The Crowther Foundation
The Crowther Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports 16 grants totaling $110,000 to charitable organizations, including organizations providing youth programs, services for people affected by sexual assault, food assistance, and support for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Crowther Foundation at a glance
In short: The Crowther Foundation gave $110K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Tennessee. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $110,000
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,875
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,500
- Total assets
- $1,164,974
- -6.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (59% 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 The Crowther Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10700 W Research Drive Ste 165, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 383-5000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Crowther Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Ensworth School ($18K). Together the top 10 received $85K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to organizations in Tennessee, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Colorado. Tennessee received 59% of grant dollars, Michigan 14%, Pennsylvania 9%, Illinois 7%, and Colorado 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Crowther Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2020) to $110K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $110K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Ensworth School Nashville, TN | Assistance with youth programs | $17,500 |
| Sexual Assault Center Nashville, TN | To provide assistance for sexual assault victims | $10,000 |
| CARE House of Oakland County Pontiac, MI | Assistance with child abuse prevention efforts | $10,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank Nashville, TN | Assistance with the mission to end hunger | $10,000 |
| Safe Families for Children Chicago, IL | Assistance with programs for families in crisis | $7,500 |
| The Exodus Road Inc Colorado Springs, CO | Assistance with programs to stop human trafficking | $7,500 |
| Mama Lere Hearing School Nashville, TN | Assistance with educating deaf children | $6,000 |
| Bridges for Deaf Hard of Hearing Nashville, TN | Assistance with programs for the deaf | $6,000 |
| United Way of Berks County Reading, PA | Assistance with youth programs | $5,000 |
| Olivet Boys Girls Club Reading, PA | Assistance with youth sports programs | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Crowther 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 | $1,164,974 | $39,438 | $119,515 | $110,000 | 16 | $110,000 | $60,515 | $104,508 |
| 2024 | $1,250,308 | $72,329 | $114,494 | $100,500 | 16 | $100,500 | $59,651 | $97,418 |
| 2023 | $1,292,473 | $57,930 | $98,049 | $90,000 | 17 | $90,000 | $68,068 | $88,670 |
| 2022 | $1,332,592 | $73,316 | $89,001 | $77,000 | 6 | $79,388 | $62,407 | $92,215 |
| 2021 | $1,348,277 | $38,854 | $76,060 | $66,000 | 8 | $68,265 | $64,074 | $89,045 |
| 2020 | $1,398,212 | $14,074 | $70,075 | $60,000 | 5 | — | $48,881 | $69,210 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Crowther Foundation reported a distributable amount of $105K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education and youth programs, sexual assault services, child abuse prevention, hunger relief, family support, human trafficking prevention, homelessness, and services for people with disabilities.
Grantee descriptions illustrate this range. The Ensworth School says its mission is to promote academic excellence and inspire students to use their talents, act with integrity, and contribute to society. The Sexual Assault Center says it provides healing for people and families affected by sexual assault and works to end sexual violence through counseling, education, and advocacy. The Exodus Road says it works with law enforcement to find and free trafficked people, educate communities, and support survivors. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not statements of the foundation’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $110,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $17,500, with a median of $5,500.
Notable 2025 grants included $17,500 to The Ensworth School; $10,000 each to the Sexual Assault Center, CARE House of Oakland County, and Second Harvest Food Bank; and $7,500 each to Safe Families for Children and The Exodus Road Inc. Other grants included $6,000 each to Mama Lere Hearing School and Bridges for Deaf Hard of Hearing, and $5,000 each to United Way of Berks County, Olivet Boys Girls Club, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, and Special Olympis Tennessee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joy R Crowther as President, Paige S Harris as Vice President, and Mark A Shiller as TreasurerSecretary.
The Crowther Foundation is led by Joy R Crowther, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joy R Crowther
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark A Shiller
Treasurersecretary
Secretary → Treasurersecretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paige S Harris
Vice President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Timothy R Crowther (2020–2022) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Crowther Foundation
How much does The Crowther Foundation give each year?
The Crowther Foundation gave $110K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $101K across 16 grants.
What is The Crowther Foundation's typical grant size?
The Crowther Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,500, and its average grant was $6,875, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Crowther Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Crowther Foundation give grants?
The Crowther Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (14%) and Pennsylvania (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (9 grants) and Reading, PA (2 grants).
Does The Crowther Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Crowther Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Crowther Foundation's largest grantees?
The Crowther Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Ensworth School ($17,500), Sexual Assault Center ($10,000) and CARE House of Oakland County ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Crowther Foundation?
The Crowther Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $105K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Crowther Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Crowther Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Crowther Foundation's EIN?
The Crowther Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3353260. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Crowther 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Crowther Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Patricia and Rodes Hart Foundation
Brentwood, TN
The Patricia and Rodes Hart Foundation funded arts, health care, and sports programs for people with intellectual disabilities, with 2022 grants ranging from $500 to $25,000 and totaling $310,500. Its reported grantees were in Nashville and Brentwood, Tennessee. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4K
Grants
13
Total Given
$311K
Yarbrough Family Foundation
Franklin, TN
The Yarbrough Family Foundation supports preselected 501(c)(3) organizations across varied charitable fields, with most 2025 grant dollars going to Tennessee and some to Florida. Its 29 grants ranged from $20 to $3.589 million, with a median of $2,500. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$28.5M
Grants
29
Total Given
$6.7M
Carolyn Smith Foundation
Hendersonville, TN
The Carolyn Smith Foundation funds economic prosperity—especially housing, food security, and economic mobility—and dementia and neurodegenerative disease, as well as animal welfare, education, arts and culture, the environment, and healthcare. It primarily supports nonprofits serving Middle Tennessee, especially Davidson and Sumner Counties, and its 2025 grants had a median of $15,000, ranging from $328 to $225,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through its Spring application cycle; the 2026 cycle has closed, and the next is scheduled for February 1, 2027.
Assets
$2.1M
Grants
165
Total Given
$4.8M
The Danner Foundation
Nashville, TN
The Danner Foundation supports a range of nonprofits, including organizations working in the environment, youth, arts, education, and community services, with most 2024 funding going to Tennessee. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts requests without a required form or deadline; applicants should provide an organizational overview, describe the proposed use of funds, and include an IRS determination letter.
Assets
$8.1M
Grants
30
Total Given
$445K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc
Nashville, TN
United Way of Middle Tennessee funds nonprofit programs in education, financial stability, and health, especially those serving low-income families and vulnerable children and adults; it also supports HIV care and disaster recovery. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,015 to $697,309, with a median of $22,500. Its Community Impact Funding serves nine Middle Tennessee counties, while some programs serve people statewide; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$68.1M
Grants
347
Total Given
$19.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Crowther Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-crowther-foundation-morg_662063400cfe428e87f2274e87557043
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383353260_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Crowther Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-crowther-foundation-morg_662063400cfe428e87f2274e87557043},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Crowther 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.
The Crowther Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?