John & Janice Howie Foundation
The John & Janice Howie Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports $700,000 in grants to 14 organizations, including environmental, educational, wildlife, and charitable organizations.
John & Janice Howie Foundation at a glance
In short: John & Janice Howie Foundation gave $700K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $50K), top state Florida. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $700,000
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $50,000
- +42.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $8,552,969
- +51.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Florida (29% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to John & Janice Howie Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7 Pine St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John & Janice Howie Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Indian College Fund ($50K). Together the top 10 received $500K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 14 grants of 24 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (29%), Washington, DC (14%), California (14%), Colorado (7%), and Ohio (7%), among other states. The listed recipients also include organizations in Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How John & Janice Howie Foundation gives
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 202% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $350K (2024) to $700K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $700K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian College Fund Denver, CO | Educational | $50,000 |
| Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cincinnati, OH | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Florida Wildlife Federation Tallahassee, FL | Charitable | $50,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Ocean Conservancy Washington, DC | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists Cambridge, MA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| World Wildlife Found Washington, DC | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Earthjustice San Francisco, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Berea College Berea, KY | Educational | $50,000 |
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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 | $8,552,969 | $692,140 | $728,313 | $700,000 | 14 | $700,000 | $249,396 | $346,265 |
| 2024 | $5,649,331 | $6,022,185 | $372,854 | $350,000 | 10 | $350,000 | $24,757 | $22,801 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Janice Howie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $346K 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 organizations working in environmental conservation, education, wildlife, and other charitable areas. For example, Ocean Conservancy describes its mission as uniting science, people, and policy to protect the ocean. The American Indian College Fund says it invests in Native students and tribal college education, while Berea College describes its mission as transforming the lives of students and families by admitting students of high promise and low means.
Other grantees describe work in environmental law, environmental learning, marine wildlife conservation, and safeguarding Florida’s water, wildlife, and wild spaces. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $700,000 across 14 grants. Each grant was $50,000. Named recipients include the American Indian College Fund, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Florida Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy, Sierra Club Foundation, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Wildlife Fund, Earthjustice, Berea College, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, and Canine Companions; each received $50,000. Other 2025 recipients described in the available information include New Haven Ecology Project and The Florida Aquarium, which also received $50,000 each.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Howie as Chairwoman/T, Marlee Rose Linnell as Secretary, and Sharon Holding as President.
John & Janice Howie Foundation is led by Sharon Holding, President on every filing since 2024; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sharon Holding
President
On filings since 2024
$5K (2024) → $5K (2025)
Lisa Howie
Chairwoman & T
President → Chairwoman & T, 2024
On filings since 2023
$10K (2024) → $10K (2025)
Marlee Rose Linnell
Secretary
On filings since 2024
$5K (2024) → $5K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Janice Howie (2020–2022) — President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $10K, to Lisa Howie (Chairwoman/T). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John & Janice Howie Foundation
How much does John & Janice Howie Foundation give each year?
John & Janice Howie Foundation gave $700K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $350K across 10 grants.
What is John & Janice Howie Foundation's typical grant size?
John & Janice Howie Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $50,000, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John & Janice Howie Foundation give grants?
John & Janice Howie Foundation's top state is Florida, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does John & Janice Howie Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on John & Janice Howie Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (12 grants).
Who are John & Janice Howie Foundation's largest grantees?
John & Janice Howie Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Indian College Fund ($50,000), Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden ($50,000) and Florida Wildlife Federation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John & Janice Howie Foundation?
John & Janice Howie Foundation reported $8.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $700K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $346K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John & Janice Howie Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in environmental conservation, education, wildlife, and other charitable areas. For example, Ocean Conservancy describes its mission as uniting science, people, and policy to protect the ocean. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John & Janice Howie Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 John & Janice Howie Foundation's EIN?
John & Janice Howie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1755447. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does John & Janice Howie 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work John & Janice Howie Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John & Janice Howie Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John & Janice Howie Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-janice-howie-foundation-morg_48f9a8dcbdcd40208c4306bd279e93da
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311755447_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John \& Janice Howie Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-janice-howie-foundation-morg_48f9a8dcbdcd40208c4306bd279e93da},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 John & Janice Howie 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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