The Stowe Foundation Inc

BELMONT, NC EIN: 56-6034773 Website

The Stowe Foundation Inc is a private foundation incorporated in 1945 and headquartered in Belmont, North Carolina. The organization has maintained its tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status since September 1951. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization that provides charitable support to nonprofit organizations, with a particular focus on institutions in North Carolina and surrounding regions.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

-15.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$271K

+2.9% YoY

Grant Count

+24.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-17.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stowe Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary areas of interest include:

Conservative reformed Christian denominations and congregations
Education
Civic affairs
Arts and culture

The foundation provides general operating support and project support to selected charitable organizations.

Grantmaking

The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Requests should be made before December of each year. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Range

$1,000–$2,000

Average Grant

$8,000–$12,600

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in North Carolina, with some support extending to Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. North Carolina, Florida, and Illinois account for approximately 95% of all grants made. The foundation has supported 48 unique organizations across 5 states.

Grant Distribution by State

North Carolina $1.1M (99%)

South Carolina $5K (0%)

Illinois $4K (0%)

Florida $4K (0%)

Massachusetts $1K (0%)

Tennessee $500 (0%)

Virginia $500 (0%)

States

Florida Illinois Massachusetts North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia

Cities

AlexandriaAndoverBelmontBooneCharlotteChicagoConcordCorneliusFort MillGastoniaKannapolisMemphisOrlandoSanfordThomsavilleWinstonsalem

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $1.52 million
Total Revenue: $22,070
Total Expenses: $290,503
Total Liabilities: $0

Investment Income (2023):

Investment income and dividends: $73,475
Net gain/loss from sale of non-inventory assets: -$51,945
Miscellaneous revenues: $540

Historical Asset Growth: Assets have grown from $767,000 in 2011 to $1.52 million in 2023.

Annual Giving Trends:

2020: $150,000
2022: $630,000
2023: $283,000–$315,000 (distributions)

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$1,276,968	$1,515,365	$1,795,298
Revenue	$78,710	$22,070	$68,038
Expenses	$317,107	$290,503	$340,196
Qualifying Distributions	$275,851	$282,560	$326,700
Net Investment Income	$74,219	$67,004	$61,009
Distributable Amount	$60,578	$78,232	$87,919

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

144 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens ($157,000), First Ar Presbyterian Church ($51,500), Put Tools in Schools Inc ($20,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL	CHARITABLE	$1,000
ANIMAL LEAGUE GASTONIA, NC	CHARITABLE	$5,000
ANNE SPRINGS CLOSE GREENWAY FORT MILL, SC	CHARITABLE	$1,000
BACK CREEK CHURCH CHARLOTTE, NC	CHARITABLE	$2,500
BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOME THOMSAVILLE, NC	CHARITABLE	$1,500
BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE BELMONT, NC	CHARITABLE	$3,000
BELMONT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BELMONT, NC	CHARITABLE	$1,500
BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOC CHARLOTTE, NC	CHARITABLE	$200
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER GASTO GASTONIA, NC	CHARITABLE	$3,000
CANCER SERVICES OF GASTON COUNTY IN GASTONIA, NC	CHARITABLE	$3,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Robert L Stowe III – Director
D Harding Stowe – Vice President
Richmond H Stowe – Secretary
Jean H Gibson – Treasurer

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
ROBERT L STOWE III	DIRECTOR	—	—
D HARDING STOWE	VICE PRESIDE	—	—
RICHMOND H STOWE	SECRETARY	—	—
JEAN H GIBSON	TREASURER	—	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Stowe Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's primary areas of interest include: • Conservative reformed Christian denominations and congregations • Education • Civic affairs • Arts and culture The foundation provides general operating support and project support to selected charitable organizations.

How do I apply for a grant from The Stowe Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 25 grants in 2023 • Historical grant-making has totaled 113 grants worth approximately $918,000 • Median grant size: $1,000–$2,000 • Average grant size: $8,000–$12,600 • Grant range: $100–$200,000 **Application Process:** The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Requests should be made before December of each year. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Grantees (2023):** …

Where does The Stowe Foundation Inc make grants?

What size grants does The Stowe Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Stowe Foundation Inc awarded 31 grants totaling $271K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Stowe Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Stowe Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $61K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.