The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Troy, New York. It supports charitable, educational, and cultural projects benefiting residents of Troy and Rensselaer County, including work in arts and culture, community resources, social services, education, and health.
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc gave $89K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in New York. 79% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $89,200
- +7.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,371
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,750
- Total assets
- $2,762,459
- +10.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 79% first-time grantees (11 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% 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 Howard and Bush Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website instructs potential applicants to discuss proposals with staff and obtain the required forms before submitting materials. The initial submission is a concise 1–2 page narrative and simple budget in PDF format, addressing the foundation’s concept-paper questions. Trustees review concept papers and invite or discourage formal applications; if appropriate, applicants then receive an application form, further instructions, and proposal-specific questions. The website says applicants must be legally incorporated IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Awards ordinarily exclude endowments, reserves, revolving loan funds, deficits, government agencies, churches or private schools except for non-denominational community projects, and organizations paid by the foundation within the prior two years.
- Review Cycle
- The application materials list February 14 and September 14 as submission dates. These dates are past cycles as of September 29, 2026; no current deadline is provided here. The website describes grant decisions at foundation meetings in May and December.
- Deadline
- The application materials list February 14 and September 14 as submission dates.
- Contact
Application contact: Deborah E Byers
Mailing address: 2 Belle Avenue, Troy, NY 12180
Phone: (518) 271-1134
Website: https://www.howardandbush.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Alterntive to Economic and Housing ($10K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($3,700), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 56 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines focus on projects benefiting residents of Troy and Rensselaer County, New York. Regional organizations may be eligible if they benefit those residents and meet the foundation’s stated conditions for community connection and avoiding duplication of local programs. All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients listed in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
79%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 14 grantees (79%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% 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 $60K (2021) to $95K (2020). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $89K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Alterntive to Economic and Housing Albany, NY | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood Albany, NY | General Purpose | $9,000 |
| Friends of Oakwood Cemetery Inc Troy, NY | Generl Purpose | $8,000 |
| YWCA of the Greater Capital Region Inc Troy, NY | General Purpose | $8,000 |
| Albany Pro Musica Troy, NY | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| Hudon Mohawk Industrial Gateway Troy, NY | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| Albany Jewish Family Services Albany, NY | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| Circle Theatre Players Aka Sand Lake Ctr Averill Park, NY | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Arts Letter and Numbers Averill Park, NY | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Girls Inc Schenectady, NY | General Purpose | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,762,459 | $464,884 | $202,579 | $89,200 | 14 | $160,026 | $117,316 | $144,524 |
| 2023 | $2,500,154 | $251,997 | $224,352 | $83,050 | 13 | $178,644 | $60,914 | $125,723 |
| 2022 | $2,472,509 | $82,029 | $207,653 | $85,000 | 9 | $162,010 | $22,599 | $128,944 |
| 2021 | $2,603,133 | $297,414 | $144,668 | $60,000 | 7 | $114,432 | $250,003 | $131,416 |
| 2020 | $2,450,387 | $312,044 | $172,156 | $95,000 | 13 | — | $264,739 | $117,413 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $145K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as understanding local needs and partnering with nonprofits to help create a sustainable and equitable future for the community. Its grant guidelines favor events; resourceful, strategic new activities and small-scale capital projects addressing established community needs; and projects that support effective community organizations. It encourages collaboration and welcomes first-time applicants and fledgling organizations as well as established ones.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood describes its work as advocacy, education, and reproductive health care in the Capital Region. Albany Pro Musica says it performs choral music and provides educational experiences for singers. To Life describes its work as education and aid for people with breast cancer. The YWCA of the Greater Capital Region describes programs in supportive and affordable housing, food security, and workforce development and empowerment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $89,200 across 14 grants. The grants ranged from $2,500 to $10,000, with a median grant of $6,750. The foundation’s guidelines state that requests should generally be between $5,000 and $30,000, and that it generally awards $50,000–$150,000 annually.
Notable 2024 grants included $10,000 to The Alternative to Economic and Housing in Albany; $9,000 to Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood in Albany; $8,000 each to Friends of Oakwood Cemetery and the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region; and $7,500 each to Albany Pro Musica, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, and Albany Jewish Family Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Raona Roy as president, Wallace Altes as vice president, Joseph Fama as secretary, and Alan Goldberg as treasurer. Trustees listed were Gwen Krause, Karen Opalka, and Larry Lichtenstein.
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc is led by Raona Roy, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Raona Roy
President
Trustee → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Gwen Krause
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2023) → $1K (2024)
Karen Opalka
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2023) → $1K (2024)
Larry Lichtenstein
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2024)
Alan Goldberg
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Joseph Fama
Secretary
Vice President → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Wallace Altes
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Barbara Jones Higbee (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Pamela Sawchuk Brown (2020–2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $1K, to Raona Roy (President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc
How much does The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc give each year?
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc gave $89K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $83K across 13 grants.
What is The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $6,750, and its average grant was $6,371, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc give grants?
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Troy, NY (6 grants), Albany, NY (4 grants) and Averill Park, NY (2 grants).
Does The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 93% of The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Alterntive to Economic and Housing ($10,000), Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood ($9,000) and Friends of Oakwood Cemetery Inc ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($3,700), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc?
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $160K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $145K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as understanding local needs and partnering with nonprofits to help create a sustainable and equitable future for the community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website instructs potential applicants to discuss proposals with staff and obtain the required forms before submitting materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1070242. 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 September 2026.
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 September 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-howard-and-bush-foundation-inc-morg_c84b6c3edfe2436e90e0d68a073107be
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471070242_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Howard and Bush Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-howard-and-bush-foundation-inc-morg_c84b6c3edfe2436e90e0d68a073107be},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Howard and Bush Foundation Inc'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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