ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION
The Elsie P and Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation is a private foundation established in 1997 and based in Elma, New York. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and focuses on general operations funding for nonprofits across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1M
-6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$221K
-1.9% YoY
Grant Count
104
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+5.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION reported a distributable amount of $175K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Food and Agriculture
- Science Education
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds general operations for grantees.
Grant Types
Ready to take the next step with ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in New York, Virginia, and Arizona, with a notable concentration of grants to organizations in the Western New York region, particularly in and around Elma.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,265,994
- Total Revenues: $138,627
- Total Expenses: $291,039
- Investment Income and Dividends: $46,009
As of 2024 (most recent IRS filing):
- Total Assets: $2,126,193
- Total Giving: $221,400
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,126,193 | $2,265,994 | $2,094,834 |
| Revenue | $127,236 | $138,627 | $504,607 |
| Expenses | $308,988 | $291,039 | $289,433 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $227,320 | $228,890 | $199,914 |
| Net Investment Income | $43,693 | $77,888 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $175,471 | $153,726 | $153,788 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baptist Health Foundation ($10,400), Research Foundation for Suny ($10,000), Iroquois Youth Sportsmans Foundation ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO AKG ART MUSEUM BUFFALO, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| BLOSSOM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT ELMA, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR SUNY SYRACUSE, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| HAMBURG LITTLE LOOP FB CH HAMBURG, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $500 |
| ST PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH ELMA, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,500 |
| IROQUOIS YOUTH SPORTSMANS FOUNDATION EAST AURORA, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| HEART LOVE & SOUL NIAGARA FALLS, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $3,000 |
| SHAKESPEARE IN DELAWARE PARK BUFFALO, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $3,000 |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA BUFFALO, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT BUFFALO, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| M WILLIAM BOLLER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | $5,594 |
| THOMAS F HEWNER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | $5,594 |
| RONALD L JAROS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | $5,594 |
Contact Information
Address: 440 Winspear Road, Elma, NY 14059-9110
Phone: 716-845-9357
EIN: 16-1527078
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Food and Agriculture • Science Education
How do I apply for a grant from ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 85 grants in 2023, totaling $219,640 • Typical grant awards range from $25 to $21,350 • Recent notable grants include: • Wings Flights of Hope: $6,075 (2023) • The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation: $5,200 (2023) • Jamison Road Volunteer Fire Company: $1,000 (2023) • Matthew Foster Foundation: $50 (2024) • Queen of Angels RC Church: $500 (2020) **Grant Types:** The foundation primarily funds general operations for grantees.
Where does ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in New York, Virginia, and Arizona, with a notable concentration of grants to organizations in the Western New York region, particularly in and around Elma.
What size grants does ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION award?
In 2024, ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION awarded 104 grants totaling $221K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION reported a distributable amount of $175K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION's EIN?
ELSIE P AND LUCIUS B McCOWAN PRIVATE FOUNDATION's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1527078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.