Bow Seat
BOW SEAT is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its programs support young people using creative arts to raise awareness and take action on ocean, waterways, and climate issues; its True Blue Fellowship combines project funding with mentorship and capacity building.
Key facts about Bow Seat
In short: Bow Seat gave $36K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-2904502
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,987
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- Average grant
- $1,799
- Median grant
- $2,006
- Total assets
- $207,578
- Primary geography
- Washington (7% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing describes an online application process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, according to the 2025 filing.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$208K
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$36K
+91.7% YoY
Grant Count
20
+122.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-13.7% YoY
How Bow Seat gives
- Giving grew 489% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Bow Seat says it is committed to using the arts to educate, inspire, and activate younger generations, and to engaging youth in environmental conservation and advocacy through the arts. Its programs include a student contest and the True Blue Fellowship, which supports youth-led projects addressing ocean, waterways, and/or climate change issues in local communities. Fellowship projects must use creative arts as the primary method for awareness or action and engage the local community.
The fellowship is open to young people ages 16–24 at the start of the fellowship period, worldwide. Individuals, groups, and organizations may apply, with one project leader designated for a group or organization. Proposed projects must be new or emerging and less than two years old.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, according to the 2025 filing.
How to Apply
.
Ready to take the next step with Bow Seat?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The True Blue Fellowship is open to young people worldwide, and Bow Seat describes participants as coming from countries and territories around the world. The 2025 grant list includes recipients in Washington, California, and Texas, among other locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $600 (2021) to $36K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $36K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Purity Mutua ($3K). Together the top 10 received $26K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 47 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purity Mutua | Fellowship Grant | $2,686 |
| Irshad Qazikhil | Fellowship Grant | $2,681 |
| Alex Mkwizu | Fellowship Grant | $2,600 |
| Austin Picinich Kirkland, WA | Fellowship Grant | $2,600 |
| Brigitta Gunawan | Fellowship Grant | $2,600 |
| Nomena Tahiana Andria | Fellowship Grant | $2,600 |
| Fredrick Kilonzo | Fellowship Grant | $2,596 |
| Sophie Kim Huntington Beach, CA | Fellowship Grant | $2,575 |
| Jing Graber Austin, TX | Fellowship Grant | $2,572 |
| Ali Nasir | Fellowship Grant | $2,012 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $207,578 | $636,926 | $614,756 | $35,987 (20 grants) |
| 2024 | $190,003 | $609,411 | $464,480 | $18,774 (9 grants) |
| 2023 | $40,477 | $460,076 | $439,008 | $19,890 (10 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $207,578 | $190,003 | $40,477 |
| Revenue | $636,926 | $609,411 | $460,076 |
| Expenses | $614,756 | $464,480 | $439,008 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $614,756 | $464,480 | $439,008 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Linda Cabot as president, Edward Anderson as treasurer, Georgianna Anderson as clerk, and Noelle Anderson as director. Bow Seat’s website identifies Linda Cabot as its founder.
Bow Seat is led by Linda Cabot, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda Cabot
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Noelle Anderson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward Anderson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Georgianna Anderson
Clerk
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: Linda Cabot
Mailing address: 185 Westfield Street, Westwood, MA 02090
Phone: (617) 933-3639
Email: https://bowseat.org/programs/true-blue-fellow
Website: https://bowseat.org
Frequently asked questions about Bow Seat
How much does Bow Seat give each year?
Bow Seat gave $36K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $19K across 9 grants.
What is Bow Seat's typical grant size?
Bow Seat's median grant in 2025 was $2,006, and its average grant was $1,799, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bow Seat give grants?
Bow Seat's top state is Washington, with 7% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (7%) and Texas (7%).
Does Bow Seat give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Bow Seat's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fellowship Grant" (19 grants).
Who are Bow Seat's largest grantees?
Bow Seat's largest 2025 grantees include Purity Mutua ($2,686), Irshad Qazikhil ($2,681) and Alex Mkwizu ($2,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bow Seat?
Bow Seat reported $208K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $637K.
What does Bow Seat fund?
Bow Seat says it is committed to using the arts to educate, inspire, and activate younger generations, and to engaging youth in environmental conservation and advocacy through the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bow Seat?
The filing describes an online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bow Seat's EIN?
Bow Seat's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2904502. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Bow Seat by hand.
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