The Howley Foundation
The Howley Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. It supports educational opportunities for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with a focus on schools and programs in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
The Howley Foundation at a glance
In short: The Howley Foundation gave $28.5M across 60 grants in 2024 (avg $475K), top state Pennsylvania. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $28,515,082
- +30.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $475,251
- +19.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $181,250
- Total assets
- $131,940,415
- +32.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (12 of 40, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (45% 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 Howley 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. Its website describes an inquiry process in which organizations may submit an inquiry through its contact form and may be invited to complete a full application. It makes grants only to 501(c)(3) organizations, not individuals, and does not sponsor events or benefits. It generally does not fund capital projects, though it may consider them in certain situations involving established grantees and proven educational opportunities. For scholarship support, organizations must reapply for each incoming class; accepted students who meet scholarship requirements may be funded through graduation.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co 600 Superior Ave 1701, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 382-2000
Website: https://howleyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Howley Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gilmour Academy ($2.9M). Together the top 10 received $17.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 21 individual scholarships ($6,480,519), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
227 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 62 grants of 227 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it has a strong preference for Cleveland, Ohio, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It may consider grants outside those areas for projects with proven and effective national impact or uniquely effective leveraged impact. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (45%), Ohio (32%), Indiana (9%), Illinois (6%), and Washington, DC (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Howley Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 40 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $355K; repeat grants $866K. How we count
Medians: $76K first-time, $228K repeat.
- 70% 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 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 $5.9M (2020) to $28.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 60 grants totaling $28.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
| 17 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $6,425,144 |
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Howley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $131,940,415 | $76,984,079 | $30,440,570 | $28,515,082 | 60 | $29,475,377 | $22,609,578 | $6,742,392 |
| 2023 | $99,604,961 | $44,894,611 | $23,348,450 | $21,930,284 | 55 | $22,521,639 | $14,764,606 | $5,415,343 |
| 2022 | $89,834,997 | $31,782,435 | $17,658,262 | $16,499,816 | 45 | $17,031,207 | $8,960,680 | $5,117,884 |
| 2021 | $85,058,603 | $28,676,024 | $10,862,004 | $9,819,697 | 36 | $10,181,537 | $12,480,644 | $5,261,269 |
| 2020 | $75,139,619 | $40,759,447 | $6,333,074 | $5,901,044 | 31 | — | $10,206,609 | $3,423,093 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to create social and economic mobility and improve lives by providing quality educational opportunities. It supports programs at elementary, high school, and postsecondary levels, particularly those serving students with economic need. The foundation says it has a strong preference for Cleveland and Philadelphia and gives college and university scholarships on a limited basis.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of educational work represented in its grants. The an individual recipient Network describes its mission as providing a career-focused, college-preparatory education for students with limited economic resources, integrating academics with professional work experience and support through college. Independence Mission Schools describes its mission as providing sustainable, affordable, high-quality Catholic education to children in underserved urban neighborhoods.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 60 grants totaling $28,515,082. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $2,938,908, with a median grant of $181,250.
Among the largest reported grants were $2,938,908 to Gilmour Academy for scholarships, a capital campaign, and a coordinator position; $2,453,697 to the Drexel Fund for scholarships, operations, and a capital campaign; and $2,386,450 to an individual recipient Preparatory School for scholarships, a capital campaign, and a counselor position. Other large grants included $2,153,617 to Cleveland ClinicASPIRE for ASPIRE scholarships and program administrative costs, and $1,653,800 to the an individual recipient Network for literacy, leadership and math education programs, Project Waitlist, office administration, and scholarships.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lauralee V. Howley and W. Nicholas Howley as co-trustees; Margaret A. Howley as Philadelphia executive director; Patrick J. Reindel as Cleveland executive director; Halle Martin as president and COO; and Kriste Vedegys-Duhigg as director of postsecondary education.
The Howley Foundation is led by Margaret A. Howley, Philadelphia Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret A. Howley
Philadelphia Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $152K (2024)
Patrick J. Reindel
Cleveland Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $152K (2024)
Halle Martin
President & COO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2024)
Kriste Vedegys-Duhigg
Director Post Secondary Education
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$48K (2024)
Lauralee V. Howley
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
W. Nicholas Howley
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 $152K, to Margaret a Howley (Philadelphia Ex DIR). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Howley Foundation
How much does The Howley Foundation give each year?
The Howley Foundation gave $28.5M across 60 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $21.9M across 55 grants.
What is The Howley Foundation's typical grant size?
The Howley Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $181,250, and its average grant was $475,251, across 60 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Howley Foundation that year got $355K on average.
Where does The Howley Foundation give grants?
The Howley Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (32%) and Indiana (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (8 grants), Cleveland, OH (5 grants), Merion Station, PA (2 grants) and Key West, FL (2 grants).
Does The Howley Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of The Howley Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (37 grants).
Who are The Howley Foundation's largest grantees?
The Howley Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Gilmour Academy ($2,938,908), Drexel Fund ($2,453,697) and Cleveland Clinicaspire ($2,153,617), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 21 individual scholarships ($6,480,519), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Howley Foundation?
The Howley Foundation reported $131.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $29.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Howley Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to create social and economic mobility and improve lives by providing quality educational opportunities. It supports programs at elementary, high school, and postsecondary levels, particularly those serving students with economic need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Howley Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Howley 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Howley Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Howley Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Maguire Foundation
West Conshohocken, PA
The Maguire Foundation funds education, arts and humanities, and efforts to relieve hunger and homelessness, primarily in Pennsylvania, with some support in the District of Columbia and elsewhere. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2 million, with a median of $50,000. It supports only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$17.5M
Grants
69
Total Given
$10.0M
Henkels Foundation
Blue Bell, PA
Henkels Foundation supported charitable and educational organizations, including schools, with all reported 2024 grants going to Pennsylvania recipients. Its 73 grants ranged from $2,673 to $126,171, with a median of $10,890; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
73
Total Given
$1.6M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Murphy Family Foundation
Solon, OH
The Murphy Family Foundation primarily funds nonprofit programs addressing poverty in greater Cleveland, especially food assistance, shelter, and educational support for disadvantaged people. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000; applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, and the foundation’s application guidelines describe how to apply.
Assets
$6.5M
Grants
83
Total Given
$451K
The Veale Foundation
Pepper Pike, OH
The Veale Foundation supports education, human and social services, civic and community causes, and healthcare, primarily for organizations in Northeast Ohio. Its 2024 grants had a median of $10,000, though amounts ranged widely; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$122.2M
Grants
57
Total Given
$6.9M
Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools
King of Prussia, PA
BLOCS funds need-based tuition scholarships and educational support for Catholic and other private schools, including special education, across Pennsylvania. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,700 to $8 million, with a median of about $111,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$255.5M
Grants
362
Total Given
$94.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Howley Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-howley-foundation-morg_395c703647d44ee0aa24279788d82b29
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_616565954_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Howley Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-howley-foundation-morg_395c703647d44ee0aa24279788d82b29},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Howley 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 Howley Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?