Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $71K. Net investment income was $46K.
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation at a glance
In short: Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation gave $71K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $71,225
- +184.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,742
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $1,037,668
- +1.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Miami ($35K). Together the top 3 received $71K.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 10 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation gives
- Giving grew 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 135% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2019) to $71K (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $71K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Miami Miami, FL | Coral Research equipment fund | $35,225 |
| Center for Coastal Studies Inc Provincetown, MA | Right Whale Research, Flights, Equipment, Research Costs; MAER Funding; Seagrass Research and SeagrassNet portal startup work | $35,000 |
| Ric Obarrys Dolphin Project Inc Santa Monica, CA | To support Taiji Project and prevent Dolphin slaughter | $1,000 |
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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 | $1,037,668 | $95,701 | $79,612 | $71,225 | 3 | $79,437 | $45,526 | $58,902 |
| 2023 | $1,021,579 | $85,475 | $33,908 | $25,000 | 1 | $33,052 | $27,368 | $52,368 |
| 2022 | $970,012 | $103,172 | $33,939 | $25,000 | 1 | $33,136 | $22,969 | $49,944 |
| 2021 | $900,779 | $140,974 | $67,394 | $58,941 | 3 | $66,824 | $40,774 | $50,757 |
| 2020 | $827,199 | $106,274 | $39,782 | $32,000 | 2 | — | $26,074 | $42,478 |
| 2019 | $760,707 | $59,451 | $12,931 | $5,000 | 1 | — | $18,694 | $38,571 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation reported a distributable amount of $59K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation is led by Christopher J Towle, President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher J Towle
President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erica K Towle
Vice President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation
How much does Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation give each year?
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation gave $71K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $25K across 1 grant.
What is Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation's typical grant size?
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $23,742, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation give grants?
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation's top state is Florida, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was Massachusetts (49%).
Does Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation?
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $79K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $59K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation?
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Wilmington, DE. It holds $1.0M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation's EIN?
Towle Ocean Conservation Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4038250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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