Louetta M Cowden Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker DALLAS, TX EIN: 43-6052617
Arts and culturePerforming artsMusicOrchestral musicEducation

The Louetta M Cowden Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Established in 1964, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to supporting quality programming in education, culture, human services, and health care.

Key facts about Louetta M Cowden Foundation

EIN
43-6052617
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$647,000
Grants made (2025)
21
Average grant
$30,810
Median grant
$25,000
Primary geography
Missouri (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Louetta M Cowden Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Louetta M Cowden Foundation's 21 itemized 2025 grants were Missouri (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (16 grants) and Independence, MO (3 grants). 14% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$647K

+7.8% YoY

Grant Count

21

+23.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$31K

-12.7% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation was established to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming.

Primary funding interests include:

  • Arts and culture
  • Performing arts and music
  • Orchestral music
  • Education
  • Human services (including basic and emergency aid, food aid, food banks, family services, and child welfare)

Grantmaking

The foundation provides support for unrestricted general support and program support. Requests for capital support are not considered. Grants typically have a duration of one year.

Grant Types

**
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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds projects in Missouri, with specific focus on Kansas City, Independence, Riverside, and St. Joseph.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 21 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Kansas CityIndependenceKingsvilleOverland ParkPlatte CitySt JosephDallasGladstoneLees SummitLibertyRiversideSaint James

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total assets: $11,964,148
  • Total revenue: $1,223,981
  • Total expenses: $687,371
  • Investment income and dividends: $343,243

Staffing:

  • 1 employee

Administration: Bank of America N.A. serves as co-trustee and receives compensation for its role.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.12019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$176K$353K$529K$705K15 grants201918 grants202013 grants202117 grants202210 grants202317 grants202421 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Metropolitan Arts Counci…$55KNelson Gallery Foundation$55KBoys Club of Greater Kan…$50KAlphapointe$50KHarry S Truman Children's$50KCharlotte Street Foundat…$45KKansas City Community Ga…$40KBridging the Gap Inc$40KMidwest Innocence Projec…$35KEnglewood Arts$30K

Grant Size Distribution

78 grants across all recorded years

52<$50K21$50–100K4$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Louetta M Cowden Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Metropolitan Arts Council of Greater ($55,000), Nelson Gallery Foundation ($55,000), Boys Club of Greater Kansas City ($50,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY, MOSUPPORT AUDIENCE$55,000
NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION KANSAS CITY, MOMUSEUM SCHOOL & COMMUNITY$55,000
BOYS CLUB OF GREATER KANSAS CITY KANSAS CITY, MOPROJECT LEARN: ACADEMIC$50,000
ALPHAPOINTE KANSAS CITY, MOCOMPREHENSIVE$50,000
HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S INDEPENDENCE, MOHEALTHY SUPPORT FOR$50,000
CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION KANSAS CITY, MOUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$45,000
KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC KANSAS CITY, MOSUPPORT FOR HOME &$40,000
BRIDGING THE GAP INC KANSAS CITY, MOSUPPORT FOR WATER & ENERGY$40,000
MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT INC KANSAS CITY, MOSUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WORK$35,000
ENGLEWOOD ARTS INDEPENDENCE, MOSUPPORT FOR EXPANDING$30,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

BANK OF AMERICA N ACO-TRUSTEE$60K

From 2025 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
BANK OF AMERICA N ACO-TRUSTEE1$59,510

Contact Information

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Arts and culturePerforming artsMusicOrchestral musicEducation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Louetta M Cowden Foundation fund?

The foundation was established to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming. Primary funding interests include: • Arts and culture • Performing arts and music • Orchestral music • Education • Human services (including basic and emergency aid, food aid, food banks, family services, and child welfare)

How do I apply for a grant from Louetta M Cowden Foundation?

**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $200,000 • Total giving in 2024: $600,000 • The foundation made 18 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • National WWI Museum and Memorial: $75,000 (Digitizing the First World) • Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater KC: $50,000 (Support Project Learn) • Alphapointe: $50,000 (Comprehensive Vision) **Grant Types:** The foundation provides support for unrestricted general support and program support. Requests for capital supp…

Where does Louetta M Cowden Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds projects in Missouri, with specific focus on Kansas City, Independence, Riverside, and St. Joseph.

What size grants does Louetta M Cowden Foundation award?

In 2025, Louetta M Cowden Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $647K — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Louetta M Cowden Foundation's EIN?

Louetta M Cowden Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6052617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

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

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