THE HOWLEY FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$28.5M+30% YoY
Grants
60
Median Grant
$181K
Organizations Funded
44
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Foundation Overview
Mission
The goal of their grantmaking is to create educational opportunities for students of low socioeconomic standing at the elementary, high school, and postsecondary levels; The foundation believes that the best way to create social and economic mobility and improve lives is to provide quality educational opportunities through programs that prepare students through academic excellence, nurture personal growth, and emphasize character education.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$15 million commitment to Drexel University to expand Howley College Scholars Program. $28 million unprecedented commitment to Gilmour Academy for 48 students in Grades 7-12 with annual scholarships and capital needs. $9.1 million to Merion Mercy Academy for annual scholarships and Howley Center for Science and Innovation. $7 million to Williamson College of the Trades toward construction of 72-bed dormitory.
How to Apply
Students must apply directly through partner schools rather than through centralized application portal. Contact the foundation via contact form for questions about application process or scholarship selection criteria. Students must graduate from Howley-supported high school with minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Does Not Fund
Does not make grants to individuals. Does not sponsor events/benefits. Generally does not allow organizations to replace scholarship students who drop out. Limited geographic focus primarily in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Limited college/university scholarships scope.
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$28.5M
Grants
60
Median
$181K
States
8
$21.9M
Grants
55
Median
$162K
States
10
$16.5M
Grants
45
Median
$124K
States
6
Grant Size Distribution
$181K
Typical Grant (Median)
$8K
Smallest
$73K
25th Pctile
$483K
75th Pctile
$2.9M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $73K and $483K.
Largest Recent Grants
$2.9M
2024
GILMOUR ACADEMY
OH · SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, COORDINATOR POSITION
$2.5M
2024
DREXEL FUND
IN · SCHOLARSHIPS, OPERATIONS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
$2.4M
2024
ST JOSEPH PREPATORY SCHOOL
PA · SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, COUNSELOR POSITION
$2.2M
2024
CLEVELAND CLINICASPIRE
OH · ASPIRE SCHOLARSHIPS, PROGRAM ADMINSTRATIVE COSTS
$1.8M
2024
MERION MERCY ACADEMY
PA · SCHOLARSHIPS, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, COORDINATOR
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.