Tower Family Fund Inc
Tower Family Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. Its 2025 filing reports 107 grants totaling $9,147,895, with awards to organizations in several states.
Tower Family Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Tower Family Fund Inc gave $9.1M across 107 grants in 2025 (avg $85K), mostly in Massachusetts. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,147,895
- +14.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 107
- -0.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $85,494
- +15.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $36,493,049
- -10.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (24 of 100, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (58% 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 Tower Family Fund Inc
- 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. The scholarship program has its own application and evaluation requirements described above.
- Contact
Mailing address: 369 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 856-3300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Tower Family Fund Inc
Who Tower Family Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ($2.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($125,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
633 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 448 grants of 633 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 38% to recipients in New York. Recipients in Washington, D.C., California, and Connecticut each received 2%, 1%, and 1%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 107 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Tower Family Fund Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 100 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $74K; repeat grants $95K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 39% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 369% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.3M (2021) to $9.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 107 grants totaling $9.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Buffalo, NY | The Buffalo Together Fund | $2,000,000 |
| Harborlight Community Partners DBA Harborlight Homes Beverly, MA | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| Martha's Vineyard Hospital Oak Bluffs, MA | Workforce Housing Grant | $1,000,000 |
| Power of Place Learning Communities Inc Burlington, MA | Learning Community Project Grant | $647,895 |
| Buffalo AKG Art Museum Buffalo, NY | General Support - Installment 1 of 4 | $250,000 |
| Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Buffalo, NY | General Support - Installment 1 of 4 | $250,000 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center Buffalo, NY | General Support - Installment 1 of 4 | $250,000 |
| Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Gloucester, MA | General Support | $200,000 |
| YMCA of Martha's Vineyard Vineyard Haven, MA | General Support | $200,000 |
| Penikese Island School Woods Hole, MA | General support & girls' science and nature summer camp | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Tower Family Fund Inc?
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 | $36,493,049 | $5,509,284 | $9,682,369 | $9,147,895 | 107 | $9,307,511 | $5,390,826 | $2,523,320 |
| 2024 | $40,666,134 | $5,394,655 | $8,929,484 | $8,016,036 | 108 | $8,546,220 | $5,011,141 | $2,809,020 |
| 2023 | $44,200,963 | $2,661,222 | $6,855,846 | $6,371,106 | 138 | $6,500,745 | $2,408,331 | $2,720,714 |
| 2022 | $48,395,587 | $4,706,166 | $7,632,431 | $6,575,000 | 148 | $7,214,566 | $4,362,594 | $2,950,842 |
| 2021 | $51,321,852 | $6,534,694 | $5,270,756 | $4,318,000 | 132 | $4,772,894 | $6,192,020 | $3,464,543 |
| 2020 | $50,057,914 | $2,693,156 | $6,132,662 | $5,315,000 | 146 | — | $2,356,992 | $3,010,002 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tower Family Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M 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
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for community initiatives, arts and culture, education, housing, health, and science. These areas reflect the work of its grantees, not a stated mission of the fund.
For example, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo says its mission is to connect people, ideas, and resources to improve lives in Western New York. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra describes producing symphonic music and arts education programs for area youth. An individual recipient Genomics Institute says it addresses ocean health, human health, and environmental challenges through marine biotechnology research and science education. Power of Place Learning Communities describes its work as supporting school districts and educator professional development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the fund made 107 grants totaling $9,147,895. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,000,000, with a median award of $25,000.
The largest reported grant was $2,000,000 to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo for the Buffalo Together Fund. Other large awards included $1,000,000 to Harborlight Community Partners DBA Harborlight Homes for general support; $1,000,000 to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for a workforce housing grant; and $647,895 to Power of Place Learning Communities for a learning community project grant. The fund also gave $250,000 each to Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Burchfield-Penney Art Center for general support.
The Tower Family Foundation Scholarship is described as providing merit-based assistance of up to $5,000 annually to full-time students who are employees or dependents of NATE Member Companies. The program also provides eligibility for a severely injured or permanently disabled tower worker, or a legal dependent of a permanently disabled or deceased tower worker. The stated criteria include a 2.5 GPA, academic achievement, future promise based on the degree program, and written essays; awards are paid to the educational institution and may be renewed for up to four years.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mollie T Byrnes as secretary and director, Cynthia T Doyle as treasurer and director, and Randolph F Treece as attorney director.
Tower Family Fund Inc's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Randolph F. Treece
Atty Director
On filings since 2023
15 hrs/week
$77K (2024) → $75K (2025)
Cynthia T. Doyle
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mollie T. Byrnes
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John N. Blair (2020–2023) — Vice President & Atty Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $75K, to Randolph F Treece (Atty Director).
Frequently asked questions about Tower Family Fund Inc
How much does Tower Family Fund Inc give each year?
Tower Family Fund Inc gave $9.1M across 107 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8.0M across 108 grants.
What is Tower Family Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Tower Family Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $85,494, across 107 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tower Family Fund Inc that year got $74K on average.
Where does Tower Family Fund Inc give grants?
Tower Family Fund Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (38%). The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (17 grants), Gloucester, MA (11 grants), Albany, NY (9 grants) and Niagara Falls, NY (7 grants).
Does Tower Family Fund Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 84% of Tower Family Fund Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (90 of 107) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Tower Family Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Tower Family Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ($2,010,000 across 2 grants), Harborlight Community Partners DBA Harborlight Homes ($1,000,000) and Martha's Vineyard Hospital ($1,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($125,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Tower Family Fund Inc?
Tower Family Fund Inc reported $36.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tower Family Fund Inc fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for community initiatives, arts and culture, education, housing, health, and science. These areas reflect the work of its grantees, not a stated mission of the fund. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tower Family Fund Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Tower Family Fund Inc's EIN?
Tower Family Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5848514. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Tower Family Fund 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work Tower Family Fund Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tower Family Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower
Getzville, NY
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation funds programs and systems that improve the lives of young people up to age 26 affected by intellectual or learning disabilities, mental health issues, or substance use disorders, as well as organizational capacity and community-change work. It focuses on specified counties in Western New York and Eastern Massachusetts; its 2025 grants had a median of $34,166. Applicants may submit a letter of inquiry, and a full application is required if invited to proceed.
Assets
$123.3M
Grants
208
Total Given
$11.6M
Charles Family Charitable Foundation
Gloucester, MA
The Charles Family Charitable Foundation supports arts, culture, education, and organizations serving children and families, primarily in Massachusetts, with some grants in Maryland and New York. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $20,000, with a median of $3,250. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$759K
Grants
16
Total Given
$85K
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation supports a broad range of charitable and public-service work in Western New York, with no single focus area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,400 to $779,306, with a median of $30,000. It accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations; applicants may request an application, and the foundation does not accept letters of intent.
Assets
$75.5M
Grants
44
Total Given
$2.9M
James H Cummings Foundation Inc
Buffalo, NY
The foundation funds capital projects for tax-exempt nonprofits, with interests in medical research, science and post-secondary medical education, and services for vulnerable children and adults. It gives in Buffalo, Toronto, and Hendersonville, North Carolina; 2025 grants ranged from $2,560 to $115,600, with a median of $30,195. Applications begin with a letter of intent through its online portal; whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
Assets
$46.4M
Grants
62
Total Given
$2.4M
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
Buffalo, NY
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo funds racial and ethnic equity, education and economic mobility, environmental stewardship and climate resilience, and regional arts and culture, primarily in Western New York; its donor-directed funds may also support organizations nationally. Its 2026 competitive grants were expected to average $18,000–$20,000, with a maximum of $50,000; the listed application process is closed, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$944.0M
Grants
562
Total Given
$33.4M
The John R Oishei Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The John R. Oishei Foundation supports work advancing racial and economic justice, community power, and financial prosperity, with a current priority on Buffalo’s East Side and the wider Buffalo-Niagara region. In 2024, grants ranged from $750 to $930,000, with a median of $20,000. It is not accepting new grant requests at this time.
Assets
$330.0M
Grants
168
Total Given
$9.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Tower Family Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tower-family-fund-inc-morg_fb04eeb936ce4af7bab313c4f80fe14e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205848514_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Tower Family Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tower-family-fund-inc-morg_fb04eeb936ce4af7bab313c4f80fe14e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Tower Family Fund 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.
Tower Family Fund Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?