Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 38-6194577

The Ferdinand A & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2019 IRS filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the Trust appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking; its 2020 filing reports grants totaling $4,739,565.

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust at a glance

In short: Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust gave $4.7M across 14 grants in 2020 (avg $339K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2020)
$4,739,565
Grants made (2020)
14
Average grant
$338,540
Median grant
$135,103
Primary geography
Michigan (83% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated September 2026.

How to apply to Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The Trust’s 2019 filing says it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Because that filing is marked as final, this should not be treated as a current application process.

Contact

Mailing address: 10 S Dearborn Il1-0111, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (800) 496-2583

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2020

Powers Catholic High School: $3.0MPowers Catholic High School$3.0MRoman Catholic Diocese - Our Lady of the Lake: $306KRoman Catholic Diocese - OurLady of the Lake$306KSisters of St Joseph: $306KSisters of St Joseph$306KAscension Genesys Foundation: $204KAscension Genesys Foundation$204KUniversity of Michigan: $204KUniversity of Michigan$204KFlint Institute of Music: $204KFlint Institute of Music$204KUnited Way of Genesee County: $143KUnited Way of Genesee County$143KSaint Joseph Parish: $127KSaint Joseph Parish$127KSt Matthews Church: $71KSt Matthews Church$71KCatholic Diocese of Lansing: $61KCatholic Diocese of Lansing$61K

The largest 2020 recipient was Powers Catholic High School ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.

Grant Size Distribution

14 grants across all recorded years

4<$50K2$50–100K5$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 5 grants of 14 (36%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2020, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 10% to Pennsylvania, 6% to Ohio, and less than 1% to Nebraska as reported. The listed recipients include organizations in those states.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

FlintAnn ArborBoys TownClevelandClintonEdinboroGrand BlancLansingOil CityVillanova

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M14 grants2020

In 2020 it made 14 grants totaling $4.7M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Powers Catholic High School Flint, MIGeneral$3,044,253
Roman Catholic Diocese - Our Lady of the Lake Edinboro, PAGeneral$306,255
Sisters of St Joseph Cleveland, OHGeneral$306,255
Ascension Genesys Foundation Grand Blanc, MIGeneral$204,170
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MIGeneral$204,170
Flint Institute of Music Flint, MIGeneral$204,170
United Way of Genesee County Flint, MIGeneral$142,919
Saint Joseph Parish Oil City, PAGeneral$127,287
St Matthews Church Flint, MIGeneral$71,459
Catholic Diocese of Lansing Lansing, MIGeneral$61,251
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2020$555,207$4,766,349$4,739,56514$536,871$134,242

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $134K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the Trust is provided. Its 2020 grants went to organizations including a Catholic high school, dioceses and churches, a hospital foundation, a university, arts organizations, and United Way of Genesee.

The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Flint Institute of Music describes its mission as “transforming lives through a lifelong continuum of world-class music, theatre, and dance.” The Flint Institute of Arts says it connects diverse communities through visual art experiences. Villanova University describes itself as a Catholic Augustinian community of higher education. These are the grantees’ descriptions, not statements of the Trust’s mission.

Grantmaking

In 2020, the Trust reported 14 grants totaling $4,739,565. Grant amounts ranged from $2,042 to $3,044,253, with a median of $135,103. Its largest reported grants included $3,044,253 to Powers Catholic High School in Flint, Michigan; $306,255 each to the Roman Catholic Diocese in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and the Sisters of St. Joseph in Cleveland, Ohio; and $204,170 each to Ascension Genesys Foundation, the University of Michigan, and Flint Institute of Music.

Other reported grants included $142,919 to United Way of Genesee; $127,287 to Saint Joseph Parish in Oil City, Pennsylvania; $71,459 to St. Matthews Church in Flint; $61,251 to the Catholic Diocese of Lansing; $40,834 to Villanova University; and $20,417 to Flint Institute of Arts. Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home in Boys Town, Nebraska, received $2,042.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's only listed officer is JP Morgan Chase Bank NA, Trustee on the 2020 filing (compensated).

Officers on the 2020 filing

  • JP Morgan Chase Bank NA

    Trustee

    New on the 2020 filing

    2 hrs/week

    $26K (2020)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2020 IRS filing

JP Morgan Chase Bank NA — Trustee: $26KJP Morgan Chase Bank NATrustee$26K

The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $26K, to JP Morgan Chase Bank NA (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust

How much does Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust give each year?

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust gave $4.7M across 14 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

What is Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's typical grant size?

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's median grant in 2020 was $135,103, and its average grant was $338,540, across 14 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust give grants?

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust gives mostly in Michigan: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (10%) and Ohio (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Flint, MI (5 grants).

Does Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's largest grantees?

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's largest 2020 grantees include Powers Catholic High School ($3,044,253), Roman Catholic Diocese - Our Lady of the Lake ($306,255) and Sisters of St Joseph ($306,255), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.

What does Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust fund?

No mission statement for the Trust is provided. Its 2020 grants went to organizations including a Catholic high school, dioceses and churches, a hospital foundation, a university, arts organizations, and United Way of Genesee. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust?

The Trust’s 2019 filing says it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

How much is Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $134K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's EIN?

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6194577. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.

Does Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 19, 2021)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Mutual of America Foundation

New York, NY

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$136K

Grants

539

Total Given

$839K

The Serra Foundation

Fenton, MI

The Serra Foundation primarily supports Catholic vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, including seminaries, formation programs, dioceses, and vocation initiatives. In 2025 it awarded 53 grants totaling about $2.39 million; the median grant was $2,500, though awards varied widely, and most funding went to Michigan and Illinois, with the foundation’s website noting worldwide reach. It accepts applications through an annual competitive cycle, with a September 30 deadline.

Assets

$9.5M

Grants

53

Total Given

$2.4M

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Princeton, NJ

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$13.4B

Grants

3,093

Total Given

$622.6M

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Flint, MI

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation funds nonprofits working in civil society, youth engagement, environmental sustainability, and Flint-area community development, in Flint and communities around the world. Its 2024 grants had a median of $55,000, though awards ranged widely; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests and supports preselected organizations.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$3.8B

Grants

834

Total Given

$166.4M

Community Foundation of New Jersey

Morristown, NJ

The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.

Assets

$1.0B

Grants

1,321

Total Given

$93.8M

Greater Horizons

Kansas City, MO

Greater Horizons distributes donor-advised fund grants to eligible U.S. charities and institutions across a wide range of causes; international organizations may also be supported after additional due diligence. In 2024, its grants had a median of $15,000, though amounts varied widely. Grants are requested by fund holders, and no general application process for organizations seeking funding is described.

Assets

$2.8B

Grants

3,282

Total Given

$212.2M

More similar funders

More Funders in Illinois

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

Ferdinand a & Agnes M Bower Charitable Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?