The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2003 and headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The foundation is dedicated to improving lives in Northeast Ohio through philanthropic grantmaking and community partnerships across multiple focus areas including criminal justice, cancer support, reproductive rights, environmental action, and the arts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
-16.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
146
+18.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-15.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation is committed to helping create an equitable Northeast Ohio by funding and partnering with organizations that elevate community assets, dismantle barriers to opportunity, and create a vibrant environment.
Vision: The foundation envisions a society in which every person can live their version of a fulfilling life, with unconditional access to opportunity, justice, and a thriving community.
Core Values: Equity, Justice, Opportunity, Freedom, Integrity, Sustainability, Partnership, and Community.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Arts
- Criminal justice
- Cancer support (AYA cancer support)
- Reproductive rights support and services
- Environmental action
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with typical award sizes ranging from $250,000 to $400,000. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Northeast Ohio, with additional grantmaking activity in Pennsylvania and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,287,093
- Total Giving: $3,525,818
- Total Revenues: $1,545,728
- Total Expenses: $3,919,060
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $14.6 million
- Total Revenues: $1.18 million
- Total Expenses: $3.99 million
The foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation and is required to file IRS Form 990-PF annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,287,093 | $14,647,660 | $17,455,961 |
| Revenue | $1,545,728 | $1,180,688 | $821,782 |
| Expenses | $3,919,060 | $3,989,733 | $4,529,654 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,625,818 | $3,509,510 | $4,061,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,475,043 | $1,065,077 | $729,761 |
| Distributable Amount | $842,055 | $903,423 | $1,138,617 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chann Fowler-Spellman — Principal Officer
- Holley Fowler Martens — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES D FOWLER | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| CHARLOTTE A FOWLER | TREASURER & SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| CHANN FOWLER SPELLMAN | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| HOLLEY FOWLER MARTENS | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025:** Ideastream Public Media announced a transformational $1 million gift from the Char and Chuck Fowler Foundation for the NEOJazz Legacy Project.
Ideastream receives $1M gift from Fowlers**2024:** The Assembly for the Arts awarded 17 artists $10,000 each through the Creative Impact Fund, supported by the foundation.
Assembly for the Arts Awards 17 Artists $10000 Each Through the ...**2024-25:** The foundation released an organizational update outlining current priorities and activities.
2024/25 Update - Fowler Family FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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