The William B Bowie Foundation
The William B Bowie Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It reported giving $37,000 through 16 grants in 2024 to charitable organizations in Michigan, Utah, and Illinois.
The William B Bowie Foundation at a glance
In short: The William B Bowie Foundation gave $37K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), top state Utah. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $37,000
- +8.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,313
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,250
- Total assets
- $443,118
- -4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Utah (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The William B Bowie Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3611 Reeds Lake Blvd Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Phone: (616) 732-5000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The William B Bowie Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kids Food Basket ($5K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 43 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 45% of grant dollars went to recipients in Utah, 42% to recipients in Michigan, and 14% to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The William B Bowie Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 141% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2022) to $37K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $37K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kids Food Basket Grand Rapids, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Opportunity Grand Ed Wilmette, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Christian Center Food Bank Park City, UT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| WMCAT Grand Rapids, MI | Unrestircted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Peace House Inc Park City, UT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,500 |
| People's Health Clinic Park City, UT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,500 |
| Summit Land Conservancy Park City, UT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,500 |
| Mel Trotter Ministires Grand Rapids, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,500 |
| Humane Society of West Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,000 |
| Camp Blodgett Grand Rapids, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $443,118 | $23,109 | $41,579 | $37,000 | 16 | $37,000 | $18,530 | $26,314 |
| 2023 | $462,186 | $91,109 | $38,273 | $34,000 | 14 | $34,000 | $86,836 | $23,190 |
| 2022 | $279,307 | $12,015 | $30,400 | $30,000 | 13 | $30,000 | $11,615 | $24,531 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William B Bowie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K for 2024 — 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 foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in areas such as food assistance, survivor support, land and water conservation, youth development, animal welfare, and services for people with disabilities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a mission statement for the foundation.
For example, Kids’ Food Basket says it nourishes children through programs including a sack supper program, community-driven farming, and family food provision. Peace House says it works to end interpersonal violence and abuse by supporting survivors, while Summit Land Conservancy says it works with Utah communities to conserve land and water. Camp Blodgett describes its work as empowering youth through educational and recreational experiences; the Humane Society of West Michigan says it promotes humane treatment and responsible animal care; and Lucky Project says it works to show the value of individuals with disabilities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $37,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, with a median grant of $2,250. The largest listed grants were $5,000 each to Kids’ Food Basket in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Opportunity Grand Ed in Wilmette, Illinois. Other notable grants included $3,000 to Christian Center Food Bank in Park City, Utah, and $3,000 to WMCAT in Grand Rapids.
The foundation’s filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Janice J Bowie as director and William H Bowie as president.
The William B Bowie Foundation is led by William H. Bowie, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William H. Bowie
President
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Janice J. Bowie
Director
Trustee → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 William B Bowie Foundation
How much does The William B Bowie Foundation give each year?
The William B Bowie Foundation gave $37K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $34K across 14 grants.
What is The William B Bowie Foundation's typical grant size?
The William B Bowie Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,250, and its average grant was $2,313, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The William B Bowie Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The William B Bowie Foundation give grants?
The William B Bowie Foundation's top state is Utah, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Michigan (42%) and Illinois (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Park City, UT (7 grants) and Grand Rapids, MI (6 grants).
Does The William B Bowie Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of The William B Bowie Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The William B Bowie Foundation's largest grantees?
The William B Bowie Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Kids Food Basket ($5,000), Opportunity Grand Ed ($5,000) and Christian Center Food Bank ($3,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The William B Bowie Foundation?
The William B Bowie Foundation reported $443K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $37K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The William B Bowie Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in areas such as food assistance, survivor support, land and water conservation, youth development, animal welfare, and services for people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The William B Bowie Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; 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 William B Bowie Foundation's EIN?
The William B Bowie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3121370. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does The William B Bowie Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work The William B Bowie Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William B Bowie Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The William B Bowie 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.
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