The Towe Family Foundation
The Towe Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Jacksonville, Florida. Its 2021 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Towe Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Towe Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2021 (avg $104K), mostly in Florida. 45% of 2021 grantees were new. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $1,141,867
- +1540.6% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 11
- -50.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $103,806
- +3181.2% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2021; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (98% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Towe Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This policy is reported in a filing marked as a final return and should not be taken as a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4789 Apalachee Street, Jacksonville, FL 32210-8328
Phone: (904) 389-7274
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Towe Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 48 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2021 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida and 1% to recipients in Maine. The listed grants also include recipients in Washington, DC; Connecticut; Ohio; and Delaware.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Towe Family Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2021
In 2021, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $226K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 45% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2021). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2019) to $1.1M (2021). In 2021 it made 11 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FL | Community Support | $1,113,617 |
| Meddybemps Lake Land Trust Calais, ME | Enviromental Preservation | $15,000 |
| The Trinity Forum Washington, DC | Religious Programs and Events | $5,000 |
| World Affairs Council Jacksonville, FL | Education | $2,000 |
| Cummer Museum of Art Jacksonville, FL | Support Operations and Events | $1,250 |
| Connecticut Children's Hartford, CT | Child Health Services | $1,000 |
| Greenwich Chaplaincy Services Greenwich, CT | Senior Care Centers in Greenwich | $1,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL | Healthcare | $1,000 |
| University Hospitals Highland Hills, OH | Healthcare | $1,000 |
| St Andrews School Middletown, DE | Education | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $19,176 | $1,144,229 | $1,141,867 | 11 | $1,142,391 | $18,088 | $46,054 |
| 2020 | $897,777 | $36,862 | $71,128 | $69,600 | 22 | — | $28,049 | $37,136 |
| 2019 | $932,043 | $24,269 | $43,260 | $41,800 | 15 | — | $24,259 | $42,785 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Towe Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The 2021 filing’s program description is “difference between fair market value of contributions and book value.” It does not state a mission.
Among the grantees described in their own words, Meddybemps Lake Land Trust says its mission is to protect and preserve lakeshore lands, wetlands, woodlands, and open space around the Meddybemps Lake watershed for public benefit and future generations. Connecticut Children’s says it provides statewide services to child victims and their families through collaboration, systemic change, public awareness, and legislative advocacy. United Against Poverty says its purpose is to empower families and individuals to achieve sustainable economic self-sufficiency.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation gave $1,141,867 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $1,113,617, with a median of $1,000.
The largest grant was $1,113,617 to The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida for community support. Other notable grants included $15,000 to Meddybemps Lake Land Trust for environmental preservation, $5,000 to The Trinity Forum for religious programs and events, and $2,000 to the World Affairs Council for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Neely P. Towe as director and president; Rolf H. Towe as director, secretary, and treasurer; and Anne T. Egan and Christopher W. Towe as directors and vice presidents.
The Towe Family Foundation is led by Neely P. Towe, Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Neely P. Towe
Director & President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Anne T. Egan
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Christopher W. Towe
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Rolf H. Towe
Director Sec'y & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Towe Family Foundation
How much does The Towe Family Foundation give each year?
The Towe Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $70K across 22 grants.
What is The Towe Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Towe Family Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $1,000, and its average grant was $103,806, across 11 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Towe Family Foundation that year got $226K on average.
Where does The Towe Family Foundation give grants?
The Towe Family Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Jacksonville, FL (4 grants).
Does The Towe Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Towe Family Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Towe Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Towe Family Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ($1,113,617), Meddybemps Lake Land Trust ($15,000) and The Trinity Forum ($5,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does The Towe Family Foundation fund?
The 2021 filing’s program description is “difference between fair market value of contributions and book value.” It does not state a mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Towe Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Towe Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The Towe Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Towe Family Foundation's EIN?
The Towe Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3509411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Does The Towe Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 30, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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Figures come from The Towe Family Foundation'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.
The Towe Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?