Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Mobile, Alabama. Its 2025 filing reports 26 grants totaling $86,888, supporting organizations that include music and arts groups, a historic-preservation organization, and environmental and justice organizations.
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust gave $87K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state Virginia. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $86,888
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,342
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,440,090
- +0.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Letters of request should be submitted to the committee for review. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Louis S Wilcox
Mailing address: PO Box 1628, Mobile, AL 36633-1628
Phone: (251) 438-8044
Email: louis.wilcox@regions.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Piedmont Enviromental Council ($8K). Together the top 10 received $53K.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 132 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust’s 2025 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Virginia (33%) and Alabama (29%), followed by California (12%) and New York (10%). The filing also reports 7% in an unspecified state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 26 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $80K (2020) to $93K (2022). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $87K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Enviromental Council Warrenton, VA | Charitable Contribution | $8,000 |
| Dublin International Piano Competition | Charitable Contribution | $6,000 |
| Gulf Coast Steinway Society Mobile, AL | Charitable Contribution | $6,000 |
| Aspen Music Festival and School Aspen, CO | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Music Academy of the West Santa Barbara, CA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Stevenson School Pebble Beach, CA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Waterford Foundation Waterford, VA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Equal Justice Initiative Montgomery, AL | Charitable Contribution | $4,500 |
| Waterford Concert Series Waterford, VA | Charitable Contribution | $4,388 |
| American Friends of the Trasimeno Music Festical New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,440,090 | $121,738 | $113,196 | $86,888 | 26 | $86,888 | $97,592 | $90,744 |
| 2024 | $1,428,934 | $117,373 | $113,803 | $87,300 | 26 | $87,300 | $91,390 | $87,276 |
| 2023 | $1,425,103 | $56,547 | $105,622 | $85,578 | 26 | $85,578 | $36,478 | $80,382 |
| 2022 | $1,474,178 | $46,126 | $118,332 | $93,342 | 28 | $93,342 | $14,386 | $84,557 |
| 2021 | $1,545,586 | $238,940 | $111,262 | $87,300 | 26 | $87,300 | $214,976 | $94,800 |
| 2020 | $1,417,619 | $42,910 | $102,529 | $80,000 | 28 | — | $40,910 | $83,027 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $91K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a mission for the trust. Its reported grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Music Academy of the West says its mission is to provide classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with educational and performance experiences. Waterford Foundation says it works to preserve the historic buildings and open spaces of Waterford, Virginia, and educate the public about early American rural life. Other 2025 recipients include the Equal Justice Initiative and The Nature Conservancy Alabama Chapter.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust awarded 26 grants totaling $86,888. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $8,000, with a median of $3,000. Among the largest were $8,000 to Piedmont Environmental Council; $6,000 each to Dublin International Piano Competition and Gulf Coast Steinway Society; and $5,000 each to Aspen Music Festival and School, Music Academy of the West, Stevenson School, and Waterford Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bettie M. Miller and Eleanor M. Adams as committee members.
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bettie M. Miller
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eleanor M. Adams
Committee Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Keville Larson (2020–2022) — Committee Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust
How much does Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust give each year?
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust gave $87K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $87K across 26 grants.
What is Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,342, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust that year got $2K on average.
Where does Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust give grants?
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's top state is Virginia, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Alabama (29%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Montgomery, AL (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Waterford, VA (2 grants).
Who are Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Piedmont Enviromental Council ($8,000), Dublin International Piano Competition ($6,000) and Gulf Coast Steinway Society ($6,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust?
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $87K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust fund?
The filing does not state a mission for the trust. Its reported grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Music Academy of the West says its mission is to provide classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with educational and performance experiences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's EIN?
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6489481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Idaho Episcopal Foundation Inc
Boise, ID
To support the episcopal church in Idaho and its ministries.
Assets
$7.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$41K
H Boone & Violet M Porter Charitable Foundation Inc
West Brattleboro, VT
The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, with 2025 grants of $1,000 to $25,000 and a median grant of $10,000. Its 2025 giving went mainly to organizations in Connecticut, New York, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Tennessee, with one Massachusetts recipient. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$784K
Grants
11
Total Given
$98K
As Mitchell Foundation Inc
Mobile, AL
The foundation supports education, religious, scientific, literary, and other charitable work, with recent grants for restoration, tuition assistance, program costs, capital needs, and operations. Its 2026 grants ranged from $1,000 to $130,000, with a median of $8,000; most funding went to Alabama, with smaller shares in Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and New York. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$17.4M
Grants
49
Total Given
$637K
Weil Gotshal & Manges Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The foundation supports nonprofits working in medical and disaster relief, legal and social services, education, and youth programs. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000; most funding went to organizations in New York, followed by Massachusetts. Its filing lists application materials and a November 1 deadline, indicating that it accepts requests beyond a preselected group of organizations.
Assets
$4.1M
Grants
90
Total Given
$2.4M
Modestus Bauer Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Modestus Bauer Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including health, food access, education, and arts groups, with most of its giving going to Illinois. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $101,600, with a median of $5,000; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$11.8M
Grants
136
Total Given
$1.0M
Douglas County Community Foundation
Lawrence, KS
Douglas County Community Foundation funds nonprofits serving Douglas County, Kansas, across areas including arts and culture, education, health, housing, the environment, and human services; some specialized funds have broader geographic reach. Its Community Grants generally range from $1,000 to $10,000, though its 2024 grants ranged from $5,056 to $1,772,709. It accepts applications for Community Grants, but the 2026 cycle is closed; the Spring 2027 application is scheduled to open December 31, 2026.
Assets
$117.3M
Grants
170
Total Given
$9.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/betty-r-mcgowin-charitable-trust-morg_744f1afba0654e4899cc0d26dd9fd09f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_616489481_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/betty-r-mcgowin-charitable-trust-morg_744f1afba0654e4899cc0d26dd9fd09f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Betty R McGowin Charitable Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?