Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation
The Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2006 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking in education and religious initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.3M
-7.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+169.9% YoY
Grant Count
17
-19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$159K
+233.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $850K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on the following primary areas:
- Education
- Religion
- Christianity
- Catholicism
Grantmaking
The foundation made five grants in 2023, with total giving of $2,697,499 according to the most recent available data. Typical award ranges are $500 to $2,000,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, with particular focus on:
- Michigan (including Grand Rapids and East Lansing)
- Illinois
- Alabama (including Cullman)
- Arizona
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,724,797 |
| Total Assets (alternate source) | $16,316,977 |
| Total Giving | $2,697,499 |
| Total Revenues | -$833,354 |
| Total Expenses | $1,060,089 |
| Investment Income and Dividends | $720,673 |
| Number of Employees | 0 |
The foundation's assets have remained relatively stable, with investment income serving as a primary revenue source for grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,316,977 | $17,724,797 | $19,617,480 |
| Revenue | $1,349,003 | $-833,354 | $-456,287 |
| Expenses | $2,756,823 | $1,060,089 | $1,539,021 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,697,499 | $999,576 | $1,302,167 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,289,679 | $660,160 | $407,523 |
| Distributable Amount | $850,136 | $846,170 | $904,507 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids ($2,000,000), Our Shepherds Our Future ($250,000), St Mary's Foundation ($166,666).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTISTS CREATING TOGETHER GRAND RAPIDS, MI | ARTS | $20,000 |
| BABIES WELFARE GUILD GRAND RAPIDS, MI | HEALTHCARE | $2,500 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WEST MICHIGAN GRAND RAPIDS, MI | RELIGIOUS | $7,500 |
| DOMINICAN SISTERS GRAND RAPIDS, MI | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| HOPE COLLEGE HOLLAND, MI | EDUCATION | $30,000 |
| IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL GRAND RAPIDS, MI | EDUCATION | $30,000 |
| ONE WORLD SURGERY DEERFIELD, IL | HEALTH CARE | $50,000 |
| OUR SHEPHERDS OUR FUTURE GRAND RAPIDS, MI | RELIGIOUS | $250,000 |
| ST JOHN VIANNEY WYOMING, MI | RELIGIOUS | $2,500 |
| THE NEW GROWTH PROJECT ROCKFORD, MI | FOOD | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Daniel J. Bowen — President (serves without compensation)
- Sharon Bowen — Secretary/Treasurer (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL J BOWEN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SHARON BOWEN | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on the following primary areas: • Education • Religion • Christianity • Catholicism
How do I apply for a grant from Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation?
The foundation made five grants in 2023, with total giving of $2,697,499 according to the most recent available data. Typical award ranges are $500 to $2,000,000. Notable grants made include: • Michigan State University: $383,000 (Education, 2023) • Grand Rapids Civic Theatre (GRCT): $25,000 (Arts, 2023) • Greater Grand Rapids Independent Catholic Elementary Schools: $20,500 (Education, 2023) • Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids (historical grantee)
Where does Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, with particular focus on: • Michigan (including Grand Rapids and East Lansing) • Illinois • Alabama (including Cullman) • Arizona
What size grants does Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation award?
In 2024, Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $159K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $850K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation's EIN?
Daniel and Sharon Bowen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5984891. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Daniel and Sharon Bowen 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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