- Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation, established in 1962, and the
- Kathryn W. Davis Foundation, established in 2004
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History
"The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation continues a multi-generational history of family philanthropy. It evolved from the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation, established in 1962, and the Kathryn W. Davis Foundation, established in 2004.
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Shelby Cullom Davis (April 1, 1909 -- May 26, 1994) was an American businessman and philanthropist from the state of New York. In 1947 he created Shelby Cullom Davis & Company, which became a leading investment firm. Shelby Cullom Davis later served as the American Ambassador to Switzerland under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Shelby Cullom Davis was Chairman and Treasurer of an eponymous, conservative think tank, the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation [now: Diana Davis Spencer Foundation], at the time of his death [1994-05-26]. Shelby Cullom Davis was also affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, The Mayflower Society, Sons of the Revolution, The Society of the Cincinnati, and was an officer of The Huguenot Society of America.
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Kathryn Wasserman Davis (February 25, 1907 -- April 23, 2013) was an American philanthropist, scholar of world affairs, and longtime promoter of women's rights and planning parenthood. Kathryn Wasserman Davis' husband of 62 years, Shelby Cullom Davis, predeceased her in 1994. Kathryn Wasserman Davis' children include one son, Shelby Davis (Shelby Moore Cullom), and two daughters, Diana Cullom Davis Spencer and Priscilla Alden Davis (deceased).
...The Wasserman family's philanthropic activity extended throughout Kathryn Wasserman Davis' long life, building an (often anonymous) legacy of extraordinary generosity. Much of Kathryn Wasserman Davis' focus was on sustainable impact. Kathryn Wasserman Davis moderated the risks she took through creating partnerships and building institutional capacity. Typically, Kathryn Wasserman Davis started with smaller gifts and, as organizational capacity was proven, steadily raised it and then, often brought in new partners. Kathryn Wasserman Davis' primary giving was through The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation and the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation. ...
Kathryn Wasserman Davis was notable, by herself, for early philanthropic activity in support of parenthood planning and disease prevention. In partnership with her husband, they made a mark with gifts to Princeton University and the Hoover Institution, and as founders of New York City's Lincoln Center, where they established the library, as well as the Heritage Foundation. In 2007, Kathryn Wasserman Davis and her son, Princeton trustee Shelby M.C. Davis, gave a $5 million gift to create an endowment for Princeton's International Center, now called the 'Kathryn W. and Shelby Cullom Davis '30 International Center'. ...
"Both Shelby and Kathryn earned their doctorates in International Relations from the University of Geneva.
"Shelby, an author and successful investment banker, was the longest serving American ambassador to Switzerland. His wife, Kathryn Wasserman Davis, was an author, community leader, and renowned lecturer in Russian affairs. She took up art at age 95 and exhibited at juried shows.
"Today, their daughter, Diana Davis Spencer, serves as president and chairman of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation. A journalist and activist, Diana leads the foundation and directs its grant-making efforts.
"Abby Spencer Moffat, Diana's daughter, serves as the foundation's chief executive officer. A former business leader and entrepreneur, she serves on several boards and oversees the foundation's day-to-day operations."
Mission
"The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation espouses the values upon which our nation was founded: freedom and individual responsibility. The mission of the foundation is to promote national security, entrepreneurship, self-reliance, free enterprise, and to enhance quality of life by supporting the arts, education, global understanding, health advancements, and preservation of the environment."
Areas of Philanthropy
Founding Values
"Our Founding Fathers enshrined freedom, limited government, and individual responsibility in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They knew that these values would guide future generations to prosperity and happiness. Today, the growth of big government endangers these principles. Society increasingly depends on fiscally unsustainable entitlement and welfare programs.
"To guarantee their political, social, and economic freedoms, Americans must rediscover and apply their founding values. We're helping them do so through our support to a variety of research, advocacy, and educational organizations.
"For example, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy supports over 50,000 legal professionals committed to preserving constitutional government and the rule of law. One Generation Away develops educational projects to teach Americans of all ages about the Constitution and how it applies to modern issues. Liberty's Promise instills our founding values in new immigrants and helps integrate them into American civic society.
"Our founding values have provided over two centuries of economic, political, and moral guidance to citizens of the greatest nation in human history. By understanding and upholding these values, Americans can ensure a free, vibrant society for years to come."
Education
"Education is the gateway to opportunity. A world-class education system ensures a vibrant, entrepreneurial economy, strengthens national security and public policy, and instills America's founding values in the next generation of citizens. The foundation is proud to support education initiatives from pre-school up through adulthood. We support programs, such as KIPP, NFTE, City Year, Turnaround for Children, and Teach for America, that offer resources to low-performing schools in high poverty areas.
"Grants also provide programs for children and adults with learning challenges in schools such as Chapel Haven and Maplebrook School. Veteran programs include Special Ops Warrior Foundation and Warrior-Scholar Project. We're particularly excited to work with organizations, such as Appletree Institute for Education Innovation and After-School All-Stars that pioneer innovative new approaches to educational challenges."
Entrepreneurship
"Small businesses drive economic growth. They employ half of all U.S. workers, create two of every three new jobs, and patent new inventions 16 times faster than large firms.
"But the future of small business is under threat. Americans are starting new businesses at the lowest rate in decades, even as the small business failure rate increases due to suffocating regulations. To reverse this worrying trend, we're working to instill an entrepreneurial mindset in today's youth.
"Reviving American small business starts with teaching the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. That's why we're working to expose students to entrepreneurship through education. The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship encourages middle and high school students to establish their own businesses. The students have the opportunity to present their business plans in competitions -- and winners go on to compete in the national competition in New York City.
"We're also proud to contribute to programs that promote social entrepreneurship such as College of Atlantic, Global Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and Bethesda Green. Another empowering organization, Rising Tide Capital, teaches and assists low-income entrepreneurs to build stronger businesses.
"Teaching entrepreneurship isn't merely a way to spur economic growth and job creation. By inspiring people to turn their creative ideas and passions into business ventures, we're helping individuals unlock their full potential and live the American dream."
Public Policy
"Sound public policy encourages entrepreneurship and protects individual liberty. With these principles under attack, smart policies are needed now more than ever.
"A constantly expanding federal government threatens the freedoms of both states and citizens. Excessive regulations prevent entrepreneurs from creating and growing the small businesses that drive the economy." [neoliberalism]
"The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is committed to downsizing government and opening markets, so all Americans can reach their potential. That's why we support institutes and think tanks that are researching, developing, and advocating less intrusive laws and regulations.
"For example, the Institute for Justice intertwines public policy, education, and free enterprise. They've been very successful cutting through government regulations, and recently helped defend a group of monks whose handmade casket business was being strangled by unfair regulations.
"Likewise, the National Right to Work [National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation] has empowered employees to fight back against discriminatory laws that force them to join unions against their will. The Heritage Foundation has promoted free enterprise, limited government solutions for decades.
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See also main article: National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
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The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation has a contributed $35,000 [2008: $20,000 | 2010: $5,000 | 2011: $5,000 | 2012: $5,000] to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
"We're empowering leaders who are committed to implementing policies that embody our founding principles."
National Security
"America faces unprecedented threats to its national security. Terrorism endangers citizens at home and abroad. Rising powers seek to challenge America's interests and values. And technological advances have given rise to cyber-attacks which could cripple critical energy, financial, and communications infrastructure.
"As Americans, we must bolster our national security to safeguard our freedoms and economic prosperity.
"We're proud to have launched the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security, a selective Washington, D.C. graduate school educating the future leaders of America's national security community. It offers open source materials and case studies taught by professionals from the CIA, FBI, and DIA. The academy frequently amplifies its impact through partnerships with other security-minded organizations.
"The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is committed to funding and spearheading initiatives that give defense and intelligence leaders the tools they need to keep America safe and strong."
Financials
SOURCE: a href="https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/diana-davis-spencer-foundation,203672969/">CauseIQ.com, 2020-10-15
This page last modified: 2020-10-15 13:36:24 -0700 (PST)
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| Diana Davis Spencer Foundation: Financials (2018) | |
| Source (more details online). | |
| Total revenue | $55,171,401 |
| Total expenses | $46,109,018 |
| Total liabilities | $47,541,804 |
| Total assets | $1,344,108,027 ($1.3 billion) |