About Us
A transformative experience for profoundly gifted youth and their families
After piloting a support program for 15 profoundly gifted youth and their families in 1999, former educational software entrepreneurs, the Davidsons, formally founded the Davidson Institute for Talent Development in the year 2000. Since the pilot program was launched in 1999, we have helped our nation's most gifted youth reach their highest potential. We strive to recognize and support these profoundly gifted students academically, socially and emotionally. Our vision is to ensure there are no limits to what our brightest youth can achieve.
Who We Serve
We guide profoundly gifted young people 18 and under. Profoundly gifted students score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ and achievement tests, and think and learn differently than other students.
What We Do
We offer programs, resources, scholarships, and opportunities for gifted young learners that are driven by their natural talent and abilities, not by their age, socioeconomic status or location.
Our Founders
After piloting a support program for 15 profoundly gifted youth and their families in 1999, former educational software entrepreneurs, the Davidsons, formally founded the Davidson Institute for Talent Development a year later. In 2000, the Davidsons established the Davidson Institute out of a concern that our nation's most gifted young people were largely underserved. That passion to serve gifted students continues today.
Latest Davidson Institute News & Updates
See the latest news from the Davidson Institute and the greater gifted education community. Learn about program deadlines and developments, as well as gifted opportunities and events.
2025 Davidson Fellows Award Ceremony
The 2025 Davidson Fellows Awards Ceremony is now available! Fellows…
EngineerGirl/EngineerTeen Writing Contest Now Open, Accepting Submissions
The annual EngineerGirl/EngineerTeen Writing Contest from the National Academy of…
Davidson Institute Featured in The Hill
The Davidson Institute was featured in The Hill in a…
2025 Davidson Fellow Huxley Westemeier Featured on Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
2025 Davidson Fellow Huxley Westemeier was featured on Fox 9…
