Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation
The Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation is a private foundation based in Frankfort, Michigan. In 2025, it reported 28 grants totaling $1,456,000 to charitable organizations, including organizations supporting health care, the arts, community services, and other purposes.
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation at a glance
In short: Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation gave $1.5M across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $52K), mostly in Michigan. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,456,000
- +16.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,000
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $34,258,714
- +10.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (5 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 393, Frankfort, MI 49635-0393
Phone: (231) 352-6960
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Foundation and Munson Healthcare Foundation ($175K). Together the top 10 received $915K.
Grant Size Distribution
135 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 135 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Michigan recipients received 67% of grant dollars, Arizona recipients 20%, and recipients in Washington, DC, Florida, and Colorado received 5%, 3%, and 2%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 28 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Foundation and Munson Healthcare Foundation Traverse City, MI | Siemens Multix Impact C X-Ray Unit | $175,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA(WEST) Traverse City, MI | Building Campaign-Phase II | $150,000 |
| Munson Healthcare Foundation Traverse City, MI | Munson Orthopedic: Surgical Equipment | $150,000 |
| Frankfort Airport Frankfort, MI | To Remove Obstructions in Runaway Approach Areas | $85,000 |
| Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | Tax Policy Research and Education Efforts | $75,000 |
| Tgen Foundation Phoenix, AZ | Lung Cancer Research at Tgen Center | $70,000 |
| Barrow Neurological Foundation Phoenix, AZ | Woman's board project: ivy brain tumor center w/dr. Nader sinai | $60,000 |
| Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra Inc Frankfort, MI | Establish Youth Strings Program in Benzie County | $50,000 |
| Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts Frankfort, MI | Equipment and Capital Upgrades | $50,000 |
| Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse Frankfort, MI | Capital Improvement Projects and Lighthouse Grant Assistance | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,258,714 | $3,228,772 | $1,721,449 | $1,456,000 | 28 | $1,461,854 | $2,940,827 | $1,553,202 |
| 2024 | $31,117,502 | $2,474,747 | $1,479,281 | $1,246,000 | 25 | $1,251,127 | $2,193,397 | $1,460,320 |
| 2023 | $27,557,728 | $1,657,005 | $1,426,289 | $1,272,500 | 28 | $1,279,334 | $1,436,769 | $1,253,357 |
| 2022 | $23,447,989 | $1,209,421 | $1,557,823 | $1,416,000 | 28 | $1,424,189 | $969,299 | $1,279,363 |
| 2021 | $31,144,501 | $1,980,992 | $1,828,569 | $1,129,000 | 26 | $1,133,760 | $1,729,297 | $1,421,319 |
| 2020 | $27,006,914 | $2,490,824 | $1,297,910 | $1,079,000 | 30 | — | $2,276,343 | $1,136,431 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — 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 foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for hospital equipment, a YMCA building campaign, lung cancer research, an airport runway project, arts programs and facilities, local housing, and tax policy research and education.
Grantee missions illustrate some of the kinds of organizations it supports. Interlochen Center for the Arts says it engages and inspires people through educational, artistic, and cultural programs. Benzie Area Christian Neighbors says it helps people with limited resources through food, clothing, financial assistance, education, and social support. Barrow Neurological Foundation says it supports Barrow Neurological Institute.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $1,456,000. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $175,000, with a median grant of $40,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $175,000 to Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Foundation and Munson Healthcare Foundation for an X-ray unit; $150,000 to Grand Traverse Bay YMCA (West) for its building campaign and $150,000 to Munson Healthcare Foundation for surgical equipment; and $85,000 to Frankfort Airport to remove obstructions in runway approach areas. Other grants included $70,000 to TGen Foundation for lung cancer research, $50,000 to Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra to establish a youth strings program, and $50,000 to Housing Trust of Benzie for low-cost local housing. The foundation also gave $40,000 to Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, $35,000 to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, and $25,000 to Arizona Humane Society.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Willard H Dow II as president and trustee; Pamela D Collie as vice president, secretary, treasurer, and trustee; and Margo Praytor as trustee.
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation is led by Willard H. Dow II, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Willard H. Dow II
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margo Praytor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela D. Collie
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation
How much does Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation give each year?
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation gave $1.5M across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 25 grants.
What is Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's typical grant size?
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $52,000, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation give grants?
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arizona (20%) and District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Frankfort, MI (6 grants), Phoenix, AZ (6 grants), Traverse City, MI (3 grants) and Beulah, MI (2 grants).
Does Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's largest grantees?
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Foundation and Munson Healthcare Foundation ($175,000), Grand Traverse Bay YMCA(WEST) ($150,000) and Munson Healthcare Foundation ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation?
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation reported $34.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (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 Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for hospital equipment, a YMCA building campaign, lung cancer research, an airport runway project, arts programs and facilities, local housing, and tax policy research and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's EIN?
Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6058513. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/herbert-h-and-barbara-c-dow-foundation-morg_26af242767a04af1850b11ed1541d2bc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386058513_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/herbert-h-and-barbara-c-dow-foundation-morg_26af242767a04af1850b11ed1541d2bc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation'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.
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