Gow Family Foundation
The Gow Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Bellevue, Washington, established in 2012. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since February 2013. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations primarily in Washington state, with emphasis on King County and the broader Pacific Northwest region.
Key facts about Gow Family Foundation
- EIN
- 46-0986449
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,960,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- Average grant
- $57,647
- Median grant
- $37,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 34, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation lacks a formal website. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Who Gow Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Gow Family Foundation's 34 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (66%), California (19%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (15 grants), Bellevue, WA (4 grants) and Everett, WA (4 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Gow Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 34 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $150K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $150K first-time, $33K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Gow Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Gow Family Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+11.7% YoY
Grant Count
34
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$58K
+11.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation prioritizes:
- Human services
- Education
- Children and youth
- Immigrants and refugees
- Human and civil rights
- Reproductive justice
- Mental health, housing, and homelessness services
The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in youth organizations, foster care services, and educational institutions in the Seattle area.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000–$220,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Gow Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Washington state (emphasis on King County and Seattle area)
- California
- Oregon
- Pacific Northwest region
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 34 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $16,446,275
- Total giving: $1,960,000
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $17,029,833
- Total revenues: $4,004,016
- Total expenses: $2,314,710
- Total grants, contributions: $2,000,000
- Investment income and dividends: $996,565
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $672,306
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
155 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Pottery Northwest ($220,000), Planned Parenthood ($200,000), Center for Independent Documentary ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| POTTERY NORTHWEST Seattle, WA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $220,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD Seattle, WA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $200,000 |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY Newton, MA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $200,000 |
| YUAN TZE REN XUE CENTER Orinda, CA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $150,000 |
| YWCA OF SEATTLEKINGSNOHOMISH COUNTY Seattle, WA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $150,000 |
| IFWHENHOW LAWYERING FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE Oakland, CA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| INQUIRING SYSTEMS Santa Rosa, CA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| ISLANDWOOD Bainbridge Island, WA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| LIFE ENRICHEMENT OPTIONS Seattle, WA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| NORTHWEST COMMUNITY BAIL FUND Seattle, WA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is steered by:
- Jeffrey D. Gow — Co-founder; former CEO of Polygon Northwest Company, a homebuilder in the Seattle and Portland areas
- Pamela Gow — Co-founder
Additional officers include Jacquelin Gow, Robin Gow, and Patricia Kurkiewicz.
Both Jeffrey and Pamela Gow attended the University of British Columbia and have supported that institution through the foundation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffery Gow | Chair | — | — |
| Pamela Gow | Vice Chair | — | — |
| Patricia Kurkiewicz | Secretary | — | — |
| Robin Gow | Treasurer | — | — |
| Jacqueline Gow | Director | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent giving has indicated the foundation maintains an interest in reproductive justice and immigrants' rights. The foundation has supported organizations including:
Gochman Family Donates To USHJA Foundation For Pony Finals GrantAmara (foster care services)
Art with Heart
Bellevue LifeSpring (providing food, clothing, education, and emergency assistance to Bellevue's children and families)
Rainier Prep
Rainier Scholars
YMCA
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gow Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation prioritizes: • Human services • Education • Children and youth • Immigrants and refugees • Human and civil rights • Reproductive justice • Mental health, housing, and homelessness services The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in youth organizations, foster care services, and educational institutions in the Seattle area.
How do I apply for a grant from Gow Family Foundation?
The foundation lacks a formal website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Gow Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Washington state (emphasis on King County and Seattle area) • California • Oregon • Pacific Northwest region
What size grants does Gow Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gow Family Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $58K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Gow Family Foundation's EIN?
Gow Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0986449. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.