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Henry M Rowan Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.9M
Grant Range
Up to $25.0M00
00

Henry M Rowan Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,900,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $272,700,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly by recipient and project
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with some national giving
  • Number of Grants: 47 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Address: Rancocas, NJ

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries. They do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Henry M Rowan Family Foundation Inc was established in July 1999 by industrialist and philanthropist Henry M. Rowan (1923-2015), founder of Inductotherm Corp., a world leader in manufacturing induction metal melting systems. Rowan made history in 1992 with a $100 million gift to Glassboro State College (now Rowan University)—the largest donation to a public institution of higher education at that time. Following his passing in 2015, the foundation continues to be led by his family, including his daughter Virginia Rowan Smith (President) and wife Eleanor Rowan (Trustee). The foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation with total assets of $272.7 million as of 2024, distributing $13.9 million in grants annually. The foundation proactively identifies organizations to support rather than accepting public applications, focusing on transformative gifts to institutions where the family has established relationships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate structured grant programs with defined funding ranges. Instead, it makes strategic grants ranging from modest gifts to multi-million dollar commitments based on trustee discretion.

Application Method: Invitation only—the foundation proactively identifies and selects beneficiaries.

Priority Areas

Based on documented giving patterns, the foundation supports:

Education (Primary Focus):

  • Engineering education and research
  • Scholarship programs
  • Educational facilities and infrastructure
  • Pre-K through university education
  • Vocational and trade education

Major Recipients Include:

  • Rowan University (over $126 million total from foundation, family, and related entities)
  • Doane Academy, Burlington, NJ (over $30 million total)
  • Williamson College of the Trades, Pennsylvania ($25 million+ total)

Additional Areas:

  • Arts and performing arts
  • Healthcare and medical research (including Mt. Sinai Hospital Children's Center Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research)
  • Human services
  • Jewish causes (in New York City area)
  • Environmental conservation (Lake George Land Conservancy)

Geographic Focus:

  • South Jersey (especially Burlington County)
  • Greater Philadelphia region
  • New York City area
  • Some national causes

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from any organization. They only support preselected charitable organizations identified by the trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership (as of 2024):

  • Virginia Rowan Smith - President (daughter of Henry M. Rowan; Chair of Inductotherm Corp.)
  • Manning J. Smith III - Secretary/Treasurer (son-in-law of Henry Rowan; Group Vice President, Inductotherm Group)
  • Eleanor Rowan - Trustee (Henry Rowan's wife, also known as Lee Rowan)
  • Gilbert A. Gehin Scott - Trustee

All trustees serve without compensation.

Family Involvement: The Rowan family maintains active engagement across multiple generations. Virginia Rowan Smith and Manning J. Smith III's children—Rowan Smith Watson and Manning J. Smith IV—also serve on boards of institutions supported by the foundation, including Rowan University's Board of Trustees and related organizations.

Foundation Philosophy: Henry Rowan's original vision emphasized transformative giving that creates lasting impact. When he made his historic $100 million gift to Rowan University in 1992, he stated his only stipulation was "that GSC [Glassboro State College] build an engineering college in South Jersey and revitalize engineering education." This philosophy of strategic, high-impact gifts continues to guide the foundation's work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Henry M Rowan Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees, who proactively identify organizations and projects to support.

Organizations cannot submit applications or proposals unless they have been specifically invited to do so by the foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not disclosed. Grants appear to be made on a rolling basis throughout the year based on trustee decisions.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. In 2023, the foundation made 47 grants; in 2022, 45 grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize their grantmaking approach:

Relationship-Based Philanthropy: The foundation's documented giving shows strong preference for institutions where family members have established deep, multi-generational relationships. Examples include Rowan University, Doane Academy, and Williamson College of the Trades, where family members serve on boards and have maintained involvement over decades.

Transformative Impact Philosophy: The foundation favors significant gifts that create lasting change rather than small, scattered donations. As noted in the 2008 gift to Williamson College: "Gifts from Henry Rowan, his wife Lee Rowan, and the Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation helped Williamson survive a bad economy that might have ended the school."

Engineering and Technical Education: Given Henry Rowan's background as an engineer and industrialist, the foundation shows particular interest in engineering education, vocational training, and hands-on technical education. The foundation funded Rowan University's Ph.D. program, Globalization Fellowship Program for engineering students, and engineering scholarships.

Multi-Year Commitments: The foundation often supports institutions through multiple gifts over time, building endowments and funding specific programs as needs emerge and relationships deepen.

Geographic Ties: Strong preference for New Jersey (particularly South Jersey and Burlington County) and the greater Philadelphia region, reflecting the family's business and personal connections to these areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking methods—they identify and select their own beneficiaries
  • Relationship-driven: Grants flow to organizations where trustees have personal involvement, often including board service by family members
  • Major gifts focus: The foundation makes substantial, transformative commitments ($15-25 million+) to select institutions rather than distributing many small grants
  • Engineering education priority: Projects related to engineering, technical education, and workforce development in skilled trades align with founder's vision and background
  • Multi-generational engagement: Successful partnerships involve the entire Rowan family across generations, suggesting long-term relationship building is essential
  • Regional focus: South Jersey and Philadelphia-area organizations, particularly in Burlington County, receive preferential consideration
  • Endowment approach: The foundation favors creating permanent endowments that provide sustainable support rather than one-time program grants

References

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