JP Davis is a fundraiser. Twenty years in, he has helped raise more than $1 billion across higher education, the arts, public spaces, LGBTQIA+ movements, and the causes that get left out of most rooms. He started JP Davis Partners in 2021 to build the firm those causes deserved.
A few decades of asking, listening, and closing.
Hand-selected to assist Louisville businessman and philanthropist Owsley Brown Frazier in his transition from corporate leader to national philanthropic figure. Helped create the Owsley Brown Frazier Family Foundation; coordinated tens of millions in community investment.
Directed major gifts and strategic initiatives in the Office of the President. Instrumental in U of L's $1 billion fundraising campaign — the largest in school history. Personally secured a $40 million gift, the largest single gift in school history.
Helped net the Fund nearly $50 million, one of the largest gains in fundraising in its 71-year history.
Founded winter 2021 with onePULSE Foundation as the inaugural client. Now serving 25+ nonprofits across LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Appalachian, arts, and conservation work.
Serves as CEO of K9s4COPs, the national organization placing trained working dogs with police, fire, schools, and hospitals. Concurrent with the consulting practice — funded by individual sponsors, foundations, and corporate partners who keep each K9 active in the field.
Ran for Louisville Metro Council. Raised $200,000 for Mayor Pete Buttigieg, America's first openly gay presidential candidate. Served as Morgan McGarvey's volunteer fundraising chair in 2022.
BA & MPA with honors from the University of Louisville. Studied at the London School of Economics, interned at Parliament. White House intern in the Bush administration. Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.
We are proud to be one of the few gay-owned consulting firms in the non-profit and fund-development space. I want people to see me and our firm as a place championing change, acceptance, and a new way of approaching philanthropy that is rooted in equity, justice, and new voices.
Rooted in Appalachia.
A native of Ashland, Kentucky, JP moved to Louisville for his BA and MPA at U of L. He stays actively involved in Eastern Kentucky through the Appalachian Big Ideas Festival, the Appalachian Arts Alliance, and the Peggy Davis Scholarship — which he founded to help high school students from the Ashland area pursue secondary education in business.
JP plus a curated bench of senior consultants.
JP Davis Partners is led by JP, with a deep bench of senior consultants brought in by engagement. We staff every project to its specific need — campaign counsel, board facilitation, communications, executive search — without the overhead of a large firm. If you’d like to know who’d be on your project, ask.
A labradoodle named Dallas.
JP lives in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville with Dallas, his beloved labradoodle. He’s a fierce LGBTQIA+ advocate, a chili-cookoff regular, and — for the record — a defender of bourbon and the occasional Wendy’s run.
You have the mission.
We help you fund it.
Tell us about your organization. We’ll come back within two business days with whether and how we can help.