The Cowley Family Foundation
The Cowley Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 2007 and granted tax-exempt status in November 2008, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The foundation's primary activity is making grants to various charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$354K
-4.4% YoY
Grant Count
25
+4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-8.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cowley Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $321K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports charitable organizations across multiple sectors including:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Health and medical research
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to various charitable organizations, with recent activity showing consistent annual giving:
Grant Range
s
Average Grant
** Varies by year
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arizona, Utah, and New York, with a concentration of grants to Arizona-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
- Total assets (2023): $3,311,272
- Total assets (2024): $3,392,786
- Total revenue (2023): $352,007
- Total expenses (2023): $399,619
- Total liabilities (2023): $6,850
Funding Source
The foundation's grants are funded primarily through federal tax refunds from the prior year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,392,786 | $3,311,272 | $3,403,607 |
| Revenue | $479,824 | $352,007 | $474,665 |
| Expenses | $396,378 | $399,619 | $416,365 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $354,000 | $370,966 | $335,220 |
| Net Investment Income | $444,946 | $323,404 | $437,636 |
| Distributable Amount | $320,576 | $307,763 | $382,601 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Maricopa County Community Colleges Founda ($100,000), Teach For America ($80,000), ASU Foundation ($51,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Congregation Beth Tefillah Scottsdale, AZ | Charitable Donation | $2,500 |
| The Michael J Fox Foundation New York, NY | Charitable Donation | $25,000 |
| Keys To Change Phoenix, AZ | Charitable Donation | $10,000 |
| Tossin' Away ALS Mesa, AZ | Charitable Donation | $2,500 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Charitable Donation | $3,000 |
| Operation Underground Railroad Salt Lake City, UT | Charitable Donation | $1,500 |
| Feed My Starving Children Coon Rapids, MN | Charitable Donation | $1,500 |
| Manes & Miracles San Tan Valley, AZ | Charitable Donation | $3,000 |
| Healthy Screen Habits Moorpark, CA | Charitable Donation | $3,000 |
| Paz de Cristo Mesa, AZ | Charitable Donation | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael T. Cowley is listed as the primary contact for the foundation. He serves as President of Cowley Companies, Inc., and is a Trustee for The Cowley Family Foundation. Cowley has extensive business interests including real estate holdings across multiple states, industrial property in the Phoenix area, hard-asset lending, and ownership stakes in First Scottsdale Bank, Avista Senior Living, and Carioca Oil Co. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Valleywise Health Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice N Cowley | Director | 1 | — |
| Michael T Cowley | Director, President | 2 | — |
| Suzette Tyler | Director, V.P., Secretary | 2 | — |
| Monson Cowley | Director, V.P., Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Ryan Willis | Director, V.P., Assistant Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Jacob Tyler | Director, Assistant Treasurer | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cowley Family Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports charitable organizations across multiple sectors including: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human services • Health and medical research • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Cowley Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to various charitable organizations, with recent activity showing consistent annual giving: • **2024:** $370,000 across 24 grants • **2023:** $335,000 across 23 grants • **2022:** $338,000 across 22 grants • **Median grant:** $4,000–$5,000 • **Range:** $2,000–$100,000 • **Average grant:** Varies by year • Maricopa County Community College District Foundation: $100,000 • Teach for America: $80,000 • ASU Foundation: $51,500 • Arizona Brainfood: $30,000 • The Michael J …
Where does The Cowley Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arizona, Utah, and New York, with a concentration of grants to Arizona-based organizations.
What size grants does The Cowley Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cowley Family Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $354K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cowley Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cowley Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $321K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cowley Family Foundation's EIN?
The Cowley Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1627225. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cowley Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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