John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation
Kensington, MD · EIN 51-6019469. Reported 368 grants totalling $14.5M to 187 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
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.
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.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Bridges Across the River | Washington, DC | $1,175,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Washington School for Girls | Washington, DC | $660,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| DC Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | $435,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| So What Else | Rockville, MD | $390,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington | Washington, DC | $300,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Glenbrook Cooperative Nursery School | Bethesda, MD | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of Gw | Washington, DC | $300,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| One World Education | Washington, DC | $260,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Barker Adoption Foundation | Bethesda, MD | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Bread for the City | Washington, MD | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rockville Community Nursery School | Rockville, MD | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Central Union Mission | Washington, DC | $190,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Arlington Free Clinic | Arlington, VA | $180,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Friendship Place | Washington, DC | $180,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless | Rockville, MD | $175,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Lisner Home for Aged Women | Washington, DC | $165,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bright Beginnings | Washington, DC | $160,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Washington Ballet | Washington, DC | $160,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Fair Chance | Washington, DC | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Voices for Children Montgomery | Rockville, MD | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dance Institute of Washington | Washington, DC | $140,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Housing Unlimited | Silver Spring, MD | $140,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| New Futures | Washington, DC | $140,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| For Love of Children | Washington, DC | $135,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Western Fairfax Christian Ministries | Chantilly, VA | $135,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| DC Affordable Law Firm | Washington, DC | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Little Lights Urban Ministries | Washington, DC | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Samaritan Ministry of Gw | Washington, DC | $130,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wesley Housing Corporation of N Va | Alexandria, VA | $130,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Arlington Thrive | Arlington, VA | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Beacon House | Washington, DC | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| College Tracks | Silver Spring, MD | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School | Takoma Park, MD | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Food and Friends | Washington, DC | $110,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Future Link | Rockville, MD | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| DC Scores | Washington, DC | $105,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hope and a Home | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Jubilee Jumpstart | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Manna | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mobile Medical Care Inc | Bethesda, MD | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| N Street Village | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Nova Scripts Central Inc | Falls Church, VA | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Ann's Center | Hyattsville, MD | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Thrive DC | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kitchen of Purpose | Arlington, VA | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Nick's Place | Beltsville, MD | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Nourish Now | Rockville, MD | $90,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Wanada | Washington, DC | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Georgetown Ministry Center | Washington, DC | $85,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Arlington Pediatric Center | Arlington, VA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Calvary Women's Services | Washington, DC | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Collegiate Directions | Bethesda, MD | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends Club | Bethesda, MD | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Jubilee Housing | Washington, DC | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wendt Center | Washington, DC | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wendt Center Loss and Healing | Washington, DC | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| DC Volunteer Lawyers Project | Washington, DC | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Doorways for Women and Families | Arlington, VA | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Aspire After School Learning | Arlington, VA | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bishop Walker School for Boys | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| District Alliance for Safe Housing | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| New Endeavors By Women | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Shaw Community Ministry | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Suited for Change | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Washington Jesuit Academy | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Byte Back | Washington, DC | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Greater Washington Diaper Bank | Silver Spring, MD | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Horizons of Greater Washington | Washington, DC | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mary House | Washington, DC | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Together We Bake | Alexandria, VA | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Young Playwrights Theatre Inc | Washington, DC | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Carpenter's Shelter | Alexandria, VA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Community Lodgings Inc | Alexandria, VA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Crossroads Community Food Network | Takoma Park, MD | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Experience Camps | Westport, CT | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Father Mckenna Center | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Good Shepard Housing & Family Services | Lorton, VA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Jubilee Jobs Inc | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Pathforward | Arlington, VA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Reading Partners | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Resources to Inspire Students and Educators | Capitol Heights, MD | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Seabury Resources for the Aging | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Society of St Andrew | Big Island, VA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Viva School of Dance | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Aspire Afterschool Learning | Arlington, VA | $55,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Beacon for Adult Literacy | Bristow, VA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bread for the City | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Downtown Cluster of Congregations | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Gaithersburg Help | Gaithersburg, MD | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| La Cocina Va | Arlington, VA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Montgomery College Foundation Inc | Rockville, MD | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Art Enables Inc | Washington, DC | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bethesda Cares | Bethesda, MD | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Leveling the Playing Field | Silver Spring, MD | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Senior Services of Alexandria | Alexandria, VA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| 826DC | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Anne Frank House Inc | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Citydance | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cornerstone Montgomery | Rockville, MD | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dance Place | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Iona Senior Services | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Neighborhood Health | Arlington, VA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Olney Help Inc | Olney, MD | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Platform of Hope | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Rx Partnership | Richmond, VA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rebuilding Together Alexandria | Alexandria, VA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Ann's Center for Children Youth Family | Hyattsville, MD | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Theatre Lab School for the Dramatic Arts | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Storybook Treasures | Ashburn, VA | $36,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Arts for the Aging | Gaithersburg, MD | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| City Blossoms | Washington, DC | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jewish Council for the Aging | Rockville, MD | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Joseph's House | Washington, DC | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Literacy Council of N Va Inc | Falls Church, VA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Shepard's Table | Silver Spring, MD | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grassroots Health | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Higher Achievement Program | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Koinonia Foundation | Alexandria, VA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Main Street Child Development | Fairfax, VA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Path Forward | Arlington, VA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Derwood Bible Church | Derwood, MD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Washington Diaper Bank | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Homestretch Inc | Falls Church, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Keys for the Homeless | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Main Street Child Development Center | Fairfax, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mainstreet Child Development | Fairfax, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| My Sister's Place | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Reach Inc | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rising for Justice | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| San Miguel School | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| William & Mary Foundation | Williamsburg, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| All Ages Read Together | Herndon, VA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Church of the Ephipany | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Churchill School | New York, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Churchill School and Center | New York, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Common Good City Farm | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dumbarton Concerts | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Everybody Wins DC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Fairfax Church Resource Center | Fairfax, VA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Falls Church Mclean Children's Center | Falls Church, VA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Friends of Ft Dupont Ice Arena | Waldorf, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Imagination Stage | Bethesda, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Levine School of Music | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Life Pieces to Master Pieces | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Life Pieces to Masterpieces | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Loaves and Fishes | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mamatoto Village | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mcclendon Center | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Miriam's Kitchen | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Parkmont School | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rebuilding Together MD DC | Gaithersburg, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Spur Local | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Summit School | Edgewater, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Washington Legal Clinic Homeless | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| We Are Family Senior Outreach | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Access Youth | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Charlie's Place | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Community Hope Center at Seneca Creek | Gaithersburg, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Free Minds Book Club | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Homeless Children's Playtime Project | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rebuilding Together Inc Montgomery | Gaithersbury, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Treatment and Learning Center | Rockville, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| We Are Family Senior Outreach Network | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wilderness Leadership | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wilderness Leadership and Learning | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Arcadia Food Inc | Alexandria, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| DC Greens | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| DC Youth Orchestra Program | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gala Hispanic Theatre | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Growing Together | Silver Spring, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hope House | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Leveling the Playing Field | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Lift Inc | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Street Sense Inc | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Tzedek | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| DC Kincare Alliance | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Difference Makers | Damascus, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Edgewood Community Farm | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Feed the Fridge | Bethesda, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
107 of 187 (57%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 39%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 205 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | $3,045,000 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 67 | $2,956,000 | $35,000 |
| 2023 | 71 | $2,940,000 | $30,000 |
| 2024 | 72 | $2,855,000 | $30,000 |
| 2025 | 82 | $2,685,000 | $25,000 |
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
62% of its giving went to organizations in District of Columbia. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $30,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in District of Columbia.
- 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.
- 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
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 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
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
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.