Rowan Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 87-4069634

Rowan Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It makes grants to charitable organizations, and its 2025 filing states that it allocates funds for charitable purposes in accordance with foundation guidelines.

Rowan Foundation at a glance

In short: Rowan Foundation gave $2.0M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $183K), mostly in Ohio. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$2,012,747
+24.3% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
11
-52.2% vs 2024
Average grant
$182,977
+159.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$93,906
Total assets
$24,332,234
+7.7% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Ohio (66% 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 Rowan Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 303 W Madison St Ste 1000, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 548-8421

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Rowan Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Fidelity Charitable: $1.3MFidelity Charitable$1.3MAmerican Ireland Fund: $173KAmerican Ireland Fund$173KThe Hope and Courage Collective: $117KThe Hope and CourageCollective$117KIrish Penal Reform: $115KIrish Penal Reform$115KUplift: $109KUplift$109KAct Now: $94KAct Now$94KCitywide Drugs Crisis Campaign: $55KCitywide Drugs Crisis Campaign$55KJust for Kids Foundation: $20KJust for Kids Foundation$20KAbortion Bridge Collaboration Fund: $5KAbortion Bridge CollaborationFund$5KMemphis Center for Reproductive Health: $5KMemphis Center forReproductive Health$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Fidelity Charitable ($1.3M). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.

Grant Size Distribution

59 grants across all recorded years

35<$50K6$50–100K15$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 59 (59%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (66%), an unidentified state (24%), New York (9%), Colorado (1%), and California (0%). Listed recipients include organizations in Ohio, New York, Colorado, California, and Tennessee.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoTellurideDenverNew YorkPhiladelphiaAnaheimBostonCincinnatiMemphisSan Francisco

Is Rowan Foundation open to new grantees?

45%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $288K; repeat grants $95K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $104K repeat.

  • 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 199% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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

$0$1M$2M$3M0 grants2021 12 grants2022 13 grants2023 23 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $674K (2022) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $2.0M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Fidelity Charitable Cincinnati, OHGeneral Operating Support$1,320,000
American Ireland Fund New York, NYGeneral Operating Support$172,843
The Hope and Courage Collective General Operating Support$116,570
Irish Penal Reform General Operating Support$114,804
Uplift General Operating Support$108,843
Act Now General Operating Support$93,906
Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign General Operating Support$54,781
Just for Kids Foundation Telluride, COGeneral Operating Support$20,000
Abortion Bridge Collaboration Fund San Francisco, CAGeneral Operating Support$5,000
Memphis Center for Reproductive Health Memphis, TNGeneral Operating Support$5,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Rowan Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment Income
2025$24,332,234$3,931,929$2,243,786$2,012,74711$2,221,068$3,909,210
2024$22,595,451$5,257,886$1,977,289$1,619,71423$1,953,164$5,233,861
2023$19,340,627$1,995,477$1,326,813$978,21313$1,307,246$1,975,910
2022$27,135,919$203,228$1,012,591$674,12712$1,010,301$43,422
2021$4,000,000$4,000,000—————

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing does not state a specific mission beyond allocating funds to charitable purposes in accordance with its guidelines. Its 2025 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, Just For Kids Foundation says it empowers youth in the San Miguel Watershed through financial and developmental support. Memphis Center for Reproductive Health says its mission is to provide patient-centered medical care and champion sexual and reproductive rights.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $2,012,747 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,320,000, with a median grant of $93,906. Notable grants included $1,320,000 to Fidelity Charitable for general operating support, $172,843 to American Ireland Fund for general operating support, $116,570 to The Hope and Courage Collective for general operating support, and $114,804 to Irish Penal Reform for general operating support. Other grants included $20,000 to Just For Kids Foundation and $5,000 to Memphis Center for Reproductive Health.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Peter A Kinney and Lisa L Sandquist as directors.

Rowan Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lisa L. Sandquist

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter A. Kinney

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Rowan Foundation

How much does Rowan Foundation give each year?

Rowan Foundation gave $2.0M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 23 grants.

What is Rowan Foundation's typical grant size?

Rowan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $93,906, and its average grant was $182,977, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rowan Foundation that year got $288K on average.

Where does Rowan Foundation give grants?

Rowan Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Rowan Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Rowan Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Rowan Foundation's largest grantees?

Rowan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fidelity Charitable ($1,320,000), American Ireland Fund ($172,843) and The Hope and Courage Collective ($116,570), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Rowan Foundation?

Rowan Foundation reported $24.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $3.9M.

What does Rowan Foundation fund?

The foundation’s filing does not state a specific mission beyond allocating funds to charitable purposes in accordance with its guidelines. Its 2025 grants included support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Rowan Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Rowan Foundation's EIN?

Rowan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4069634. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does Rowan 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

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 5, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Rowan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Peter Kinney and Lisa Sandquist

Chicago, IL

The foundation’s 2021 grants supported housing, education, youth, arts, health, and social-justice organizations, primarily in Colorado and Illinois. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $1 million, with a median of $25,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$18.4M

Grants

16

Total Given

$1.4M

The Ford Foundation

New York, NY

The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$17.5B

Grants

4,007

Total Given

$844.7M

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.1B

Grants

4,316

Total Given

$1.2B

John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation

Chicago, IL

The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.

Assets

$9.3B

Grants

1,086

Total Given

$356.1M

Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation

Chicago, IL

The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation funds postsecondary access and success for first-generation students of color from low-income communities, especially through Chicago organizations, as well as climate, clean-energy, and environmental work; it has also supported arts and culture. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $150,000, with a median of $5,000. Unsolicited requests are not addressed in the information provided; applicants are advised to contact the executive director for procedures.

Assets

$25.9M

Grants

103

Total Given

$1.6M

The Allstate Foundation

Northbrook, IL

The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.

Assets

$89.3M

Grants

2,010

Total Given

$38.0M

More similar funders

More Funders in Illinois

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Rowan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rowan-foundation-morg_fcc014bef21c42dc97c4e8e193b68c62

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_874069634_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Rowan Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/rowan-foundation-morg_fcc014bef21c42dc97c4e8e193b68c62},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Rowan 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.

Rowan Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?