The Rowland Foundation Inc
The Rowland Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Burlington, Vermont. Established in 2008, it invests in Vermont teachers working to positively change the culture and climate of schools.
The Rowland Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Rowland Foundation Inc gave $686K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $686,362
- -53.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -16.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,684
- -44.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,041
- Total assets
- $35,353,458
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Vermont (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Rowland Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says application forms and requirements are on its website and identifies Michael Martin as the contact. It lists Vermont middle- and secondary-school educators as the award restriction. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing listed an application period opening September 1 and closing December 31. That cycle is past.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing listed an application period opening September 1 and closing December 31.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael Martin
Mailing address: 47 Maple Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 230-7879
Website: https://therowlandfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Rowland Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was VT Community Foundtion ($150K). Together the top 4 received $425K.
Organizations only. It also paid 17 grants to individuals ($261,362), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 81 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its work as focused on Vermont teachers and schools. In filing year 2025, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Rowland Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 72% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $400K (2020) to $1.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $686K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VT Community Foundtion Middlebury, VT | Donor Advised Fund | $150,000 |
| Barnet School Barnet, VT | Rowland Fellowship | $100,000 |
| Proctor High School Proctor, VT | Rowland Fellowship | $100,000 |
| 17 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $261,362 |
| Hartford High School White River Junction, VT | Rowland Fellowship | $75,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,353,458 | $901,562 | $1,316,926 | $686,362 | 21 | $1,233,010 | $779,032 | $1,716,082 |
| 2024 | $34,232,369 | $768,997 | $2,044,870 | $1,473,505 | 25 | $1,925,697 | $694,252 | $1,616,485 |
| 2023 | $31,803,560 | $570,523 | $1,042,864 | $577,356 | 15 | $950,383 | $637,294 | $1,457,350 |
| 2022 | $28,735,934 | $572,051 | $1,298,559 | $770,000 | 13 | $1,162,377 | $532,914 | $1,491,271 |
| 2021 | $31,983,357 | $2,710,322 | $837,502 | $530,000 | 7 | — | $2,656,510 | $1,400,079 |
| 2020 | $25,549,115 | $4,604,464 | $700,421 | $400,000 | 4 | — | $574,988 | $1,141,858 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rowland Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to invest in Vermont teachers to positively change the culture and climate of schools. It describes culture as a school community’s shared values, expectations, and ways of being, and climate as how community members perceive and experience those norms.
The foundation supports teacher-driven school change through Rowland Fellowships. Its website identifies equity, accessibility, technology, place-based learning, and student voice as areas in which fellows have supported innovation. Since 2022, fellowship proposals have also been open to middle-grades educators. The foundation also offers Diversifying the Educator Workforce grants for aspiring educators of color who live in Vermont and are working toward a Vermont teaching license.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $686,362. Grant amounts ranged from $395 to $150,000, with a median of $8,041. The largest listed grant was $150,000 to VT Community Foundation for a donor-advised fund. Other large grants included $100,000 each to Barnet School and Proctor High School, and $75,000 each to an individual recipient High School, an individual recipient High School, and Hartford High School; these school grants were designated for Rowland Fellowships. The filing also listed grants to individual recipients for diversity-in-education workforce mentoring and grants.
The website says the foundation awards up to six Rowland Fellowships each year to Vermont middle-grades and secondary-school teachers. It describes the Fellowship award as $125,000 for an individual or $150,000 for partners, supported by a two-year cohort cycle. The website also describes Diversifying the Educator Workforce grants of up to $20,000 for eligible aspiring educators, for costs associated with obtaining a Vermont teaching license.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Heidi Lynn as President; Michael Martin as Executive Director; Carter Rawson as Secretary; and Anne Bergeron, Erica Wallstrom, James C. Mooney, Daniel B. Rowland, and John A. Shepard Jr. as Trustees.
The Rowland Foundation Inc is led by Michael Martin, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Martin
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$150K (2022) → $159K (2025)
Heidi Lynn
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel B. Rowland
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Wallstrom
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James C. Mooney
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John A. Shepard Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Bergeron
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carter Rawson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Caitlin Steele (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Charles Scranton (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $159K, to Michael Martin (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about The Rowland Foundation Inc
How much does The Rowland Foundation Inc give each year?
The Rowland Foundation Inc gave $686K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 25 grants.
What is The Rowland Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Rowland Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,041, and its average grant was $32,684, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Rowland Foundation Inc give grants?
The Rowland Foundation Inc gives mostly in Vermont: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Rowland Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on The Rowland Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Diversity in Education Workforce Grant" (10 grants), "Rowland Fellowship" (5 grants) and "Rowland Encore Grant" (3 grants).
Who are The Rowland Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Rowland Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include VT Community Foundtion ($150,000), Barnet School ($100,000) and Proctor High School ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 17 grants to individuals ($261,362), which are not listed by name. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Rowland Foundation Inc?
The Rowland Foundation Inc reported $35.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Rowland Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to invest in Vermont teachers to positively change the culture and climate of schools. It describes culture as a school community’s shared values, expectations, and ways of being, and climate as how community members perceive and experience those norms. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rowland Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says application forms and requirements are on its website and identifies Michael Martin as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Rowland Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Rowland Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2698626. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Rowland Foundation Inc funds
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