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The Tow Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$26.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

The Tow Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26,245,585 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $321,681,918 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Highly competitive (specific rates not publicly available)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Connecticut and New York
  • Application Type: Invitation only (except for special initiatives like Innovation Fund)

Contact Details

Address: 50 Locust Avenue, Suite 1, New Canaan, CT 06840-4737

Phone: 203.761.6604

Email: info@towfoundation.org

Website: www.towfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1988 by Claire and Leonard Tow, The Tow Foundation has grown from its origins as a family giving initiative to a sophisticated philanthropy with over $27 million in annual grantmaking. The foundation's mission is to support visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations to find and enact innovative solutions to persistent inequality, ensuring all people have a voice in their community and the opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life. After receiving a transformative $206 million gift from Leonard Tow in 2021 that doubled the endowment, the foundation has been strategically expanding its reach while maintaining its commitment to deep, long-lasting relationships with grantees. Claire and Leonard Tow signed The Giving Pledge in 2012, committing to give away at least half their wealth. Emily Tow has served as president since 1995, leading the foundation's evolution toward strategic, trust-based philanthropy with 70% of grants now taking the form of multi-year, unrestricted support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Grantmaking (Invitation Only)

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000 (institutions with long-standing relationships have received upwards of $1 million)
  • Structure: Over 70% of grants are multi-year and unrestricted general operating support
  • Method: By invitation only; the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals

Innovation Fund (Periodic Open Competitions)

  • Grant Range: $300,000 - $1,000,000 over three years
  • Recipients: Up to 10 organizations per cycle
  • Structure: General operating support
  • Method: Competitive RFP process (2025 cycle has closed; results to be announced October 2025)

Juvenile Justice Initiative (Letter of Inquiry Accepted)

  • Organizations fitting the criteria outlined in the foundation's Juvenile Justice Initiative guidelines may submit a two-page letter of inquiry
  • Focus on Connecticut's juvenile justice system

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture: Supporting creative expression, storytelling, and cultural institutions, particularly performing arts programs at higher education institutions

Higher Education: Helping individuals reach their highest potential through educational opportunities, reflecting founder Leonard Tow's belief that early mentorship and higher education paved the way for his success

Civic Engagement & Journalism: Supporting innovative journalism that educates the public, holds leaders accountable, and combats misinformation; providing access to information for community participation

Equity and Justice: Reform of mass incarceration and criminalization; programs supporting human rights of incarcerated people; opportunities and resources for individuals and communities caught up in the legal justice system; organizations that blur traditional funding categories (e.g., Medical Justice Alliance providing medical testimony for compassionate release)

Medicine and Public Health: Taking a holistic, community-driven approach to health; recent focus on youth mental health and well-being (ages 0-25)

Geographic Focus: Primarily Connecticut and New York; Innovation Fund expands to six states where board members reside (California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. The foundation operates primarily through invited proposals and relationships with organizations in their core program areas. Organizations can explore the foundation's current grantees page to assess alignment with funding criteria.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Frank Tow – Chair
  • Emily Tow – Vice Chair and President
  • Andrew Tow – Vice Chair
  • Scott Schneider – Treasurer
  • David Tobias – Assistant Treasurer
  • Amy Lefkof – Secretary
  • Directors: Teresa Law, Molly Tow, Olivia Tow, Ben Jackson, Hope Tow Jackson

Senior Staff

  • Emily Tow – Vice Chair and President (since 1995)
  • Meghan Lowney – Vice President of Strategy and Impact (joined January 2024)
  • Nadia Alia – Vice President of Operations
  • Susan Ransden – Vice President of Finance and Administration
  • Diane Sierpina – Program Director (since 1998; primarily responsible for equity and justice investments)
  • Eileen Wiseman – Program Director
  • Johany Bedon – Program Lead
  • Brent Peterkin – Program Lead

The foundation employs a staff of 14-16 people.

Leadership Philosophy & Quotes

Emily Tow on funding strategy: "My instinct is to increase the amount we give to our current grantees. We don't want to grow larger staff-wise. Our grantees are chronically underfunded."

On innovation: "In the Foundation's early days, we were constantly experimenting, taking risks and learning as we went. By creating the Innovation Fund, we brought that start-up energy back to the boardroom."

On expansion: "This fund expands the reach of The Tow Foundation's work with its open call for applications and use of an outside review committee of experts. Our board is excited to support novel and untested ideas from communities that have not traditionally been eligible for our funding."

Leonard Tow on legacy: "I don't even know if I want to be remembered. I'm not trying to make a mark for myself. We do our thing quietly."

On wealth stewardship: "Claire and I never believed that the wealth we accumulated was truly ours. From the beginning we believed that we were only lifetime stewards of our good fortune and were charged with redeploying it for useful societal purpose."

On adaptability: Leonard Tow supported allowing the foundation's priorities to evolve with changing circumstances rather than imposing rigid donor intent restrictions, as reflected in Emily's comment: "He knows the world is going to change. We never knew we were going to be funding in justice."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Tow Foundation does not have a public application process for most of its grantmaking. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, identifying potential grantees through internal research and board member connections.

Exceptions:

  1. Innovation Fund (Periodic Special Initiatives): The foundation occasionally launches competitive RFP processes for specific initiatives. The 2025 Innovation Fund application period has closed, with results to be announced in October 2025.

  2. Juvenile Justice Initiative: Organizations that fit the criteria outlined in the foundation's Juvenile Justice Initiative guidelines may submit a letter of inquiry (maximum two pages) with an explanation of their organization's mission and a brief description of the project. After receipt, foundation staff will contact the organization by mail, email, or phone to discuss eligibility, seek additional information, or arrange an introductory meeting before inviting a full proposal.

Getting on Their Radar

Board Member Connections: The foundation leverages personal connections through its board members. Ask your organization's board members if they know any of the Tow Foundation trustees or staff. The board includes family members residing in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Geographic Alignment: The foundation prioritizes organizations in Connecticut and New York, though recent expansion includes states where board members reside.

Long-term Relationship Building: The foundation values "forging deep and long-lasting relationships with grantees" and tends to increase funding to existing grantees rather than constantly seeking new partners. Emily Tow stated: "My instinct is to increase the amount we give to our current grantees."

Exploring Current Grantees: The foundation recommends that prospective grantees explore its current grantees page to assess whether they would meet the foundation's funding criteria.

Sector Events: The foundation is a member of Philanthropy New York and engages in national and international conversations about family philanthropy, advocacy for social change, and trust-based philanthropy.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary based on the program:

  • Innovation Fund: Applications reviewed by external reviewers (each reviewing 12-15 applications), with results announced several months after the deadline (e.g., October 2025 for the recent cycle)
  • Juvenile Justice Initiative: After submitting a letter of inquiry, foundation staff will contact organizations to discuss eligibility before inviting full proposals
  • Invitation-Only Grants: Timeline varies based on the foundation's proactive research and relationship-building process

Success Rates

The foundation made 212 grants in 2024 totaling $26,245,585. Specific acceptance rates are not publicly available. The Innovation Fund is described as "highly competitive" due to "anticipated high demand," with up to 10 organizations selected from the applicant pool. Individual calls with staff are not available for the Innovation Fund, suggesting a large volume of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, reapplication opportunities would likely depend on the foundation's continued interest and alignment with its evolving priorities.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Receiving Invitations or Submitting to Special Initiatives:

Alignment with Trust-Based Philanthropy Values:

  • The foundation has intentionally shifted toward multi-year, unrestricted general operating support (70% of grants)
  • They trust grantees to use funds where most needed rather than requiring project-specific spending
  • This reflects a relationship-based approach that values nonprofit expertise

Don't Fit Neatly Into Boxes:

  • The foundation values organizations that blur traditional funding categories
  • Example: They funded Medical Justice Alliance, which provides medical testimony for incarcerated individuals seeking compassionate release—bridging public health and criminal justice
  • Emily Tow: "This fund expands the reach of The Tow Foundation's work...Our board is excited to support novel and untested ideas"

Innovation and Risk-Taking:

  • The foundation seeks "innovative solutions to persistent inequality"
  • They support "novel and untested ideas" particularly through special initiatives like the Innovation Fund
  • Younger board members explore emerging issues including early childhood intervention and gun violence prevention

Focus on Marginalized Communities:

  • The foundation prioritizes work addressing systemic inequality and racial equity
  • Recent focus includes youth mental health access for marginalized communities
  • Geographic priorities include communities in Connecticut and New York

Potential for Long-Term Partnership:

  • Emily Tow's stated preference is to "increase the amount we give to our current grantees" rather than constantly seeking new partners
  • The foundation values "deep and long-lasting relationships with grantees"
  • Organizations should demonstrate capacity for sustained impact over multiple years

Collaboration and Funding Diversification:

  • The Tow Youth Justice Institute exemplifies their approach: funding research, policy advocacy, and pilot programs while encouraging grantees to diversify funding sources
  • They don't expect to be the sole funder

Youth-Focused Work:

  • Strong emphasis on disadvantaged youth and families
  • Juvenile justice reform, particularly in Connecticut
  • Youth mental health and well-being (ages 0-25)

Advocacy as a Key to Social Change:

  • Emily Tow speaks nationally about "the Foundation's commitment to advocacy as a key to achieving social change"
  • Organizations engaged in policy advocacy and systems change are valued

Recent Grant Examples:

2025 Innovation Fund Recipients (Youth Mental Health):

  • Church World Service Greensboro (North Carolina)
  • Homeboy Industries (California)
  • Now Matters Now (Washington)
  • Our Children's Trust (Oregon)

Long-Standing Relationships (2023 examples):

  • Bard College: $650,000
  • Barnard College: $210,000
  • Brooklyn College Foundation: $800,000
  • Columbia University: nearly $2 million

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Don't apply unless invited: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals except for specific initiatives like the Innovation Fund or letters of inquiry for the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Focus on relationship-building rather than cold applications.

  • Leverage personal connections: Board member connections are often the key to getting invited. Research whether your board members have relationships with Tow Foundation trustees or staff.

  • Demonstrate long-term potential: The foundation prefers deepening existing relationships over constant expansion. If invited to apply, emphasize your organization's capacity for sustained impact and potential for multi-year partnership.

  • Embrace trust-based values: Over 70% of grants are multi-year and unrestricted. Don't over-specify how you'll use funds; instead, demonstrate your organization's strategic vision and track record of impact that warrants trust.

  • Cross traditional boundaries: The foundation values work that doesn't fit neatly into conventional categories. If your work bridges multiple issue areas (e.g., health and justice), highlight this innovative approach.

  • Focus on marginalized communities: Center your work on addressing systemic inequality, racial equity, and supporting disadvantaged youth and families—particularly in Connecticut and New York.

  • Watch for special initiatives: The Innovation Fund and similar competitive opportunities provide rare chances for organizations outside the foundation's existing network to receive consideration. Monitor the foundation's website for announcements.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.

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