The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. It has supported Northeast Ohio nonprofits since 2001, with grantmaking focused on criminal justice, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer support, reproductive health, environmental action, and the arts.
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family at a glance
In short: The Char and Chuck Fowler Family gave $3.5M across 146 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in Ohio. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,525,818
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 146
- +18.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,149
- -15.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $12,287,093
- -16.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (39 of 146, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
- How to Apply
-
The foundation said it would no longer accept funding requests as of December 2, 2025, so its application process is not presented as current. Before that announcement, its process used an online Letter of Inquiry, with full applications available to invited organizations. It supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations and typically limited awards to one per organization in a 12-month period. The website encouraged general operating support. The foundation said it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The final deadline for larger grants over $5,000 was August 15, 2025, and the final deadline for rolling grants under $5,000 was December 1, 2025. Both dates have passed.
- Deadline
- The final deadline for larger grants over $5,000 was August 15, 2025, and the final deadline for rolling grants under…
- Contact
Application contact: Co Cornerstone Family Office Llc
Mailing address: 5900 Landerbrook Dr 200, Mayfield Hts, OH 44124
Phone: (216) 906-4578
Email: grants@fowlerfamilyfdn.org
Website: https://fowlerfamilyfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation: Less Than $5,000 Grant
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation: More Than $5,000 Grant
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Char and Chuck Fowler Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Magnolia Clubhouse ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
654 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 584 grants of 654 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as serving Northeast Ohio. In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio; the remaining reported shares went to New York (2%), California (1%), Colorado (1%), and Illinois (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 146 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Char and Chuck Fowler Family open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 39 of 146 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 431% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.5M (2023) to $4.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 146 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Magnolia Clubhouse Cleveland, OH | Costs Associated with Elevator Install at Magnolia | $200,000 |
| Sandstone Foundation Mayfield Heights, OH | Operating Support | $200,000 |
| University Hospitals Cleveland, OH | Uh rainbow babies & children's hospital payment 2 of 2 | $150,000 |
| Flying Horse Farms Mount Gilead, OH | Urgent Medical Supplies for Flying Horse Farms | $122,000 |
| KHNEMU Foundation Inc Cleveland, OH | Capacity Building and Salary Support | $100,000 |
| East 66TH Street Services Cleveland, OH | For Neighborhood Connections | $75,000 |
| C2F3 Cleveland, OH | General Support | $75,000 |
| Enlightened Solutions Cleveland, OH | Operating Support, 2 of 2 | $50,117 |
| Birthing Beautiful Communities Cleveland, OH | Construct & operate neo first birth center in cle hough nbhd | $50,000 |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | Reproductive Rights Law Initiative 1 of 3 | $50,000 |
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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 | $12,287,093 | $1,545,728 | $3,919,060 | $3,525,818 | 146 | $3,625,818 | $1,475,043 | $842,055 |
| 2023 | $14,647,660 | $1,180,688 | $3,989,733 | $3,509,510 | 123 | $3,509,510 | $1,065,077 | $903,423 |
| 2022 | $17,455,961 | $821,782 | $4,529,654 | $4,061,700 | 154 | $4,061,700 | $729,761 | $1,138,617 |
| 2021 | $21,172,068 | $2,691,597 | $4,086,608 | $3,658,750 | 123 | $3,658,750 | $2,580,525 | $1,348,370 |
| 2020 | $22,567,100 | $65,191 | $3,946,954 | $3,591,700 | 108 | — | $311,255 | $1,307,811 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Char and Chuck Fowler Family reported a distributable amount of $842K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to help create an equitable Northeast Ohio by funding and partnering with organizations that elevate community assets, dismantle barriers to opportunity, and create a vibrant environment. Its stated priorities include criminal justice education, advocacy and support; AYA cancer support; reproductive rights education and health services; and environmental action. The foundation also has an arts focus, but said that since January 2023 its arts funding would be initiated by the foundation rather than through unsolicited requests.
The foundation supports tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, including organizations operating under a tax-exempt nonprofit’s fiscal sponsorship. Its website says it values inclusive and equitable approaches, community involvement, racial justice, advocacy, innovation, and work addressing root causes.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Magnolia Clubhouse describes its mission as psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration for people experiencing serious and prolonged mental illness. Flying Horse Farms says it provides medically safe, cost-free camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. The Gathering Place describes itself as a community supporting, educating, and empowering people and families touched by cancer. Birthing Beautiful Communities says it works to improve structures associated with poor birth outcomes through culture, education, advocacy, support, and engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 146 grants totaling $3,525,818. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median of $20,000. Among the largest reported grants were $200,000 to Magnolia Clubhouse for elevator installation costs and $200,000 to Sandstone Foundation for operating support. Other examples include $150,000 to University Hospitals for a Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital payment; $122,000 to Flying Horse Farms for urgent medical supplies; and $100,000 to Khnemu Foundation Inc. for capacity building and salary support.
Additional 2024 awards included $75,000 to East 66th Street Services for Neighborhood Connections and $75,000 to C2F3 for general support. The foundation also awarded $50,000 each to Birthing Beautiful Communities, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University Foundation, and Signal Ohio, for purposes including a birth center, a reproductive rights law initiative, criminal justice center operating support, and criminal justice reporting.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles D. Fowler as president; Charlotte A. Fowler as treasurer and secretary; and Chann Fowler Spellman and Holley Fowler Martens as trustees.
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family is led by Charles D. Fowler, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles D. Fowler
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chann Fowler Spellman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holley Fowler Martens
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlotte A. Fowler
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/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 Char and Chuck Fowler Family
How much does The Char and Chuck Fowler Family give each year?
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family gave $3.5M across 146 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 123 grants.
What is The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's typical grant size?
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $24,149, across 146 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Char and Chuck Fowler Family that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Char and Chuck Fowler Family give grants?
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family gives mostly in Ohio: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (92 grants), Columbus, OH (7 grants), Lakewood, OH (3 grants) and Euclid, OH (3 grants).
Does The Char and Chuck Fowler Family give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (84 of 146) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Payment 1 of 2" (3 grants).
Who are The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's largest grantees?
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's largest 2024 grantees include Magnolia Clubhouse ($200,000), Sandstone Foundation ($200,000) and University Hospitals ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Char and Chuck Fowler Family?
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family reported $12.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $842K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Char and Chuck Fowler Family fund?
The foundation’s mission is to help create an equitable Northeast Ohio by funding and partnering with organizations that elevate community assets, dismantle barriers to opportunity, and create a vibrant environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Char and Chuck Fowler Family?
The foundation said it would no longer accept funding requests as of December 2, 2025, so its application process is not presented as current. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's EIN?
The Char and Chuck Fowler Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0035660. 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. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Char and Chuck Fowler Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-char-and-chuck-fowler-family-morg_f4811f947e134dfc8fad8164270729f6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_900035660_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Char and Chuck Fowler Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-char-and-chuck-fowler-family-morg_f4811f947e134dfc8fad8164270729f6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Char and Chuck Fowler Family'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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