FundersMaryland

John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation

Kensington, MD · EIN 51-6019469. Reported 286 grants totalling $11.8M to 157 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$30,000median grant
$11.8Mgranted, 2021-2024
157organizations funded
37%of grantees funded again the next year
$68.4Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $30,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $20,000 and $40,000; the smallest was $5,000 and the largest $350,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$5,000 - $10,000
3 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
98 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
120 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
46 grants
$100,000 and Up
19 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Building Bridges Across the RiverWashington, DC$1,075,000442024
Washington School for GirlsWashington, DC$620,000442024
DC Central KitchenWashington, DC$370,000332024
So What ElseRockville, MD$350,000442024
Boys & Girls Club of Greater WashingtonWashington, DC$300,000332023
Glenbrook Cooperative Nursery SchoolBethesda, MD$300,000112024
Junior Achievement of GwWashington, DC$300,000222022
One World EducationWashington, DC$210,000442024
Bread for the CityWashington, MD$200,000112021
Friendship PlaceWashington, DC$180,000332024
Lisner Home for Aged WomenWashington, DC$165,000222024
Bright BeginningsWashington, DC$160,000332024
Washington BalletWashington, DC$160,000222023
Barker Adoption FoundationBethesda, MD$150,000332024
Voices for Children MontgomeryRockville, MD$150,000222022
Housing UnlimitedSilver Spring, MD$140,000332024
For Love of ChildrenWashington, DC$135,000332024
Western Fairfax Christian MinistriesChantilly, VA$135,000332024
Samaritan Ministry of GwWashington, DC$130,000332023
Wesley Housing Corporation of N VaAlexandria, VA$130,000222023
Central Union MissionWashington, DC$125,000222023
Montgomery County Coalition for the HomelessRockville, MD$125,000222023
Arlington ThriveArlington, VA$120,000332024
College TracksSilver Spring, MD$120,000332024
Arlington Free ClinicArlington, VA$110,000222023
Don Bosco Cristo Rey High SchoolTakoma Park, MD$110,000332024
Food and FriendsWashington, DC$110,000222023
New FuturesWashington, DC$105,000332024
Boys and Girls Club of Greater WashingtonWashington, DC$100,000112024
Dance Institute of WashingtonWashington, DC$100,000332023
Fair ChanceWashington, DC$100,000222024
Jubilee JumpstartWashington, DC$100,000332023
MannaWashington, DC$100,000332024
Nova Scripts Central IncFalls Church, VA$100,000332024
Thrive DCWashington, DC$100,000222024
DC Affordable Law FirmWashington, DC$95,000332024
Little Lights Urban MinistriesWashington, DC$95,000332024
Nick's PlaceBeltsville, MD$90,000332024
WanadaWashington, DC$90,000222022
Arlington Pediatric CenterArlington, VA$80,000222023
Beacon HouseWashington, DC$80,000222023
Collegiate DirectionsBethesda, MD$80,000332024
Jubilee HousingWashington, DC$80,000332024
Wendt CenterWashington, DC$80,000222022
DC Volunteer Lawyers ProjectWashington, DC$75,000332024
Doorways for Women and FamiliesArlington, VA$75,000222024
N Street VillageWashington, DC$75,000222023
Aspire After School LearningArlington, VA$70,000222023
DC ScoresWashington, DC$70,000222023
Future LinkRockville, MD$70,000222023
New Endeavors By WomenWashington, DC$70,000222023
Shaw Community MinistryWashington, DC$70,000332024
Washington Jesuit AcademyWashington, DC$70,000222024
Byte BackWashington, DC$65,000222024
Greater Washington Diaper BankSilver Spring, MD$65,000222024
Hope and a HomeWashington, DC$65,000222024
Mary HouseWashington, DC$65,000222023
Nourish NowRockville, MD$65,000332023
Together We BakeAlexandria, VA$65,000332024
Crossroads Community Food NetworkTakoma Park, MD$60,000332024
Father Mckenna CenterWashington, DC$60,000222024
Friends ClubBethesda, MD$60,000332024
Georgetown Ministry CenterWashington, DC$60,000332023
Mobile Medical Care IncBethesda, MD$60,000222023
PathforwardArlington, VA$60,000222023
Reading PartnersWashington, DC$60,000222023
Resources to Inspire Students and EducatorsCapitol Heights, MD$60,000222023
Seabury Resources for the AgingWashington, DC$60,000222024
Bread for the CityWashington, DC$50,000112023
Downtown Cluster of CongregationsWashington, DC$50,000222023
Gaithersburg HelpGaithersburg, MD$50,000332024
Kitchen of PurposeArlington, VA$50,000112024
La Cocina VaArlington, VA$50,000112022
St Ann's CenterHyattsville, MD$50,000112024
Suited for ChangeWashington, DC$50,000332024
Bethesda CaresBethesda, MD$45,000332023
Leveling the Playing FieldSilver Spring, MD$45,000332023
Senior Services of AlexandriaAlexandria, VA$45,000332024
Young Playwrights Theatre IncWashington, DC$45,000222024
Anne Frank House IncWashington, DC$40,000222024
Calvary Women's ServicesWashington, DC$40,000112023
CitydanceWashington, DC$40,000112021
Community Lodgings IncAlexandria, VA$40,000222023
Cornerstone MontgomeryRockville, MD$40,000112021
Dance PlaceWashington, DC$40,000222023
Experience CampsWestport, CT$40,000222024
Iona Senior ServicesWashington, DC$40,000112022
Rx PartnershipRichmond, VA$40,000222023
Rebuilding Together AlexandriaAlexandria, VA$40,000222022
Society of St AndrewBig Island, VA$40,000222024
St Ann's Center for Children Youth FamilyHyattsville, MD$40,000112022
Wendt Center Loss and HealingWashington, DC$40,000112024
Storybook TreasuresAshburn, VA$36,000112022
Arts for the AgingGaithersburg, MD$35,000222024
Beacon for Adult LiteracyBristow, VA$35,000222023
Bishop Walker School for BoysWashington, DC$35,000112024
City BlossomsWashington, DC$35,000222024
Joseph's HouseWashington, DC$35,000112024
Literacy Council of N Va IncFalls Church, VA$35,000222024
Shepard's TableSilver Spring, MD$35,000112021
Art Enables IncWashington, DC$30,000222024
Carpenter's ShelterAlexandria, VA$30,000112023
District Alliance for Safe HousingWashington, DC$30,000112024
Good Shepard Housing & Family ServicesLorton, VA$30,000112024
Habitat for HumanityWashington, DC$30,000112023
Horizons of Greater WashingtonWashington, DC$30,000112023
Jubilee Jobs IncWashington, DC$30,000112023
Platform of HopeWashington, DC$30,000332024
Rebuilding Together DC AlexandriaWashington, DC$30,000112024
Viva School of DanceWashington, DC$30,000112024
Derwood Bible ChurchDerwood, MD$25,000112021
Greater Washington Diaper BankWashington, DC$25,000112021
Keys for the HomelessWashington, DC$25,000112021
Main Street Child Development CenterFairfax, VA$25,000112023
Mainstreet Child DevelopmentFairfax, VA$25,000112021
Montgomery College FoundationRockville, MD$25,000112022
My Sister's PlaceWashington, DC$25,000112021
Rising for JusticeWashington, DC$25,000112021
Washington Legal Clinic for the HomelessWashington, DC$25,000112024
826DCWashington, DC$20,000112022
All Ages Read TogetherHerndon, VA$20,000112022
Church of the EphipanyWashington, DC$20,000112021
Churchill SchoolNew York, NY$20,000112021
Churchill School and CenterNew York, NY$20,000112023
Common Good City FarmWashington, DC$20,000112022
Everybody Wins DCWashington, DC$20,000222024
Friends of Ft Dupont Ice ArenaWaldorf, MD$20,000112024
Imagination StageBethesda, MD$20,000112022
Jewish Council for the AgingRockville, MD$20,000112021
Life Pieces to Master PiecesWashington, DC$20,000112021
Life Pieces to MasterpiecesWashington, DC$20,000112023
Mamatoto VillageWashington, DC$20,000112022
Miriam's KitchenWashington, DC$20,000112023
Olney Help IncOlney, MD$20,000112023
Parkmont SchoolWashington, DC$20,000112022
Theatre Lab School for the Dramatic ArtsWashington, DC$20,000112024
Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic ArtsWashington, DC$20,000112022
Washington Legal Clinic HomelessWashington, DC$20,000112021
We Are Family Senior OutreachWashington, DC$20,000112024
Community Hope Center at Seneca CreekGaithersburg, MD$15,000112024
Free Minds Book ClubWashington, DC$15,000112023
Grassroots HealthWashington, DC$15,000112024
Homeless Children's Playtime ProjectWashington, DC$15,000112024
Rebuilding Together Inc MontgomeryGaithersbury, MD$15,000112023
Treatment and Learning CenterRockville, MD$15,000112021
We Are Family Senior Outreach NetworkWashington, DC$15,000112022
Wilderness LeadershipWashington, DC$15,000112021
Wilderness Leadership and LearningWashington, DC$15,000112023
Arcadia Food IncAlexandria, VA$10,000112022
DC Youth Orchestra ProgramWashington, DC$10,000112021
Growing TogetherSilver Spring, MD$10,000112024
Hope HouseWashington, DC$10,000112021
Spur LocalWashington, DC$10,000112024
TzedekWashington, DC$10,000112024
DC Kincare AllianceWashington, DC$5,000112021
Edgewood Community FarmWashington, DC$5,000112024
Feed the FridgeBethesda, MD$5,000112021

86 of 157 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 37%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 156 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
46 grants
Education
22 grants
Food & Nutrition
18 grants
Housing & Shelter
16 grants
Arts & Culture
10 grants
Youth Development
8 grants
Community Improvement
6 grants
Health Care
6 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202176$3,045,000$25,000
202267$2,956,000$35,000
202371$2,940,000$30,000
202472$2,855,000$30,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 63% of this one's giving went to organizations in District of Columbia. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

District of Columbia
$7.4M
Maryland
$2.8M
Virginia
$1.5M
New York
$40K
Connecticut
$40K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund94 shared recipientsGreater Washington Community Foundation88 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc80 shared recipientsThe Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz75 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc75 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program57 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $30,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in District of Columbia.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Related guides

Foundations funding education in District of ColumbiaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding education in VirginiaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 10304 Montgomery Avenue, Kensington, MD, 20895. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 51-6019469 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.