Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family
The Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation established in 1952, based in Garden City, New York. The foundation represents the philanthropic legacy of W. Barrett Howell and Fay Sheffield Howell, with a primary focus on supporting organizations in the Atlanta, Georgia area despite its New York registration.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.6M
+198.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$900K
-13.5% YoY
Grant Count
22
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-5.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family reported a distributable amount of $906K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education — with particular emphasis on educational opportunities for underserved children
- Arts and Culture — supporting Atlanta's major cultural institutions
- Healthcare
- Community Development
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
The foundation's approach reflects the personal connections and interests of the Howell family. W. Barrett Howell co-founded The Study Hall, an after-school program serving children in Atlanta's Peoplestown neighborhood.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $5,000 to $150,000
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not have a public website, email, or phone number for grant inquiries. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Atlanta, Georgia area, with some presence in New York and additional focus on Virginia and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $19,620,133 (as of 2024)
Total Revenues: $14,461,681 (2024)
Total Expenses: $996,243 (2024)
Total Giving: $900,000 to $928,000 annually
Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,620,133 | $6,573,387 | $6,250,062 |
| Revenue | $14,461,681 | $1,735,535 | $1,491,994 |
| Expenses | $996,243 | $1,156,064 | $1,015,516 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $927,775 | $1,042,540 | $902,540 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,975,413 | $1,229,964 | $1,040,411 |
| Distributable Amount | $905,692 | $1,042,974 | $892,568 |
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
112 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cathedral of St Philip ($100,000), Woodruff Arts Cenetr ($100,000), The Good Samaritan Health Center ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AG RHODES HOME ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ATLANTA CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| ATLANTA MISSION ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH ATLANTA ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| CATHEDRAL OF ST PHILIP Atlanta, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CDC FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| DECORATIVE ARTS TRUST MEDIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
W. Barrett Howell — Co-founder of The Study Hall, an after-school program in Atlanta's Peoplestown neighborhood. Howell was a sixth-generation Atlantan who passed away in 2016 at age 87.
Fay Sheffield Howell — Co-founder of the foundation
The foundation is managed by family trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W BARRETT HOWELL II | TRUSTEE/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RON BOBO | TRUSTEE/VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| FAY HOWELL | TRUSTEE/CHAIR | 1 | — |
| PARKER GRANDITS | TRUSTEE/SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MARGIZE HOWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROLINE HOWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GEORGANNA HOWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| FAY LIDJI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's recent grantmaking reflects continued support for Atlanta's cultural and social service institutions, including major gifts to healthcare providers, disease prevention organizations, and community development initiatives through United Way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • **Education** — with particular emphasis on educational opportunities for underserved children • **Arts and Culture** — supporting Atlanta's major cultural institutions • **Healthcare** • **Community Development** • **Human Services** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** The foundation's approach reflects the personal connections and interests of the Howell family. W. Barrett Howell co-founded The Study Hall, an after-school program se…
How do I apply for a grant from Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family?
**Grant Range:** $5,000 to $150,000 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $900,000 to $928,000 **Number of Grants:** 22 grants in 2024 **Median Grant Amount:** $38,000 **Grant Type:** The foundation operates a single discretionary grantmaking program managed by family trustees. Grants are made for general support. **Application Process:** The foundation does not have a public website, email, or phone number for grant inquiries. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. **Recent Grants (20…
Where does Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the **Atlanta, Georgia area**, with some presence in New York and additional focus on Virginia and Texas.
What size grants does Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family award?
In 2024, Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family awarded 22 grants totaling $900K — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family reported a distributable amount of $906K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family's EIN?
Fay S and W Barrett Howell Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6026027. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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