Bowers Foundation
Bowers Foundation is a private foundation, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $145K. Net investment income was $99K.
Bowers Foundation at a glance
In short: Bowers Foundation gave $145K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $145,460
- -19.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -35.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,162
- +25.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,377,789
- -2.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Bowers Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was First Baptist Church of La Grange ($50K). Together the top 9 received $145K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 55 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bowers Foundation gives
- Giving fell 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $145K (2024) to $280K (2020). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $145K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Baptist Church of La Grange Lagrange, TX | Donation | $50,000 |
| Rice University Houston, TX | Donation | $25,900 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Donation | $25,000 |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation Houston, TX | Donations | $15,000 |
| CASA El Buen Samaritano Missouri City, TX | Donation | $10,000 |
| Agape Development Houston, TX | Donation | $9,700 |
| Texas Business Hall of Fame Houston, TX | Donation | $6,000 |
| Bravo Vail Vail, CO | Donation | $2,360 |
| A Ronald McDonald House Campaign Houston, TX | Donation | $1,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,377,789 | $113,947 | $181,726 | $145,460 | 9 | $162,299 | $98,644 | $132,433 |
| 2023 | $2,445,568 | $145,779 | $214,979 | $180,280 | 14 | $197,173 | $127,154 | $144,109 |
| 2022 | $2,514,768 | $112,472 | $221,567 | $181,550 | 12 | $199,538 | $91,859 | $153,216 |
| 2021 | $2,623,863 | $159,740 | $290,982 | $251,100 | 10 | $251,100 | $119,998 | $171,701 |
| 2020 | $2,755,105 | $62,944 | $325,250 | $279,600 | 10 | — | $25,828 | $181,334 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bowers Foundation reported a distributable amount of $132K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bowers Foundation is led by Carin M. Barth, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carin M. Barth
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hr Bowers
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Todd F. Barth
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Bowers Foundation
How much does Bowers Foundation give each year?
Bowers Foundation gave $145K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $180K across 14 grants.
What is Bowers Foundation's typical grant size?
Bowers Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,162, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bowers Foundation give grants?
Bowers Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (6 grants).
Does Bowers Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Bowers Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (8 grants).
Who are Bowers Foundation's largest grantees?
Bowers Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include First Baptist Church of La Grange ($50,000), Rice University ($25,900) and Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bowers Foundation?
Bowers Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $162K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $132K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Bowers Foundation's EIN?
Bowers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0260739. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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