Tower Family Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Tower Family Fund supports a broad mix of organisations, including arts and cultural institutions, schools and education providers, hospitals and health research organisations, housing providers, community and youth services, and food-support organisations, so many small nonprofits could find a fit if their work matches one of these areas.
- However, the foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so nonprofits without an existing connection should not apply directly.
- A realistic request would be modest: about eight in ten of its 353 grants fall between $5,000 and $100,000, with a median grant of $25,000, though it has also made a single $2,000,000 grant to an organisation it pays every year that regrants to other organisations.
- The funding pattern looks highly relationship-led, since 93% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in prior filings, so openings for new applicants appear limited.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its filings show grants concentrated among organisations in Massachusetts and New York.
Overview
Tower Family Fund is a US private foundation based in Buffalo, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grant record shows support for a broad mix of organisations. Recipients include arts and cultural institutions, schools and education providers, hospitals and health research organisations, housing providers, community and youth services, and food-support organisations. Most listed purposes are general support; other grants are described for workforce and senior housing, learning-community work, education and museum improvements, scholarships, recovery research and food pantries. The grants are concentrated among organisations in Massachusetts and New York, with smaller amounts recorded in other states.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 353 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Tower Family Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 107 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo · The buffalo together fund$2,000,0002025 tax year
- Harborlight Community Partners DBA Harborlight Homes · General support$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Martha's Vineyard Hospital · Workforce housing grant$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Power of Place Learning Communities · Learning community project grant$647,8952025 tax year
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum · General support - installment 1 of 4$250,0002025 tax year
- Burchfield-Penney Art Center · General support - installment 1 of 4$250,0002025 tax year
- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra · General support - installment 1 of 4$250,0002025 tax year
- YMCA of Martha's Vineyard · General support$200,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Randolph F Treece — Attorney Director
- Cynthia T Doyle — Treasurer, Director
- Mollie T Byrnes — Secretary, Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $6,855,846 | $6,371,106 | $59,474,528 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,929,484 | $8,016,036 | $56,979,194 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $9,682,369 | $9,147,895 | $53,446,183 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Tower Family Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Buffalo, NY
Applying to Tower Family Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Buffalo, NY