Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation
The Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation is a private foundation based in Spokane, Washington. Established in 1944 by William H. Cowles in memory of his wife, Harriet Cheney Cowles, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The foundation has been tax-exempt since September 1948.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.4M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$570K
-24.1% YoY
Grant Count
6
+200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$95K
-74.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated mainly to capital projects with a focus on civic, arts, cultural, and educational endeavors. Primary funding areas include education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $200,000 to $750,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects within the circulation footprint of The Spokesman-Review, with a focus on the Spokane, Washington region and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $12,402,643 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $570,000 (2024)
Total Assets (2023): $12.3 million
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Cumulative Impact: Since its inception in 1944, the foundation has contributed nearly $20 million in support for projects within its service area.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,402,643 | $12,253,970 | $12,665,961 |
| Revenue | $806,563 | $429,390 | $663,777 |
| Expenses | $657,890 | $841,381 | $1,111,654 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $576,420 | $757,403 | $1,011,545 |
| Net Investment Income | $740,142 | $358,043 | $549,914 |
| Distributable Amount | $783,373 | $737,416 | $750,960 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WS COWLES | TRUSTEE/VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| EA COWLES | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SR RECTOR | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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