The Howley Foundation
The Howley Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2003 by Nick and Lorie Howley. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students. The foundation currently employs 7 staff members and has experienced 33.3% year-over-year workforce growth.
Key facts about The Howley Foundation
- EIN
- 61-6565954
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $28,515,082
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- Average grant
- $475,251
- Median grant
- $181,250
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (17 of 60, 2024)
- Total assets
- $131,940,415
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants submit inquiries via contact form for initial review. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Howley Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Howley Foundation's 60 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (45%), Ohio (32%) and Indiana (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (16 grants), Cleveland, OH (9 grants), Merion Station, PA (2 grants) and Key West, FL (2 grants). 7% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (37 grants).
Is The Howley Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 60 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $267K; repeat grants $558K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $219K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 190% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 437% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Howley Foundation
- How to evaluate The Howley Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Howley Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$131.9M
+32.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$28.5M
+30.0% YoY
Grant Count
60
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$475K
+19.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Howley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Howley Foundation's mission centers on helping students receive the best education possible regardless of economic means. The founders believe education is one of the most important catalysts for promoting positive change in individuals and society.
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- K-12 Education: Tuition assistance and scholarships for low-income students in primary and secondary schools
- College/University Support: Limited scope college and university scholarships
- Post-Secondary Workforce Development: Programs supporting workforce development beyond traditional college pathways
- Program Assistance: Support for educational programming at elementary, high school, and college levels
The Howley Scholars Program, the foundation's flagship initiative, provides meaningful tuition assistance to over 1,200 scholarship students annually across multiple states, with particular concentration in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
; applications are reviewed upon submission
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Howley Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a strong preference for funding in:
- Cleveland, Ohio (primary focus area)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (primary focus area)
The foundation occasionally considers grants outside these target areas for projects with proven and effective national impact or uniquely effective leveraged impact. Some funding extends to other high schools and colleges around the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 60 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Financial Overview (2024)
- Total Revenue: $77,000,000
- Total Expenses: $30,400,000
- Total Assets: $132,000,000
- Total Liabilities: $194
The foundation has demonstrated significant financial capacity and growth trajectory, with annual grant distributions exceeding $20 million.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $131,940,415 | $99,604,961 | $89,834,997 |
| Revenue | $76,984,079 | $44,894,611 | $31,782,435 |
| Expenses | $30,440,570 | $23,348,450 | $17,658,262 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $29,475,377 | $22,521,639 | $17,031,207 |
| Net Investment Income | $22,609,578 | $14,764,606 | $8,960,680 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,742,392 | $5,415,343 | $5,117,884 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
227 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Gilmour Academy ($2,938,908), Drexel Fund ($2,453,697), St Joseph Prepatory School ($2,386,450).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GILMOUR ACADEMY Gates Mills, OH | SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, COORDINATOR POSITION | $2,938,908 |
| DREXEL FUND South Bend, IN | SCHOLARSHIPS, OPERATIONS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $2,453,697 |
| ST JOSEPH PREPATORY SCHOOL Philadelphia, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, COUNSELOR POSITION | $2,386,450 |
| CLEVELAND CLINICASPIRE Cleveland, OH | ASPIRE SCHOLARSHIPS, PROGRAM ADMINSTRATIVE COSTS | $2,153,617 |
| MERION MERCY ACADEMY Merion Station, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, COORDINATOR | $1,808,373 |
| WILLIAMSON COLLEGE Media, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $1,720,000 |
| CRISTO REY NETWORK Chicago, IL | LITERACY, LEADERS AND MATH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PROJECT WAITLIST, OFFICE ADMIN, SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,653,800 |
| AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN Washington, DC | GENERAL | $1,500,000 |
| MALVERN PREPARATORY SCHOOL Malvern, PA | SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $1,473,012 |
| INDEPENDENCE MISSION SCHOOLS King of Prussia, PA | GENERAL | $1,111,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nick Howley — Founder, Chairman & Trustee
- Founder and Chairman of TransDigm Group, Inc. (NYSE: TDG), a major designer and producer of aircraft components and systems
- Chairman of Perimeter Solutions (NYSE: PRM), a wildfire prevention products and services company
- Past national Chairman of the Cristo Rey Network Board
- Board service includes Drexel University, Case Western Reserve University, The Cleveland Clinic, St. Joseph's Preparatory School, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Washington and Jefferson College, St. Martin de Porres High School, and Gilmour Academy
- Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University; MBA from Harvard Business School
Lorie Howley — Founder & Trustee
- Co-founder of The Howley Foundation
- Executive Director (since 2001) and President of the Board of Directors (since 2014)
- Led the foundation's growth from a few high school scholarships to a multi-level educational initiative
- Background in ornamental horticulture; previously worked in the Education Department at Longwood Gardens for 15 years
Allison Busser — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauralee V Howley | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| W Nicholas Howley | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| Margaret a Howley | Philadelphia Ex Dir | 40 | $151,500 |
| Patrick J Reindel | Cleveland Ex Dir | 40 | $151,500 |
| Halle Martin | President & COO | 40 | $102,083 |
| Kriste Vedegys-Duhigg | Director Post Secondary Education | 40 | $47,677 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024**: The Howley Foundation announced hiring for an Operations Associate position, indicating organizational expansion
$15 Million Gift from Howley Foundation Expands Drexel Scholarship Program**2023**: Foundation awarded over $20 million in grants to over 900 scholarship students
$15 Million Gift from Howley Foundation Expands Drexel Scholarship Program**2024**: Updated scholarship student count to over 1,200 students annually in Cleveland and Philadelphia, plus additional students in other high schools and colleges across the United States
Students from three Catholic high schools get college aid from The Howley**Recent Partnership**: Established an innovative partnership allowing economically disadvantaged students from select Northeast Ohio Catholic high schools to pursue college degrees at Cleveland State University
Students from three Catholic high schools get college aid from The Howley**University Partnerships**: Collaborated with Case Western Reserve University to increase opportunities for Cleveland and Philadelphia parochial school graduates
The Howley Foundation, Case Western Reserve to increase opportunity for Cleveland,Contact Information
Mailing Address 600 Superior Avenue E, Suite 1701 Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone (216) 377-3560
Email contact@howleyfoundation.org
Website howleyfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Howley Foundation fund?
The Howley Foundation's mission centers on helping students receive the best education possible regardless of economic means. The founders believe education is one of the most important catalysts for promoting positive change in individuals and society. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **K-12 Education**: Tuition assistance and scholarships for low-income students in primary and secondary schools • **College/University Support**: Limited scope college and university scholarships …
How do I apply for a grant from The Howley Foundation?
Applicants submit inquiries via contact form for initial review. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Howley Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a strong preference for funding in: • **Cleveland, Ohio** (primary focus area) • **Philadelphia, Pennsylvania** (primary focus area) The foundation occasionally considers grants outside these target areas for projects with proven and effective national impact or uniquely effective leveraged impact. Some funding extends to other high schools and colleges around the United States.
What size grants does The Howley Foundation award?
In 2024, The Howley Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $28.5M — an average of about $475K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Howley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Howley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Howley Foundation's EIN?
The Howley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6565954. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.