The Bowers Foundation
The Bowers Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $317K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $20K. Net investment income was $104K.
The Bowers Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bowers Foundation gave $20K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,000
- -94.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- -42.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,000
- -90.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,500
- Total assets
- $317,325
- +29.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who The Bowers Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Unite to Light ($10K). Together the top 4 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 24 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Bowers Foundation gives
- Giving grew 233% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2020) to $378K (2023). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unite to Light Goleta, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Grazia Foundation Charlottesvle, VA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | General & Unrestricted | $4,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay Inc Tampa, FL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $317,325 | $106,570 | $34,633 | $20,000 | 4 | $30,914 | $104,320 | $17,026 |
| 2023 | $245,388 | $84,354 | $391,598 | $377,826 | 7 | $388,526 | $26,618 | $24,368 |
| 2022 | $476,979 | $128,349 | $18,585 | $6,000 | 5 | $15,613 | $6,875 | $22,953 |
| 2021 | $367,215 | $4,604 | $15,681 | $6,000 | 4 | $12,025 | $3,809 | $22,268 |
| 2020 | $378,292 | $91,114 | $14,737 | $4,000 | 4 | — | $87,028 | $17,428 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bowers Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Bowers Foundation is led by John Bowers, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Bowers
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ariel Bowers
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 The Bowers Foundation
How much does The Bowers Foundation give each year?
The Bowers Foundation gave $20K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $378K across 7 grants.
What is The Bowers Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bowers Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,500, and its average grant was $5,000, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Bowers Foundation give grants?
The Bowers Foundation gives mostly in California: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (25%) and Minnesota (20%).
Does The Bowers Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Bowers Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Bowers Foundation?
The Bowers Foundation reported $317K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $31K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Bowers Foundation's EIN?
The Bowers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3668271. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Bowers Foundation funds
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