Kathryn Wasserman Davis (1924-2022) was a prominent American philanthropist, investor, scholar, and diplomat, renowned for her substantial contributions to education, culture, and conservation. Born into a Jewish family in New York City, she pursued an academic path, earning a bachelor's degree from Barnard College in 1945, a master's from Columbia University, and a PhD in political science from the University of Oxford in 1952. In 1947, she married Shelby Cullom Davis, a successful financier and Republican appointee, with whom she built a family fortune through savvy investments in insurance and other sectors, amassing wealth that enabled her lifelong philanthropy. The couple had three children, including Diana Davis Spencer, who has continued the family's tradition of supporting conservative causes through the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund.

Davis's philanthropic efforts were extensive and diverse, totaling over $1 billion in donations to institutions such as Vassar College, the Asia Society, the Juilliard School, and wildlife conservation organizations like the World Wildlife Fund. She served on numerous boards and as a U.S. delegate to international conferences on disarmament and human rights during the Cold War era, reflecting her interest in global affairs. While her personal giving leaned toward educational and cultural initiatives, her family's foundation has been criticized for funding conservative and right-wing organizations, including those aligned with climate change skepticism and political advocacy, though Davis herself was more focused on apolitical causes.

In her later years, Davis resided in Hobe Sound, Florida, and Maine, continuing her support for environmental and artistic endeavors until her death at age 98. Her legacy endures through the institutions she bolstered and the family network of influence in philanthropy and politics.