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Bowers Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Bowers Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$145k
Granted FY2024still arriving
9
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Religion$580kHealth$489kEducation$328kCommunity Improvement$70kPhilanthropy$29kHuman Services$27kHousing & Shelter$10kPublic Safety & Disaster$8kOther$0
02FY2024 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k4 grants · $20k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $76k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$10,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$2.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE$50,000
RICE UNIVERSITY$25,900
HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION$25,000
MEMORIAL HERMANN FOUNDATION$15,000
CASA EL BUEN SAMARITANO$10,000
AGAPE DEVELOPMENT$9,700
TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME$6,000
BRAVO VAIL$2,360
A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CAMPAIGN$1,500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 63% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 13%COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL: $80k → 17%CASA EL BUEN SAMARITANO: $10k → 8%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $75k → 11%TRINITY CHURCH: $10k → 14%LOUISE BATZ FOUNDATION: $5k → 16%HOUSTON METHODIST: $25k → 16%BISHOP CEMETARY ASSOCIATION: $5k → 17%CAESAR KLEBURG WILDLIFE RESEARCH: $5k → 27%UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: $25k → 16%UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: $10k → 17%SAMARITAN'S PURSE: $5k → 21%VAIL CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL: $5k → 7%COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL: $40k → 17%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $50k → 11%TRINITY CHURCH: $10k → 14%LOUISE BATZ FOUNDATION: $5k → 16%HOUSTON METHODIST: $25k → 16%BISHOP CEMETARY ASSOCIATION: $5k → 17%COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL: $30k → 17%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $50k → 11%TRINITY CHURCH: $5k → 14%LOUISE BATZ FOUNDATION: $5k → 16%HOUSTON METHODIST: $10k → 16%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $50k → 11%TRINITY CHURCH: $10k → 16%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $50k → 11%TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME: $6k → 16%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $50k → 11%TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME: $6k → 16%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $25k → 11%TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME: $6k → 16%FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $25k → 11%AVONDALE HOUSE: $10k → 16%TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME: $5k → 16%WEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH: $25k → 16%WEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH: $25k → 16%WEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH: $25k → 16%WEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH: $20k → 16%WEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH: $10k → 16%A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CAMPAIGN: $10k → 16%MEMORIAL HERMANN FOUNDATION: $24k → 16%AGAPE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES: $20k → 16%MEMORIAL HERMANN FOUNDATION: $23k → 16%AGAPE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES: $10k → 16%MEMORIAL HERMANN FOUNDATION: $15k → 16%AGAPE DEVELOPMENT: $10k → 16%AGAPE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES: $10k → 16%AGAPE DEVELOPMENT: $10k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

97%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.4M · 17 repeat orgs$45k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +107% since the first grant, against +40% for those funded once.

17 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2024, 8 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
11

Total granted

$1.4M
$45k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+107%
+40%

Still filing today

47%
36%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationHealthCommunity ImprovementPublic Safety & DisasterReligionRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TM
    THE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
    5× · 2020–2024 · $353k · revenue +129%
  • WM
    William Marsh Rice University
    8× · 2017–2024 · $97k · revenue +104%
  • MH
    Memorial Hermann Foundation
    3× · 2022–2024 · $62k · revenue +133%

Funded once

  • LR
    LA ROCA MINISTRIES INCgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $10k · revenue +86%
  • CK
    CAESAR KLEBURG WILDLIFE RESEARCH
    one grant, 2017 · $5k
  • SP
    SAMARITAN'S PURSEgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +40%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Methodist Hospital

To provide high quality, cost-effective health care that delivers the best value to the people we serve in a spiritual environment of caring in association with internationally recognized teaching and research.

Health
2
University of Miami

See Form 990, Part I, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission.

Education
3
Texas Christian University

Texas christian university is an institution of higher education which includes nine major academic units: liberal arts, science and engineering, business, education, fine arts, communication, honors, nursing and health sciences, and the…

Education
4
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston

The museum of fine arts, houston serves as a welcoming and inclusive place for all people, connecting the communities of houston with diverse histories of art spanning 6,000 years and six continents. through our permanent collections,…

Arts & Culture
5
Baylor University

The mission of baylor university is to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and christian commitment within a caring community.

Education
6
Memorial Hermann Medical Group

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
7
Tmh Physician Organization

This organization is part of the methodist hospital, doing business as houston methodist hospital, whose mission is: to provide high quality, cost-effective health care that delivers the best value to the people we serve in a spiritual…

—
8
New York University

Nyu is a private university with approximately 60,000 matriculating students in 20 schools and institutes. nyu's primary missions are education, research and scholarship, and patient care.

Education
9
Methodist Medical Center

Methodist Medical Center provides quality healthcare, in alignment with Covenant Health's mission to serve the community by improving the quality of life through better health regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

Health
10
Banner -University Medical Group

Assist banner health complete its mission to make health care easier so life can be better by providing integrated & coordinated care & population health management.

Health
11
Memorial Hermann Health System

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
12
Loyola University

Loyola University New Orleans, a Jesuit and Catholic institution of higher education, welcomes students of diverse backgrounds and prepares them to lead meaningful lives with and for others; to pursue truth, wisdom, and virtue; and to work…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Methodist Hospital Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Samaritan's Purse. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

13 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 13 of the 29 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
13/13
Grantees still filing
11/13
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGE: $375,000 · OtherFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LA GRANGEWEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH: $105,000 · OtherWEST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCHHOUSTON METHODIST: $60,000 · OtherHOUSTON METHODISTTRINITY CHURCH: $40,000 · OtherTRINITY CHURCHUNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: $35,000 · OtherLOUISE BATZ FOUNDATION: $29,400 · OtherA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CAMPAIGN: $26,600 · Other+9 more: $39,590 · Other+9 moreTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $352,500 · HealthTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATIO…Memorial Hermann Foundation: $61,600 · HealthMemorial Hermann FoundationCasa El Buen Samaritano: $40,000 · HealthCasa El Buen SamaritanoTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $150,000 · EducationTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA…William Marsh Rice University: $97,100 · EducationWilliam Marsh Rice Unive…Agape Development Ministries: $59,700 · EducationAgape Development Minist…Avondale House Inc: $26,500 · EducationAvondale House Inc+1 more: $1,000 · EducationTexas Business Hall of Fame Foundation: $40,300 · Community ImprovementLA ROCA MINISTRIES INC: $10,000 · Housing & ShelterGROUP 1 FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 · Public Safety & DisasterSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $5,000 · ReligionHOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO INC: $2,500 · Recreation & Sports
Other$710,590Health$454,100Education$334,300Community Improvement$40,300Housing & Shelter$10,000Public Safety & Disaster$7,500Religion$5,000Recreation & Sports$2,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $352,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $150,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWilliam Marsh Rice University: $97,100 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetMemorial Hermann Foundation: $61,600 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetAgape Development Ministries: $59,700 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetTexas Business Hall of Fame Foundation: $40,300 over 8y, 0.6% of budgetCasa El Buen Samaritano: $40,000 over 3y, 6.1% of budgetAvondale House Inc: $26,500 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetGROUP 1 FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 over 2y, 2.3% of budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKHAN ACADEMY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds THE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK ↗
  • Who funds William Marsh Rice University ↗
  • Who funds Memorial Hermann Foundation ↗
  • Who funds Agape Development Ministries ↗
  • Who funds Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation ↗
  • Who funds Casa El Buen Samaritano ↗
  • Who funds Avondale House Inc ↗
  • Who funds LA ROCA MINISTRIES INC ↗
  • Who funds GROUP 1 FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds SAMARITAN'S PURSE ↗
  • Who funds HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO INC ↗
  • Who funds KHAN ACADEMY INC ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Greater Houston Commu…Shell USA Company Fou…Natl Christian Charit…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Greater Houston Community FoundationTX14.5× affinity5 shared granteesties to 5 of 5Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Greater Houston Community Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Bowers Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Bowers Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Bowers Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Bowers Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 29 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Bowers’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home