John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation
The John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Kensington, Maryland. Its grant-program description says it supports organizations in the Washington, DC area serving underserved and at-risk populations.
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation at a glance
In short: John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation gave $2.7M across 82 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in District of Columbia. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,685,000
- -6.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 82
- +13.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,744
- -17.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $66,122,558
- -0.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (25 of 82, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (55% 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 John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing says applicants should provide the information required through the online website. It lists no deadlines or restrictions on awards, and says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Jeff Capron Co The John Edward Fowl
Mailing address: PO Box 370, Oakton, VA 22124
Phone: (703) 214-2266
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation
Who John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rockville Community Nursery School ($200K). Together the top 10 received $805K.
Grant Size Distribution
368 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 291 grants of 368 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s program description identifies the Washington, DC area as its service area. In 2025, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 23% to Maryland, and 19% to Virginia; 1% each went to Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 25 of 82 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2021 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $2.7M (2025) to $3.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 82 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rockville Community Nursery School Rockville, MD | General operating | $200,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington Washington, DC | General operating | $100,000 |
| Building Bridges Across the River Washington, DC | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Arlington Free Clinic Arlington, VA | General operating | $70,000 |
| Central Union Mission Washington, DC | General operating | $65,000 |
| DC Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General operating | $65,000 |
| Aspire Afterschool Learning Arlington, VA | General operating | $55,000 |
| Barker Adoption Foundation Bethesda, MD | General operating | $50,000 |
| Fair Chance Washington, DC | General operating | $50,000 |
| Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless Rockville, MD | General operating | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John Edward Fowler Memorial 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 | $66,122,558 | $3,771,583 | $3,313,181 | $2,685,000 | 82 | — | $2,158,213 | — |
| 2024 | $66,436,177 | $2,714,917 | $3,473,078 | $2,855,000 | 72 | — | $2,655,923 | — |
| 2023 | $67,244,173 | $2,066,666 | $3,386,171 | $2,940,000 | 71 | — | $1,943,072 | — |
| 2022 | $68,582,324 | $2,581,272 | $3,543,140 | $2,956,000 | 67 | — | $2,349,908 | — |
| 2021 | $75,088,971 | $13,063,935 | $3,667,410 | $3,045,000 | 76 | $3,423,963 | $12,820,728 | $3,219,395 |
| 2020 | $66,845,690 | $2,222,174 | $3,744,605 | $3,230,000 | 88 | — | $1,999,395 | $3,070,211 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s grant-program description identifies support for underserved and at-risk populations in the Washington, DC area, including work in adult literacy, childhood education, and homelessness. It describes a preference for grassroots, direct-service organizations and says it avoids funding national organizations and medical research.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of services. Rockville Community Nursery School says its mission is to provide early education for children before school age. Arlington Free Clinic says it provides comprehensive whole-person healthcare to neighbors who would otherwise lack access. Aspire Afterschool Learning says it expands learning opportunities for young people through afterschool and summer programs. Central Union Mission describes serving people in need throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 82 grants totaling $2,685,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000. Its program description says first-time grants typically do not exceed $10,000; it notes that larger requests may be approved when there is a need, an ongoing relationship, or a capital purpose, with capital grants limited to prior grantees.
The largest reported 2025 grants included $200,000 to Rockville Community Nursery School; $100,000 each to Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and Building Bridges Across the River; and $70,000 to Arlington Free Clinic. Other grants included $65,000 each to Central Union Mission and DC Central Kitchen, and $55,000 to Aspire Afterschool Learning. The listed purposes for these grants were general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael P Bentzen as Chair, Jeffery P Capron as President, and Brian Bentzen and Kelly Capron as Trustees.
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation is led by Jeffery P Capron, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffery P Capron
President
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $65K (2025)
Michael P Bentzen
Chair
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $65K (2025)
Brian Bentzen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $65K (2025)
Kelly Capron
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Richard H Lee (2020) — Retired
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 $65K, to Michael P Bentzen (Chair). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation
How much does John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation give each year?
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation gave $2.7M across 82 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.9M across 72 grants.
What is John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $32,744, across 82 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation give grants?
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (23%) and Virginia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (48 grants), Rockville, MD (8 grants), Arlington, VA (5 grants) and Alexandria, VA (3 grants).
Does John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (82 of 82) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Rockville Community Nursery School ($200,000), Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington ($100,000) and Building Bridges Across the River ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation?
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation reported $66.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What does John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation’s grant-program description identifies support for underserved and at-risk populations in the Washington, DC area, including work in adult literacy, childhood education, and homelessness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation?
The 2025 filing says applicants should provide the information required through the online website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's EIN?
John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-6019469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 June 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-edward-fowler-memorial-foundation-morg_cd861b7c593e431084d9a97640f58c1b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_516019469_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-edward-fowler-memorial-foundation-morg_cd861b7c593e431084d9a97640f58c1b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Edward Fowler Memorial 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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