The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower
The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower Foundation is a family foundation established in 1990 and headquartered in Getzville, New York. As a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation, it focuses on improving the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults facing significant challenges. The foundation operates with a staff of 8 employees and maintains assets exceeding $135 million.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$121.1M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.3M
+20.6% YoY
Grant Count
218
+19.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
+0.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: As grantmaker, partner, and advocate, the Tower Foundation strengthens organizations and works to change systems to improve the lives of young people with learning disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities.
Vision: The Tower Foundation envisions equitable communities where all young people are included, accepted, and valued; and are confident in themselves.
Core Values:
- Diverse Voices – Listening to and learning from different perspectives while maintaining proximity with communities served
- Collaboration – Building relationships with partners and sharing knowledge, resources, expertise, and strategies
- Innovation – Embracing change and taking calculated risks for transformative effect
Primary Funding Categories:
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Learning disabilities
- Intellectual disabilities
- Organizational capacity building (supporting eligible organizations offering programs and services in the primary funding categories)
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000 to $450,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in:
- New York: Erie and Niagara Counties
- Massachusetts: Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket Counties
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $121 million (as of 2024)
- Annual grant distribution: $6+ million
- Total giving (2024): $9.3 million
- Tax-exempt status: Since July 1991
Revenue & Expenses (2024):
- Total revenues: $10.2 million
- Total expenses: $12.3 million
- Total liabilities: $20.5 thousand
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $121,073,266 | $123,162,764 | $127,248,071 |
| Revenue | $10,200,664 | $7,431,107 | $18,985,372 |
| Expenses | $12,295,236 | $11,513,849 | $10,949,935 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,719,049 | $10,928,124 | $10,060,762 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,698,688 | $7,298,714 | $19,025,351 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,475,552 | $7,050,283 | $7,158,365 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower
Community Change Grants
THE PETER AND ELIZABETH C TOWER
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Experts Fund Grant
THE PETER AND ELIZABETH C TOWER
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Strengthening Partner Capacity Grant
THE PETER AND ELIZABETH C TOWER
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brookline Community Mental Health Center Inc ($333,333), Causewave Community Partners ($230,000), Community Catalyst ($185,960).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLACE FOR JAZZ LTD SCHENECTADY, NY | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| ACTION INC GLOUCESTER, MA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER BUFFALO, NY | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| ALBANY LAW SCHOOL ALBANY, NY | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING WNY BUFFALO, NY | CHARITABLE | $22,150 |
| ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY NORTH CHATHAM, MA | CHARITABLE | $8,596 |
| B FREE WELLNESS INC DENNIS, MA | CHARITABLE | $57,786 |
| BACK TO BASICS OUTREACH MINISTRIES INC BUFFALO, NY | CHARITABLE | $40,671 |
| BACKYARD GROWERS GLOUCESTER, MA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| BATES COLLEGE LEWISTON, ME | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Staff:
- Tracy Sawicki – Executive Director (40 hours/week, $207,000 annual compensation)
- Randolph Treece – Attorney Trustee (30 hours/week, $100,000 annual compensation)
- Mollie Tower Byrnes – Trustee
- Cynthia T Doyle – Trustee
- Robert M Doyle – Trustee
- Donna Owens – Trustee
- David M Welbourn – Trustee
- James H Weiss – Trustee
- Peter T Byrnes – Trustee
- Mollie M Doyle – Trustee
- Marie Cannon – Trustee
- Allen Booker – Trustee
- Jacqueline Hall – Trustee
- Marguerite Francis – Trustee
Founders: Peter Tower (former President of C.J. Tower & Sons) and Elizabeth Tower (accomplished painter) established the foundation guided by the principle that "with prosperity comes responsibility." Their daughters Mollie and Cynthia and their husbands continue the founders' vision on the Board.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOLLIE TOWER BYRNES | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CYNTHIA T DOYLE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROBERT M DOYLE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TRACY SAWICKI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $207,345 |
| DONNA OWENS | TRUSTEE | 2 | $7,500 |
| DAVID M WELBOURN | TRUSTEE | 2 | $11,500 |
| JAMES H WEISS | TRUSTEE | 2 | $14,000 |
| PETER T BYRNES | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| MOLLIE M DOYLE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| RANDOLPH TREECE | ATTORNEY TRUSTEE | 30 | $100,000 |
| MARIE CANNON | TRUSTEE | 2 | $13,000 |
| ALLEN BOOKER | TRUSTEE | 2 | $9,750 |
| JACQUELINE HALL | TRUSTEE | 2 | $9,750 |
| MARGUERITE FRANCIS | TRUSTEE | 2 | $5,750 |
Contact Information
Address: 2351 North Forest Road, Suite 106, Getzville, NY 14068
Phone: 716-689-0370
Email: Info@TheTowerFoundation.org
Website: www.thetowerfoundation.org
EIN: 16-6350753
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower fund?
**Mission:** As grantmaker, partner, and advocate, the Tower Foundation strengthens organizations and works to change systems to improve the lives of young people with learning disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities. **Vision:** The Tower Foundation envisions equitable communities where all young people are included, accepted, and valued; and are confident in themselves. **Core Values:** • Diverse Voices – Listening to and learning from different pe…
How do I apply for a grant from The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $6+ million • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $450,000 • Median grant amount: $20,000 • Recent grant examples include awards to the Institute for Nonprofit Practice ($700,000 in 2024, $362,500 in 2023) and Brookline Center for Community Mental Health ($333,334 in 2023) • Made 218 grants in the most recent fiscal year **Financial Data (2024):** • Total revenues: $10.2 million • Total expenses: $12.3 million • Total assets: $121 million • Total liabilities: $20…
Where does The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in: • **New York:** Erie and Niagara Counties • **Massachusetts:** Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket Counties
What size grants does The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower award?
In 2024, The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower awarded 218 grants totaling $9.3M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower reported a distributable amount of $7.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower's EIN?
The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6350753. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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