James a and Mayme H Rowland

Private foundation · Grantmaker Dallas, TX EIN: 75-6043988

James a and Mayme H Rowland is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2024 filing describes its direct charitable activity as monetary support to educational, religious, charitable, and scientific entities.

Key facts about James a and Mayme H Rowland

In short: James a and Mayme H Rowland gave $110K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state North Carolina. 61% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
75-6043988
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$110,000
Grants made (2024)
33
Average grant
$3,333
Median grant
$3,000
New grantees (estimate)
61% first-time grantees (20 of 33, 2024)
Total assets
$1,247,731
Primary geography
North Carolina (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
Contact Susan Sowell. Full details ↓
Deadline
None.

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.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.2M

-3.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$110K

+44.7% YoY

Grant Count

33

+37.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

+5.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James a and Mayme H Rowland reported a distributable amount of $100K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is James a and Mayme H Rowland open to new grantees?

61%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 20 of 33 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 83% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation states that it provides monetary support to educational, religious, charitable, and scientific entities. Its 2024 grants included support for educational organizations, arts and cultural organizations, environmental conservation groups, community initiatives, and humanitarian relief.

Among its grantees, Longview Museum of Fine Arts describes its mission as enriching lives and igniting a passion for the arts. Conserving Carolina says it works to protect, restore, and inspire appreciation of the natural world. The Philadelphia Orchard Project describes its work as supporting community orchards and providing educational opportunities in orchard care. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave $110,000 through 33 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $15,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Notable awards included $15,000 to Christ School Fund for educational purposes; $8,000 to Longview Museum of Fine Arts for charitable purposes; and $5,000 each to Sewanee for educational purposes and French Broad River Academy for charitable purposes. Other awards included $4,000 each to Mountain True, The Pisgah Conservancy, and Conserving Carolina.

The foundation’s application policy says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists Susan Sowell as the contact, “5” under form and materials, and requires award recipients to be tax-exempt organizations.

Review Cycle

None.

How to Apply

Contact Susan Sowell. The filing lists “5” for form and materials and requires recipients to be tax-exempt organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 43% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 23% to Pennsylvania, and 16% to Texas. Smaller shares went to Tennessee (5%) and Louisiana (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.

Cities

AshevilleNew OrleansPhiladelphiaLongviewNew YorkProvidenceRoanokeSewaneeArdenAshvilleAustinBrevardGrand IsleAschevilleHendersonvilleTylerCullowheeArlingtonBooneBoston

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K12 grants2020 19 grants2021 21 grants2022 24 grants2023 33 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $51K (2020) to $110K (2024). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $110K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Christ School Fund: $15KChrist School Fund$15KLongview Museum of Fine Arts: $8KLongview Museum of Fine Arts$8KSewanee: $5KSewanee$5KFrench Broad River Academy: $5KFrench Broad River Academy$5KMountain True: $4KMountain True$4KThe Pisgah Conservancy: $4KThe Pisgah Conservancy$4KConserving Carolina: $4KConserving Carolina$4KPhiladelphia Orchard Project: $3KPhiladelphia Orchard Project$3KThe Fund for the School District of: $3KThe Fund for the SchoolDistrict of$3KUrban League Philadelphia: $3KUrban League Philadelphia$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was Christ School Fund ($15K). Together the top 10 received $54K.

Grant Size Distribution

109 grants across all recorded years

109<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 109 grants of 109 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Christ School Fund Arden, NCEducational$15,000
Longview Museum of Fine Arts Longview, TXCharitable$8,000
Sewanee Sewanee, TNEducational$5,000
French Broad River Academy Ascheville, NCCharitable$5,000
Mountain True Asheville, NCCharitable$4,000
The Pisgah Conservancy Brevard, NCCharitable$4,000
Conserving Carolina Hendersonville, NCCharitable$4,000
Philadelphia Orchard Project Philadelphia, PACharitable$3,000
The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, PAEducational$3,000
Urban League Philadelphia Philadelphia, PACharitable$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $1,247,731 $82,662 $124,750 $110,000
2023 $1,289,819 $44,203 $89,461 $76,000
2022 $1,291,710 $88,443 $114,739 $100,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,247,731$1,289,819$1,291,710
Revenue$82,662$44,203$88,443
Expenses$124,750$89,461$114,739
Qualifying Distributions$110,000$76,000$100,000
Net Investment Income$57,402$41,622$33,183
Distributable Amount$100,136$97,472$103,564

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Susan Dowler Sowell and Mary Sowell Shelmire as trustees.

James a and Mayme H Rowland's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mary Sowell Shelmire

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Dowler Sowell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Application contact: Susan Sowell
Mailing address: 17480 Dallas Pkwy 230, Dallas, TX 75287
Phone: (214) 855-0139

Frequently asked questions about James a and Mayme H Rowland

How much does James a and Mayme H Rowland give each year?

James a and Mayme H Rowland gave $110K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $76K across 24 grants.

What is James a and Mayme H Rowland's typical grant size?

James a and Mayme H Rowland's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,333, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James a and Mayme H Rowland that year got $3K on average.

Where does James a and Mayme H Rowland give grants?

James a and Mayme H Rowland's top state is North Carolina, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (23%) and Texas (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (11 grants), Asheville, NC (4 grants), Longview, TX (3 grants) and Ascheville, NC (2 grants).

Does James a and Mayme H Rowland give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on James a and Mayme H Rowland's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (27 grants) and "Educational" (6 grants).

Who are James a and Mayme H Rowland's largest grantees?

James a and Mayme H Rowland's largest 2024 grantees include Christ School Fund ($15,000), Longview Museum of Fine Arts ($8,000) and Sewanee ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is James a and Mayme H Rowland?

James a and Mayme H Rowland reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $100K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does James a and Mayme H Rowland fund?

The foundation states that it provides monetary support to educational, religious, charitable, and scientific entities. Its 2024 grants included support for educational organizations, arts and cultural organizations, environmental conservation groups, community initiatives, and humanitarian relief. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from James a and Mayme H Rowland?

Contact Susan Sowell. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is James a and Mayme H Rowland's EIN?

James a and Mayme H Rowland's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6043988. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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