The Howe Foundation
The Howe Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and located in Muscatine, Iowa. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since October 1993. It functions as a grantmaking foundation supporting charitable organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+413.5% YoY
Grant Count
25
-7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+454.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to make contributions to charitable organizations located in the United States whose principal purposes are in the areas of education, medical advancements, or game hunters associations.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education (including higher education and STEM education)
- Medical advancements and health
- Human services
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts
- Religion (specifically Christianity and Protestantism)
- Environment and animals
- Community improvement
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
amounts and median grant amounts are tracked but specific figures vary by year
Review Cycle
August 1
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves all states within the United States. Specific cities and states where funding has been directed include:
Cities: Ames, Arlington, Cumming, Davenport, Des Moines, Hackensack, Irving, Lone Rock, Mesa, Mt. Pleasant, Muscatine, New York, Reston, Tulsa, Washington, and West Branch
States: Arizona, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia
Primary giving focus has been in Iowa, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $7,900,298
- Total expenses: $1,560,000
- Total revenue: $542,000
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical data (2023):
- Assets reported at approximately $8.9 million
- Annual expenses: approximately $454,412
- Annual revenue: $732,098
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
115 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Muscatine ($1,008,975), Wesley United Methodist Church ($80,000), Judicial Watch ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL OPERATIONS & BUILDING RENOVATION | $80,000 |
| MUSCATINE CHARITIES INC MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $30,000 |
| MUSCATINE COMMUNITY Y MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| FLICKINGER LEARNING CENTER MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| DEEP PORTAGE LEARNING CENTER HACKENSACK, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| MUSCATINE CIVIC CHORALE MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| CITY OF MUSCATINE MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,008,975 |
| IOWA STATE UNIV FOUNDATION AMES, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,632 |
| JUDICIAL WATCH WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| ST MARY ST MATHIAS CATH CH-K OF COL MUSCATINE, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Howe — President & CEO (serves without compensation)
- Helen H. Howe — Director (serves without compensation)
- Stanley M. Howe — Director
- Eric J. Thomsen — Treasurer (serves without compensation)
- Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC J THOMSEN | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| HELEN H HOWE | Director | 1 | — |
| JAMES HOWE | President & CEO | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced scholarship opportunities for youth sports and women in the business of sports in 2022. Additionally, the Howe family made a $1 million gift to the Ashland Community and Civic Foundation in honor of the family.
The Howe Foundation - Wells FargoFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Howe Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to make contributions to charitable organizations located in the United States whose principal purposes are in the areas of education, medical advancements, or game hunters associations. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education (including higher education and STEM education) • Medical advancements and health • Human services • Arts and culture • Performing arts • Religion (specifically Christianity and Protestantism) • Environment and animals • Community impr…
How do I apply for a grant from The Howe Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $1,008,975 • Total giving in 2024: $1,409,807 • Average grant amounts and median grant amounts are tracked but specific figures vary by year **Application Process:** • Applications are accepted year-round • Annual application deadline: August 1 • Grant decisions are generally communicated by September for applications received by the deadline • Annual grant meeting occurs in September • Applicants receive automated email conf…
Where does The Howe Foundation make grants?
The foundation serves all states within the United States. Specific cities and states where funding has been directed include: **Cities:** Ames, Arlington, Cumming, Davenport, Des Moines, Hackensack, Irving, Lone Rock, Mesa, Mt. Pleasant, Muscatine, New York, Reston, Tulsa, Washington, and West Branch **States:** Arizona, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia Primary giving focus has been in Iowa, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.
What size grants does The Howe Foundation award?
In 2024, The Howe Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Howe Foundation's EIN?
The Howe Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1395312. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Howe 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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