Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship F is a private foundation based in Berwick, Illinois. It provides scholarships for students pursuing postsecondary education, with its 2024 filing describing eligible students as residents of Warren, Henderson, Hancock, Mercer, or McDonough Counties and noting an emphasis on need-based candidates.
Key facts about Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund
In short: Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund gave $57K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Illinois. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 88-3904476
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $56,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $5,136
- Median grant
- $4,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $1,434,954
- Primary geography
- Illinois (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing describes an application and transcript-submission process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- November 1, as stated in the 2024 filing.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
$1.4M
+10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$57K
+17.7% YoY
Grant Count
11
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+17.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund reported a distributable amount of $69K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 (2023–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that its purpose is to provide scholarships to students from Warren, Henderson, Hancock, Mercer, and McDonough Counties pursuing postsecondary education. It also states an emphasis on need-based candidates.
Among its 2025 grantees, Monmouth College describes its mission as providing a transformative educational experience in a caring community and empowering students to realize their potential and contribute through service and leadership. Tarleton State University describes its mission as including financial support for the university and scholarships for students attending it.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $56,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $19,500, with a median grant of $4,000. The largest awards included $19,500 to Western Illinois University, $11,000 to Monmouth College, and $6,000 to Illinois State University. Other grants included $4,000 each to Sotheastern Community College, Carl Sandburg College, and Parkland College; $3,000 to Northern Illinois University; and $2,500 to Aveda Institute.
The 2024 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that an application is provided and transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must reside in Warren, Henderson, Hancock, Mercer, or McDonough Counties; the filing notes an emphasis on need-based candidates.
Review Cycle
November 1, as stated in the 2024 filing.
How to Apply
The 2024 filing describes an application and transcript-submission process.
Ready to take the next step with Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing identifies residents of Warren, Henderson, Hancock, Mercer, and McDonough Counties as eligible for the scholarship program. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 9% to recipients in Iowa, and 2% to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2024) to $72K (2023). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $57K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Western Illinois University ($20K). Together the top 10 received $56K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 31 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois University Macomb, IL | Scholarship | $19,500 |
| Monmouth College Monmouth, IL | Scholarship | $11,000 |
| Illinois State University Normal, IL | Scholarship | $6,000 |
| Sotheastern Community College West Burlington, IA | Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, IL | Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Parkland College Champaign, IL | Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL | Scholarship | $3,000 |
| Aveda Institute Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| University of Iowa Iowa City, IA | Scholarships | $1,000 |
| Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX | Scholarship | $1,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,434,954 | $101,420 | $70,871 | $56,500 | 11 |
| 2024 | $1,302,509 | $86,353 | $61,172 | $48,000 | 11 |
| 2023 | $1,305,658 | $1,145,554 | $78,054 | $72,000 | 9 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,434,954 | $1,302,509 | $1,305,658 |
| Revenue | $101,420 | $86,353 | $1,145,554 |
| Expenses | $70,871 | $61,172 | $78,054 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $66,700 | $58,015 | $72,015 |
| Net Investment Income | $97,249 | $73,181 | $23,709 |
| Distributable Amount | $68,937 | $64,587 | $51,500 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amy Thompson, Stacy Newberry, and Caleb Dowell as trustees.
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy Thompson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caleb Dowell
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacy Newberry
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Amy Thompson Co Warren Henderson F
Mailing address: 1000 N Main St, Monmouth, IL 61462
Phone: (309) 734-9401
Frequently asked questions about Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund
How much does Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund give each year?
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund gave $57K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $48K across 11 grants.
What is Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's typical grant size?
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $5,136, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund that year got $3K on average.
Where does Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund give grants?
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund gives mostly in Illinois: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (9%).
Does Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (10 grants).
Who are Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's largest grantees?
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Western Illinois University ($19,500), Monmouth College ($11,000) and Illinois State University ($6,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund?
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $67K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $69K (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 Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that its purpose is to provide scholarships to students from Warren, Henderson, Hancock, Mercer, and McDonough Counties pursuing postsecondary education. It also states an emphasis on need-based candidates. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund?
The 2024 filing describes an application and transcript-submission process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's EIN?
Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-3904476. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Erin K Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund by hand.
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