$460,000EDUCATION
FIRST ACADEMY
$400,000EDUCATION
TOWER FOUNDATION - SJSU
$355,000EDUCATION
GOOD SAMARITAN OUTREACH
$253,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMMON SENSE CHILDBIRTH
$200,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMMON SENSE CHILDBIRTH
$200,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
CABRILLO COLLEGE FOUNDATION
EDUCATION
LINCOLN LAW SCHOOL OF SAN JOSE
$125,000EDUCATIONAL
THE TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION
$125,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
THE TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION
$125,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
LINCOLN LAW SCHOOL OF SAN JOSE
$125,000EDUCATIONAL
SHARED BLESSINGS
$125,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
DIMOND L RANCH
$110,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
YMCA OF SILICON VALLEY
$105,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
PATH SAN JOSE
$100,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
SAN JOSE CONSERVATION CORPS
$100,000EDUCATION
DREAMSCAPE
$100,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$100,000MEDICAL
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$100,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$100,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
CABRILLO COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$100,000EDUCATION
THE FIRST ACADEMY
$100,000EDUCATION
SAN JOSE CONSERVATION CORPS
$100,000EDUCATION
HAPPY HORSE HAVEN RESCUE
$95,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
YMCA OF SILICON VALLEY
$85,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
DIMOND L RANCH
$80,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
PATH SAN JOSE
$80,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
HUMANE SOCIETY of SILICON VALLEY
$80,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
DREAMSCAPE
$75,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
HUMANE SOCIETY of SILICON VALLEY
$75,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
HAPPY HORSE HAVEN RESCUE
$75,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
PITTSBURG COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANI
$75,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
HOPE HOUSE OF MCALESTER
$75,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$75,000MEDICAL
HOPE HOUSE OF MCALESTER
$65,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
LONE WOLF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$65,000EDUCATION
ST JAMES SCHOOL
$65,000EDUCATION
RANCHO ROBEN RESCUES INC
$60,000ANIMAL RESCUE
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
$60,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
ST LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$60,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
STEAMPUNK FARMS RESCUE BARN INC
$60,000ANIMAL RESCUE
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
$60,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
HEALTHIER KIDS FOUNDATION
$56,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
LONE WOLF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$55,000EDUCATION
RUSTY RESCUE INC
$55,000ANIMAL RESCUE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS
$50,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
PALM LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$50,000EDUCATION
ORANGE COUNT LIBRARY SYSTEM
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
EMQ AUXILARY
$50,000COMMUNITY SERVICE
CALIFORNIA LINE DANCE ASSOC
$50,000COMMUNITY SERVICE