Interfaith Leadership and Religious Literacy Program

The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF) operate a structured and selective grantmaking process that emphasizes strategic investment in educational and cultural initiatives. AVDF is a private philanthropic foundation that focuses its grant support on five program areas: Private Higher Education, Interfaith Leadership and Religious Literacy, Public Educational Media, Environmental Stewardship, and Palliative Care. However, only one of these—Private Higher Education—is open to unsolicited applications. The remaining areas function on an invitation-only basis, emphasizing AVDF’s strategic allocation of funds toward vetted and curated partnerships. The application process is deliberately segmented into two stages to manage the volume and quality of submissions. It begins with the submission of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which allows applicants to concisely describe their project, the funding request, and expected outcomes. AVDF staff evaluate LOIs to determine alignment with their mission and available resources. Only the most competitive applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal. This structured progression helps ensure that only high-potential projects advance to the resource-intensive review stage, preserving AVDF’s focus on impact and fit. For those invited to submit a full proposal, the requirements increase significantly. Applicants must provide a detailed project budget and respond to a set of key questions about the project. AVDF employs a rigorous, multi-step review process that can extend up to five months. This includes internal reviews, requests for clarifications or revisions, and in some cases, external reviews. Anonymous reviewer comments may be shared with applicants, providing an opportunity for further refinement of the proposal. This iterative process enhances the quality of proposals and ensures alignment with AVDF’s values and strategic objectives. Following revision, the most competitive proposals are submitted to the AVDF Board of Trustees for final review. The Board convenes in February and May to make funding decisions. All applicants are notified of the outcome no later than June 1, and due to the length of the review process, project start dates must be scheduled for no earlier than June 1. This fixed review calendar provides applicants with clear expectations around timing and notification. AVDF only funds discrete, project-based initiatives rather than general operational support. Capital projects and endowments are explicitly excluded. Applications must be submitted through the AVDF online portal, and the foundation does not offer pre-application consultations or feedback on draft LOIs. Eligible applicants must be public charities based in the United States, ensuring compliance with AVDF’s focus on national impact. The foundation also maintains a FAQ section for applicants to reference throughout the process. By adhering to a detailed and structured process, AVDF ensures its grantmaking remains rigorous, transparent, and impactful. With a preference for well-defined, discrete projects and a multi-phase application process, the foundation encourages thoughtful, mission-aligned submissions. Its approach allows for consistent engagement with promising initiatives in higher education, with periodic reviews and an emphasis on long-term impact and sustainability.