The Tow Foundation Inc
The Tow Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in New Canaan, Connecticut. Established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow, it supports nonprofit organizations and visionary leaders working to address persistent inequality and promote wellness, access to opportunity, and community participation.
The Tow Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Tow Foundation Inc gave $46.8M across 206 grants in 2025 (avg $227K), mostly in New York. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,839,114
- +78.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 206
- -3.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $227,374
- +84.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $314,304,191
- +0.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (26 of 151, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Tow Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The 2025 Innovation Fund had a separate application process for eligible nonprofit organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 50 Locust Avenue Ste 1, New Canaan, CT 06840-4737
Phone: (203) 761-6604
Website: https://www.towfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Tow Foundation Inc
Who The Tow Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ($8.0M across 12 grants). Together the top 10 received $23.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 504 grants of 1,139 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as grounded in Connecticut and New York. In 2025, recipients in New York received 63% of grant dollars, followed by Connecticut at 11%, Pennsylvania at 8%, Washington, DC at 6%, and California at 4%. The Innovation Fund’s eligibility criteria included organizations operating in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, or Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 206 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Tow Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 151 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $237K; repeat grants $325K. How we count
Medians: $200K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 124% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 264% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $16.0M (2021) to $46.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 206 grants totaling $46.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Biomedical Research Building | $5,000,000 |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | The Initiative in Radiotheranostics | $1,600,000 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Southeastern, PA | Donor Advised Fund Contribution 1 | $1,422,021 |
| New York Genome Center Inc New York, NY | Women's Genetics Center | $1,400,000 |
| The Hospital for Special Surgeries New York, NY | Realizing the promise of precision medicine and tissue regeneration in autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases | $1,240,000 |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | The Tow Initiative in Computational Immuno-Oncology | $1,200,000 |
| Immigrant Justice Corps New York, NY | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc New York, NY | West Project Capital Campaign | $1,000,000 |
| University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | Ai-Based Myeloma Research | $1,000,000 |
| University of New Haven West Haven, CT | Community and Civic Engagement Center | $1,000,000 |
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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 | $314,304,191 | $56,551,428 | $53,686,982 | $46,839,114 | 206 | $51,116,225 | $14,507,336 | $19,379,363 |
| 2024 | $311,444,666 | $21,380,965 | $31,686,056 | $26,245,585 | 213 | $29,743,538 | $19,764,420 | $20,409,703 |
| 2023 | $321,757,604 | $14,366,606 | $31,079,753 | $23,936,247 | 222 | $27,381,232 | $10,743,069 | $19,194,466 |
| 2022 | $338,381,907 | $8,216,304 | $33,758,340 | $20,933,995 | 274 | $23,941,276 | $2,449,127 | $19,842,481 |
| 2021 | $363,923,566 | $215,132,294 | $21,201,578 | $16,024,829 | 224 | $18,199,508 | $6,240,497 | $12,655,165 |
| 2020 | $170,165,082 | $15,992,126 | $22,845,042 | $19,176,215 | 251 | — | $8,705,607 | $10,636,649 |
| 2019 | $176,845,740 | $13,280,104 | $22,725,605 | $19,311,222 | 202 | — | $6,765,052 | $10,718,119 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tow Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19.4M 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 stated vision is to promote wellness and access to opportunities so individuals and communities can thrive. Its work is grounded in Connecticut and New York and supports visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations serving historically marginalized populations.
Grant examples illustrate a range of supported work. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center received grants for radiotheranostics and computational immuno-oncology; the center describes its mission as cancer prevention, treatment, and cure through patient care, outreach, research, and education. The New York Genome Center received support for a Women’s Genetics Center; the center describes its work as using advanced genomics to understand the genetic basis of disease. Other 2025 awards included support for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ capital campaign and general operating support for the Vera Institute of Justice, which describes its work as ending mass incarceration and transforming criminal justice and immigration systems.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 206 grants totaling $46,839,114. Grants ranged from $250 to $5 million, with a median of $100,000. Notable awards included $5 million to the Trustees of Columbia University for a biomedical research building; $1.6 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for its Initiative in Radiotheranostics; $1.4 million to the New York Genome Center for a Women’s Genetics Center; and $1.24 million to the Hospital for Special Surgery for work on precision medicine and tissue regeneration in autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases. Other awards included $1 million each to Immigrant Justice Corps for general operating support, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for its West Project capital campaign, the University of New Haven for a community and civic engagement center, and the Vera Institute of Justice for general operating support.
The foundation’s website says that over 70% of its grants are multi-year, unrestricted support. Its 2025 Innovation Fund was a separate opportunity offering grants of $300,000 to $1 million over three years to up to 10 organizations addressing youth mental health and well-being for young people ages 0–25 and their families. The application deadline was May 23, 2025, so that cycle has passed. Eligibility criteria included 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor, operation in one or more of six named states, a track record in youth mental health and well-being, and work with communities facing barriers to support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing listed Frank Tow as chair, Emily Tow as president and vice chair, Andrew Tow as vice chair, and Amy Lefkof as secretary. It also listed Benjamin Jackson, Hope Jackson, Molly Tow, and Olivia Tow as directors; David Tobias as assistant treasurer; and Leonard Tow, deceased, as chairman.
The Tow Foundation Inc is led by Emily Tow, President & Vice Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Emily Tow
President & Vice Chair
President → President & Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$273K (2021) → $395K (2025)
Frank Tow
Chair
Vice President → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Jackson
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$47K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Molly Tow
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Tow
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Law
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hope Jackson
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Ransden
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$77K (2019) → $187K (2025)
Amy Lefkof
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Tow
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Tobias
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Schneider
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Leonard Tow (2019–2025) — Chairman · Filing note: Deceased
- Former: Emily Tow Jackson (2019–2020) — President & Executive Director
- Former: David Z. Rosensweig (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Maureen Strafford (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $395K, to Emily Tow (President/ Vice Chair). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Tow Foundation Inc
How much does The Tow Foundation Inc give each year?
The Tow Foundation Inc gave $46.8M across 206 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $26.2M across 213 grants.
What is The Tow Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Tow Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $227,374, across 206 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tow Foundation Inc that year got $237K on average.
Where does The Tow Foundation Inc give grants?
The Tow Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (11%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (76 grants), Washington, DC (18 grants), Brooklyn, NY (14 grants) and Hartford, CT (14 grants).
Does The Tow Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 41% of The Tow Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (84 of 206) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Annual Gala" (4 grants).
Who are The Tow Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Tow Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ($7,962,057 across 12 grants), Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($3,769,464 across 7 grants) and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($3,100,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Tow Foundation Inc?
The Tow Foundation Inc reported $314.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tow Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated vision is to promote wellness and access to opportunities so individuals and communities can thrive. Its work is grounded in Connecticut and New York and supports visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations serving historically marginalized populations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tow Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does The Tow Foundation Inc 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 22, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Tow Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tow Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tow Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tow-foundation-inc-morg_f51de9d1afef49908361f9d95744e966
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066484045_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tow Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tow-foundation-inc-morg_f51de9d1afef49908361f9d95744e966},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Tow Foundation Inc'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.
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