The Tow Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow. Based in New Canaan, Connecticut, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations working to address persistent inequality and create positive community impact.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$311.4M
-3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.2M
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
213
-4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$123K
+14.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tow Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $20.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To promote wellness and access to opportunities so that individuals and communities can thrive.
The foundation's work is grounded in Connecticut and New York, supporting organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, help individuals contribute to their communities, and champion advancements that enable all people to live healthy and joyous lives.
Primary Impact Areas:
- Equity and Justice
- Medicine and Public Health
- Arts and Culture
- Higher Education
- Civic Engagement
- Youth Mental Health and Well-Being (through the Innovation Fund)
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia, which account for 77% of all grants. The foundation has supported 328 unique organizations across its grantmaking history.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $311.4 million to $321.8 million (as of 2023)
Annual Giving: $26.2 million to $31.1 million in recent years
Total Revenues (2023): $14.4 million
Total Expenses (2023): $31.1 million
Investment Income (2023): $8.8 million
Employees: 12 staff members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $311,444,666 | $321,757,604 | $338,381,907 |
| Revenue | $21,380,965 | $14,366,606 | $8,216,304 |
| Expenses | $31,686,056 | $31,079,753 | $33,758,340 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $29,743,538 | $27,381,232 | $23,941,276 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,764,420 | $10,743,069 | $2,449,127 |
| Distributable Amount | $20,409,703 | $19,194,466 | $19,842,481 |
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
2 open opportunities from The Tow Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bard College ($500,000), Brooklyn College Foundation Inc ($500,000), Columbia University in the City of New York Trustees of ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACT OF CONNECTICUT INC RIDGEFIELD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AFRICAN CARIBBEAN AMERICAN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY INC HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF FAMILIES FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ALS ASSOCIATION GREATER NEW YORK CHAPTER NEW YORK, NY | THE LOU GEHRIG LEGACY GALA | $25,000 |
| ALS UNITED MID-ATLANTIC FORT WASHINGTON, PA | PHILLIES PHESTIVAL | $6,177 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE QUEENS, NY | SPRING MOVING IMAGE AWARDS | $25,000 |
| AOPA FOUNDATION FREDERICK, MD | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| AOPA FOUNDATION FREDERICK, MD | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ARS NOVA THEATER I INC NEW YORK, NY | PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCY PROGRAM | $82,500 |
| BALLONA WETLANDS LAND TRUST PLAYA DEL REY, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Emily Tow: President
- Nadia A: Vice President Operations
- Teresa L: Board Member
The foundation is governed by 12 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMY LEFKOF | SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| ANDREW TOW | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| BENJAMIN JACKSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $46,619 |
| DAVID TOBIAS | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 3 | — |
| EMILY TOW | PRESIDENT | 40 | $368,388 |
| FRANK TOW | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| HOPE JACKSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LEONARD TOW | CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| MOLLY TOW | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| OLIVIA TOW | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SCOTT SCHNEIDER | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| SUSAN RANSDEN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 40 | $165,139 |
| TERESA LAW | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Tow Foundation announced the 2025 Innovation Fund awards of $10 million to ten organizations focused on expanding access to youth mental health and well-being. The foundation has also made significant grants to organizations including the New York Genome Center ($1.4 million for the Women's Genetics Center), The Public Theater's Joe's Pub ($500,000 for capital campaign), and various other initiatives supporting its core impact areas.
The Tow Foundation Awards $10M to Expand Access to Youth Mental Health andThe foundation's founders, Leonard and Claire Tow, have committed to The Giving Pledge, pledging to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
Contact Information
Address: 50 Locust Avenue, Suite 1, New Canaan, CT 06840-4737
Phone: 203-761-6604
Website: www.towfoundation.org
EIN: 06-6484045
IRS Ruling Year: 2000
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Tow Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To promote wellness and access to opportunities so that individuals and communities can thrive. The foundation's work is grounded in Connecticut and New York, supporting organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, help individuals contribute to their communities, and champion advancements that enable all people to live healthy and joyous lives. **Primary Impact Areas:** • Equity and Justice • Medicine and Public Health • Arts and Culture • Higher Education • Civ…
How do I apply for a grant from The Tow Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $75,000 to $1,600,000. Historical data shows a median grant of $35,000 and an average award of $83,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation has made 1,021 grants totaling $85 million across available records. Annual giving has grown from $19.2 million in 2020 to $23.9 million in 2023. The highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $41.9 million distributed across 548 grants. **2025 Innovation Fund:** The foundation selected ten organizations …
Where does The Tow Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia, which account for 77% of all grants. The foundation has supported 328 unique organizations across its grantmaking history.
What size grants does The Tow Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Tow Foundation Inc awarded 213 grants totaling $26.2M — an average of about $123K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Tow Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Tow Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $20.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Tow Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Tow Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6484045. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tow Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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