Tower Family Fund Inc
Buffalo, NY · EIN 20-5848514. Reported 633 grants totalling $34.4M to 209 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation told the IRS it does not accept unsolicited requests: it contributes only to organizations it selects itself.
Does this foundation accept applications?
No -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation to check a box if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds". Tower Family Fund Inc checked it on its most recent filing, as 78% of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered did. An unsolicited request is unlikely to go anywhere.
Organizations it funds that make grants of their own
4 of the organizations Tower Family Fund Inc funded make grants themselves, and it reported 24 grants totalling $900,000 to them. That is 4% of the $24.3M of its giving we could match to a registered organization. Each is classified by the IRS as a philanthropy or grantmaking organization, reported grants to at least 25 organizations of its own, and has at least 10 funders behind it.
All of them file Form 990, which never asks whether an organization funds only groups it picks, so there is no answer on record either way.
What that does not mean. It does not mean an application to any of them reaches this foundation's money. A private foundation's grant to a community foundation or a federated campaign is often a donor-advised fund or a gift designated for a purpose the foundation chose, and has nothing to do with any open programme the receiving organization runs. Its return's purpose text sometimes names a family fund or a designated purpose, which is the plainest case of money no applicant can reach; where it names none, neither return says which. The list is who this foundation paid that also makes grants. Whether any of them would fund you is a question for its own page.
| Grantmaker | Kind | State | Received | Grants | Years | Last | Only funds organizations it picks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County Community Foundation Inc | community foundation | Massachusetts | $500,000 | 11 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| Martha's Vineyard Community | grantmaking organization | Massachusetts | $190,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | community foundation | New York | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| United Way of Buffalo and Erie County | federated giving programme | New York | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
A floor, not a full list. A grantmaker appears here only where this foundation's return named it clearly enough for us to match the name to an EIN, which we manage for about two thirds of 990-PF grant rows, and only where that grantmaker has a page on this site. There may be more. Dollars here are summed by EIN across every spelling on its returns, so a figure can differ from the matching row in the full list below, which groups names as written. And the IRS classification cannot tell a grantmaker from a funders' association or a donor-advised fund sponsor, so a payment to one of these may be dues or an account rather than support for a grants programme.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $20,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $2,000,000.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $2,140,000 | 6 | 4 | 2025 |
| Martha's Vineyard Hospital | Oak Bluffs, MA | $2,000,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| YMCA of the North Shore Inc | Beverly, MA | $1,750,000 | 10 | 5 | 2025 |
| Power of Place Learning Communities Inc | Burlington, MA | $1,658,931 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Stillpoint Martha's Vineyard Inc | Chilmark, MA | $1,331,106 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Brookline, MA | $1,290,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center | Buffalo, NY | $1,246,000 | 9 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cape Ann Museum | Gloucester, MA | $1,190,000 | 8 | 5 | 2025 |
| Harborlight Community Partners Dba Harborlight Homes | Beverly, MA | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Harborlight Homes | Beverly, MA | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Navigator Homes | Vineyard Haven, MA | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | Buffalo, NY | $746,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute | Gloucester, MA | $725,000 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| Island Grown Initiative | Vineyard Haven, MA | $700,000 | 10 | 5 | 2025 |
| YMCA of Martha's Vineyard | Vineyard Haven, MA | $605,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Roswell Park Alliance Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $595,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sawyer Library Foundation | Gloucester, MA | $550,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Walnut Hill School of the Arts | Natick, MA | $525,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Essex County Community Foundation | Danvers, MA | $500,000 | 11 | 5 | 2025 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston, MA | $500,000 | 9 | 5 | 2025 |
| New Profit Inc | Boston, MA | $500,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pathways for Children | Gloucester, MA | $500,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rockport Music Inc | Rockport, MA | $500,000 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| Medstar Georgetown University Hospital - Mental Health Innovation Center | Washington, DC | $400,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Buffalo Akg Art Museum | Buffalo, NY | $350,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Martha's Vineyard Community Services Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | $317,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Choate Rosemary Hall | Wallingford, CT | $315,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Conservation Law Foundation | Boston, MA | $300,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Wellspring House Inc | Gloucester, MA | $295,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Niagara Lutheran Health Foundation | Lancaster, NY | $290,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Field Fund | Chilmark, MA | $265,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Beth Israel Lahey Hospital Corp | Beverly, MA | $260,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chilmark Preschool | Chilmark, MA | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Feedmore Wny | Buffalo, NY | $220,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Schooner Adventure | Gloucester, MA | $220,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Woodwell Climate Research Center | Falmouth, MA | $220,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Open Door Cape Ann Food Pantry | Gloucester, MA | $210,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Health Initiative | Attleboro, MA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northshore Education Consortium | Beverly, MA | $195,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Opportunities Collaborative for Students With Special Needs Inc | Amherst, NY | $195,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation | West Tisbury, MA | $190,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Gloucester Stage Co | Gloucester, MA | $160,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Daemen University | Amherst, NY | $155,000 | 4 | 2 | 2023 |
| Penikese Island School | Woods Hole, MA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Penikese School Inc | Woods Hole, MA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Pinnacle Community Services | Niagara Falls, NY | $150,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Open Door | Gloucester, MA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Martha's Vineyard Film Festival | Chilmark, MA | $144,100 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Raw Art Works Inc | Lynn, MA | $140,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Cape Ann Art Haven Inc | Gloucester, MA | $135,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Artpark & Company | Lewiston, NY | $133,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center | Niagara Falls, NY | $130,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc | Niagara Falls, NY | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mount St Mary's Hospital Foundation | Lewiston, NY | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Vineyard House | Vineyard Haven, MA | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Montserrat College of Art | Beverly, MA | $120,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Circuit Arts Inc | West Tisbury, MA | $118,000 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Buffalo City Mission | Buffalo, NY | $110,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Kenan Center | Lockport, NY | $110,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Leap for Education Inc | Salem, MA | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Meals on Wheels of Niagara Falls | Niagara Falls, NY | $110,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hospice Foundation of Western New York | Cheektowaga, NY | $105,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Albright-Knox Art Gallery | Buffalo, NY | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Carroll School | Lincoln, MA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ccb Foundation Inc | Rockport, MA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Healthy Aging Mv | Edgartown, MA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Luminary Impact Fund | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Health Initiative | Pawtucket, RI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mvyouth Inc | Chilmark, MA | $98,900 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Niagara University | Niagara University, NY | $95,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Buffalo Peace House | Hamburg, NY | $90,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Gloucester Education Foundation | Gloucester, MA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Madonna of the Streets | Buffalo, NY | $85,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Child & Family Services | Buffalo, NY | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Salvation Army - Buffalo Area Services | Buffalo, NY | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way of Buffalo & Erie County | Buffalo, NY | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Martha's Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative | West Tisbury, MA | $75,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Niagara Arts & Cultural Center (nacc) | Niagara Falls, NY | $75,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Gregory the Great School | Williamsville, NY | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Suneel's Light Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Daemen College | Amherst, NY | $65,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Salvation Army - Niagara Falls Area Services | Niagara Falls, NY | $65,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| People Inc | Williamsville, NY | $60,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way of Greater Niagara | Sanborn, NY | $60,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Niagara Falls | Niagara Falls, NY | $55,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Dukes County Regional Housing Authority | Vineyard Haven, MA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Ace Mv Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Earth Conservation Corps | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Earthjustice | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gloucester Celebrations Corp | Gloucester, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Niagara Hospice | Lockport, NY | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sea the World Productions Inc | West Tisbury, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| SUNY Buffalo State Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Gow School | South Wales, NY | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Yard Inc | Chilmark, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Action Inc | Gloucester, MA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Alzheimer's Association- Western Ny Chapter | Buffalo, NY | $40,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Buffalo Audubon Society | North Java, NY | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Canisius College | Buffalo, NY | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cepa Art Gallery | Buffalo, NY | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Falmouth Academy | Falmouth, MA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church | Cheektowaga, NY | $40,000 | 4 | 2 | 2023 |
| Shea's Performing Arts Center | Buffalo, NY | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Kelsey | San Francisco, CA | $38,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology | Buffalo, NY | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Buffalo History Museum | Buffalo, NY | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Buffalo Museum of Science | Buffalo, NY | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House of Wny | Buffalo, NY | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Western New York Heritage Press Inc | Cheektowaga, NY | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Explore & More Children's Museum | East Aurora, NY | $33,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Autism Services Inc | Amherst, NY | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Harvest House | Buffalo, NY | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Island Housing Trust Corporation | West Tisbury, MA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Albany Law School | Albany, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora Inc | East Aurora, NY | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Buffalo Zoo | Buffalo, NY | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Capital Region Boys and Girls Club | Albany, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Care Dimensions | Danvers, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fifth Avenue AME Zion Church | Troy, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hearts for the Homeless | Buffalo, NY | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lasinburgh Boys and Girls Club | Troy, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Maritime Gloucester | Gloucester, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New England Baptist Hospital | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Niagara Falls Aquarium | Niagra Falls, NY | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Nichols School | Buffalo, NY | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Palace Theater | Manchester, NH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Peter G Young JR Foundation | Latham, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Windhover Center for the Performing Arts | Rockport, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wny Center for the Visually Impaired | West Seneca, NY | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Beechwood Continuing Care | Getzville, NY | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Berklee | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network | Buffalo, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Center for Disability Services | Albany, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Epic - Every Person Influences Children | Buffalo, NY | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Girl Scouts of Western Ny | Depew, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Grand Island Memorial Library | Grand Island, NY | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Academy for Human Rights Inc | Hamburg, NY | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Underground Railroad Education Center | Albany, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Elma Marilla & Wales | Elma, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cradle Beach | Angola, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Goodwill Industries of Western New York Inc | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hammond Castle Museum | Gloucester, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hawk Creek Wildlife Inc | East Aurora, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Miracle League of Grand Island & Western Ny Inc | Grand Island, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| School of Leadership Afghanistan | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Children's Guild Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Vineyard Independence Partnership | West Tisbury, MA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| West Seneca East Senior High School | West Seneca, NY | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army - Southern New England Division | Hartford, CT | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Martha's Vineyard Regional High School | Vineyard Haven, MA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Algonquin Campership Fund Co Rochester Area Community Foundation | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Amherst Symphony Orchestra | Amherst, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| ASPCA | New York, NY | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Berklee College of Music | Medford, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bethel Baptist Church | Cambridge, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Brigham & Women's Hospital | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Buffalo Regals Edp Fund Inc | Cheektowaga, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Buffalo Suzuki Strings | North Tonawanda, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Capital District YMCA | Albany, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Deaf Access Services | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dnipro Ukranian Cultural Center | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Doctors Without Borders | New York, NY | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hearts and Hands Faith in Action | Amherst, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Heifer International | Little Rock, AR | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jericho Road Community Health Center | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Just Buffalo Literacy Center | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Oxfam America | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region | Albany, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Vineyard Family Tennis | Oak Bluffs, MA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Biodiversity Works Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Harbor Homes of Martha's Vineyard | Vineyard Haven, MA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hospice of Martha's Vineyard | Vineyard Haven, MA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Partners in Health | Frederick, MD | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ray of Light Farm Inc | Lynn, MA | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| 15 Love | Albany, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| American Red Cross - Greater Buffalo Chapter | Buffalo, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Black Dimensions in Art Inc | Rensselaer, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Capital City Rescue Mission | Albany, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Commission on Economic Opportunity | Troy, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Dressage 4 Kids Inc | Bedford, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Housing Opportunities Made Equal | Buffalo, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| International Institute of Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Journey's End Refugee Services | Buffalo, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Martha's Vineyard Youth Task Force Inc | Chilmark, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northeast Native Network of Kinship and Healing Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul | Buffalo, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| South End Children's Cafe | Albany, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Catholic Children's Learning Corporation | Amherst, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Unity House of Troy Inc | Troy, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Fish of East Aurora | East Aurora, NY | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ray of Light Farm Inc | East Haddam, CT | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Animal Shelter of Martha's Vineyard | Edgartown, MA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chilmark Community Center | Waltham, MA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Scribe Video Center | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Northeast Native Newtork of Kinship and Healing Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vista Life Innovations Inc | Madison, CT | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Partners in Health | Boston, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Friends of Family Planning | Vineyard Haven, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Health Imperatives | Vineyard Haven, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Marine and Paleobiological Research Institute Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Martha's Vineyard Mediation Program | Vineyard Haven, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
141 of 209 (67%) 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 74%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one, and this foundation told the IRS it does not.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
THE BUFFALO TOGETHER FUND - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
BYRNES FAMILY CLINICAL RESEARCH FUND - Cape Ann Museum
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION CENTER IMPROVEMENTS - Power of Place Learning Communities Inc
LEARNING COMMUNITY PROJECT GRANT - Roswell Park Alliance Foundation
RELEASE THE BREAKTHROUGHS CAMPAIGN - Buffalo Akg Art Museum
GENERAL SUPPORT - INSTALLMENT 1 OF 4
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 377 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 | 132 | $4,318,000 | $17,500 |
| 2022 | 148 | $6,575,000 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 138 | $6,371,106 | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 108 | $8,016,036 | $25,000 |
| 2025 | 107 | $9,147,895 | $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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Tower Family Fund Inc has 17 of them, worth $10.1M. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $3,000,000 |
| YMCA of the North Shore Inc | Beverly, MA | $1,300,000 |
| Harborlight Homes | Chilmark, MA | $1,000,000 |
| Buffalo Akg Art Museum | Buffalo, NY | $750,000 |
| Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | Buffalo, NY | $750,000 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center | Buffalo, NY | $750,000 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center | Buffalo, NY | $500,000 |
| Rockport Music Inc | Rockport, MA | $500,000 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center | Buffalo, NY | $375,000 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center | Buffalo, NY | $250,000 |
| The Health Initiative | Pawtucket, RI | $200,000 |
| Dukes County Regional Housing Authority | Vineyard Haven, MA | $147,066 |
| Dukes County Regional Housing Authority | Vineyard Haven, MA | $147,066 |
| Dukes County Regional Housing Authority | Vineyard Haven, MA | $142,066 |
| Burchfield-Penney Art Center | Buffalo, NY | $125,000 |
Where its money goes
68% of its giving went to organizations in Massachusetts.
Get funders for your state and cause by email
We email you funders that gave to organizations in your state and cause, up to five at a time each week and never the same one twice, from their own IRS filings. Free. The weekly email has not started yet.
Unsubscribe in one click from any email. We never sell or share your address. To match on your organization and typical grant size too, keep a private profile.
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. Unlike this foundation, none of them is on record as funding only organizations it picks, and each page says what its filings show.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Tower Family Fund Inc'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: 369 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY, 14202. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS.
EIN 20-5848514 · 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.