Rowe Family Foundation
The Rowe Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports 17 grants totaling $1,584,388 to charitable organizations.
Rowe Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Rowe Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $93K), top state New York. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,584,388
- -2.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $93,199
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $34,956,970
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (43% 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 Rowe Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rowe Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Stanford University ($300K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 33 grants of 75 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (43%), Massachusetts (19%), California (19%), Maine (12%), and the District of Columbia (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Rowe Family Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 15 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $815K (2020) to $1.9M (2023). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | For the benefit of the Department of Health Policy in the School of Medicine | $250,000 |
| Carroll School Corp Wayland, MA | For the support of the Carroll/ Public School Partnership Program | $150,000 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY | Rowe Family Fellowship fund in Movement Disorders | $150,000 |
| Museum of the City of New York New York, NY | For the support of the Lenape exhibit | $105,000 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc Boston, MA | Bladder Cancer Research Program Fund | $100,000 |
| Lincoln Center Theater New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| New York Yacht Club Foundation New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| The Carpenters Boat Shop Pemaquid, ME | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Urban Institute Washington, DC | annual fund | $100,000 |
| Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | Kent Island Postdoctoral Scholar program | $96,388 |
Ready to take the next step with Rowe Family 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 | $34,956,970 | $2,599,172 | $1,767,143 | $1,584,388 | 17 | $1,646,104 | $2,506,633 | $1,916,016 |
| 2024 | $34,124,941 | $1,708,979 | $1,828,428 | $1,630,000 | 14 | $1,709,289 | $1,612,840 | $1,834,284 |
| 2023 | $34,244,390 | $1,053,662 | $2,126,660 | $1,935,000 | 15 | $2,019,306 | $962,744 | $1,719,087 |
| 2022 | $35,317,388 | $1,146,753 | $2,025,549 | $1,790,000 | 12 | $1,874,781 | $1,052,485 | $1,794,726 |
| 2021 | $36,196,184 | $4,753,755 | $1,839,473 | $1,640,000 | 17 | $1,724,971 | $4,237,819 | $1,920,314 |
| 2020 | $33,281,902 | $894,836 | $994,782 | $815,000 | 14 | — | $804,451 | $1,654,967 |
| 2019 | $33,381,848 | $1,267,382 | $1,580,408 | $1,390,000 | 16 | — | $1,170,093 | $1,632,558 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rowe Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for medical research and health policy, educational institutions and programs, and cultural organizations.
Grantee descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai says it advances science, medicine, and health care through research, education, and care delivery. The Museum of the City of New York says it fosters understanding of urban life by interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. Bowdoin College describes its mission as providing a liberal arts education and developing students’ creative, social, and leadership abilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $1,584,388. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $100,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $250,000 to Stanford University for the benefit of the Department of Health Policy in its School of Medicine; $150,000 to Carroll School Corp for its Carroll/Public School Partnership Program; and $150,000 to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for the Rowe Family Fellowship fund in Movement Disorders. Other grants included $105,000 to the Museum of the City of New York for its Lenape exhibit, $100,000 to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for its Bladder Cancer Research Program Fund, and $100,000 each to Lincoln Center Theater, the New York Yacht Club Foundation, the Carpenters Boat Shop, and the Urban Institute.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Abigail M. Rowe, John W. Rowe, Meredith L. Rowe, Rebecca J. Rowe, and Valerie A. Rowe as officers and directors. John W. Rowe is listed as president; Valerie A. Rowe as secretary and treasurer; and the other three as vice presidents. All five are listed as directors.
Rowe Family Foundation is led by John W Rowe, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John W Rowe
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail M Rowe
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith L Rowe
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca J Rowe
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie A Rowe
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Rowe Family Foundation
How much does Rowe Family Foundation give each year?
Rowe Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 14 grants.
What is Rowe Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Rowe Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $93,199, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Rowe Family Foundation give grants?
Rowe Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (19%) and California (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Stanford, CA (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Rowe Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Rowe Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Rowe Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Rowe Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Stanford University ($300,000 across 2 grants), Carroll School Corp ($150,000) and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rowe Family Foundation?
Rowe Family Foundation reported $35.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Rowe Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for medical research and health policy, educational institutions and programs, and cultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rowe Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rowe Family Foundation's EIN?
Rowe Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0721105. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Rowe Family 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 4, 2024)
Live grants for the work Rowe Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Rowe Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rowe Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rowe-family-foundation-morg_a626f3bd6de0411ebdb7b981b313569f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200721105_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rowe Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rowe-family-foundation-morg_a626f3bd6de0411ebdb7b981b313569f},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. 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 Rowe Family 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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