Adams Cowan Foundation
The Adams Cowan Foundation is a family foundation established in California and based in Los Angeles. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since February 1983.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$52K
+144.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$91K
+29.7% YoY
Grant Count
33
+32.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Adams Cowan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $676 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a **preselected basis only** and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation only makes contributions to organizations it has already selected.
Grant Range
of $2,500 and a range from $500 to $13,000.
How to Apply
The foundation operates on a **preselected basis only** and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation only makes contributions to organizations it has already selected.
Ready to take the next step with Adams Cowan Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (Fiscal Year Ending January 2025)
- Total Revenue: $190,195
- Total Expenses: $96,701
- Net Income: $93,494
- Total Assets: $52,437
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Assets
The foundation's assets have remained modest, ranking in the smallest 50% of foundations nationally (rank #95,857 of 159,550).
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,437 | $21,415 | $24,084 |
| Revenue | $190,195 | $98,449 | $65,238 |
| Expenses | $96,701 | $75,543 | $58,010 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $96,430 | $75,300 | $53,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,757 | $26,399 | $220 |
| Distributable Amount | $676 | $549 | $695 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Ucla Development ($12,500), Bluedot Institute ($10,000), March for Our Lives Foundation ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS SCIENCES CAMBRIDGE, MA | PROMOTE ART | $3,500 |
| THE JESTER PHARLEY PHUND PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $500 |
| CALIFORNIA ART CLUB PASADENA, CA | PROMOTE ART | $2,500 |
| UCLA DEVELOPMENT LOS ANGELES, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $12,500 |
| COMMON SENSE MEDIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $2,500 |
| CITY OF HOPE DUARTE, CA | HEALTH CARE | $1,500 |
| CAMBODIAN CHILDREN'S FUND SANTA MONICA, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $1,000 |
| INTEGRITY INITIATIVES INTERNATIONAL CAMBRIDGE, MA | HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTOR | $1,250 |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY FOUNDAT WEST TISBURY, MA | COMMUNITY BENEFIT | $2,500 |
| LA THEATRE WORKS VENICE, CA | PROMOTE ART | $1,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- L. Geoffrey Cowan – Chairman
- Aileen Adams – President
Both serve on a volunteer basis with minimal time commitment (2 hours per week each) and receive no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| L GEOFFREY COWAN | Chairman | 2 | — |
| AILEEN ADAMS | President | 2 | — |
Location & Contact
Address: 2240 Mandeville Canyon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1827
EIN: 95-3696010
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Adams Cowan Foundation?
The foundation operates on a **preselected basis only** and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation only makes contributions to organizations it has already selected. The foundation has made 33 grants in recent years, with a median grant size of $2,500 and a range from $500 to $13,000. Recent grantees have included: • California Art Club (Pasadena, CA) – $3,500 • Human Rights Watch (Los Angeles, CA) – $2,500 • The Rape Foundation (Santa Monica, CA) – $10,000 • Westsid…
What size grants does Adams Cowan Foundation award?
In 2025, Adams Cowan Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $91K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Adams Cowan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Adams Cowan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $676 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Adams Cowan Foundation's EIN?
Adams Cowan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3696010. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Adams Cowan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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