About the Foundation and Its History

Mr. Davis established the Joe C. Davis Foundation in 1976 with a mission to help people help themselves, while encouraging and maintaining individual initiative and responsibility.

The Foundation has now contributed over $100 million to non-profit organizations serving the Nashville community, primarily in the fields of education, healthcare and social services.

Significant grants have been directed to areas of special interest to Mr. Davis – scholarship endowment programs at both Montgomery Bell Academy and Harpeth Hall School; Vanderbilt University; and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

In addition, the Foundation has provided grants to many other Nashville area organizations. Examples include:  YMCA Camp Widjiwagan, Belmont University, Siloam Family Health Center, Centerstone Research Institute, Martha O’Bryan Center, Conexion Americas, Habitat for Humanity, Oasis Center, Safe Haven Family Shelter, the Tennessee Charter School Incubator, Teach for America, and many others.

Mr. Davis oversaw the Foundation personally until his death in 1989. In his will, he bequeathed significantly increased funding to the Foundation. He appointed his sister, brother-in-law and nephew as trustees to oversee its operations – Mrs. Bond Davis DeLoache, Dr. William R. DeLoache, and William (Bill) R. DeLoache, Jr. Mr. Davis’ niece, Frances DeLoache Ellison, was added as a trustee in 2005. Then, in 2009, Dr. DeLoache died at the age of 88.

In December 2013, Bond DeLoache announced her retirement and passed leadership responsibilities to Bill DeLoache, Jr. In early 2014, he appointed Delta Anne Davis, Elizabeth Bond Davis, and Nancy Graves Beveridge as additional trustees. Sadly, Beth Davis died in May 2014 after serving only a brief time as a trustee.

Today the Foundation seeks to continue a legacy of giving that will (i) help the Nashville community thrive, (ii) help motivated individuals reach their full potential, and (iii) uphold the original intentions of Mr. Davis when he created the Foundation.