Bower Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,609,193 (2023)
• Number of Awards: 37 grants (2023)
• Decision Time: Within 90 days of Grant Concept Summary submission
• Grant Range: $272,000 - $3,800,000+ (recent major grants)
• Geographic Focus: Mississippi only
• Total Assets: $103+ million (2019 data)
• Foundation Type: Private Foundation (Form 990-PF filer)

Contact Details

Address: 578 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 120, Ridgeland, MS 39157

Phone: (601) 607-3163

Email: info@bowerfoundation.org

Website: https://bowerfoundation.org

Overview

The Bower Foundation was established in 1996 from the proceeds of Kidney Care, Inc., a nonprofit dialysis organization founded by Dr. John D. Bower in 1973. Originally named the Kidney Care Foundation, it was renamed the Bower Foundation in 2000 after Dr. Bower's retirement to honor his legacy. The foundation holds assets exceeding $103 million and distributed over $4.6 million in grants in 2023. Its mission is to improve Mississippi's health through ideas and projects that incorporate best-of-class talent, amplify existing frameworks, provide concrete metrics for success, and are scalable and sustainable. Since 1996, the foundation has directed its funds and energies toward making sustainable, systemic improvements in Mississippi's health and education infrastructures, with a strong current focus on healthcare workforce education. The foundation's work is inspired by Dr. Bower's lifelong advocacy for the needs of Mississippians and his pioneering work in nephrology and healthcare policy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bower Foundation does not operate formal named grant programs with set amounts. Instead, it makes strategic investments in healthcare initiatives across Mississippi. Recent major grants demonstrate their funding scale:

• Healthcare Workforce Education: $272,000 - $3,800,000 (nursing education, social work programs, allied health training)
• Multi-Year Commitments: Five-year grants ranging from $386,000 - $5,400,000
• Collaborative Initiatives: Partnership-based funding supporting multiple institutions simultaneously

The foundation takes a highly selective, research-driven approach and explicitly states: "The Foundation typically identifies almost all our grantees through our own research – not from grant submittal forms."

Priority Areas

Healthcare Workforce Education (Primary Current Focus)

• Nursing education and nurse educator training
• RN-to-MSN and BSN programs
• Social work education and workforce development
• Allied health certifications and training
• Community college healthcare programs
• Student recruitment, retention, and support services

Healthcare Access

• Ensuring all children and adults have reasonable access to healthcare services
• Supporting approaches that match underserved populations with existing providers
• Healthcare infrastructure improvements

Children's Health

• Developing healthy lifestyles among children
• School-based health initiatives
• Nutrition and physical activity programs

Health Policy & Education

• Supporting statewide health policy processes
• Research and policy development through the Center for Mississippi Health Policy
• Healthcare innovation and learning

End-Stage Renal Disease (Historical Focus)

• Improving quality of life for ESRD patients
• Dialysis access and services

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals or individual scholarships (though they fund scholarship programs administered by institutions)
• For-profit organizations
• Organizations outside the United States
• Organizations without a Mississippi health focus
• Projects outside Mississippi

Governance and Leadership

Foundation History and Leadership Legacy

The foundation's work is inspired by the legacy of Dr. John D. Bower, who spent 60+ years in the medical field making extraordinary contributions to nephrology, health policy innovation, and healthcare access. Dr. Bower arrived at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1965 and by 1966 opened the state's first dialysis unit. In 1972, he was instrumental in persuading Congress to pass legislation declaring persons with end-stage renal disease eligible for Medicare, making dialysis affordable nationwide. He founded Kidney Care, Inc. in 1973 with the goal of establishing dialysis facilities within 30 miles of any patient's home.

Dr. Bower was described as "a powerful force for positive change, not only through his medical career but also through his charitable foundation." His leadership, innovation, and dedication continue to inspire the foundation's work in Mississippi healthcare through strong partnerships and leveraged resources that transform systems and accelerate better health outcomes and policy.

Current Governance

The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors and operates with a Grant Committee that reviews all applications. Specific current board member names are not publicly listed on standard charity databases. The foundation requires special approval protocols for certain applicants:

• University of Mississippi Medical Center faculty/staff must receive Vice Chancellor approval before submitting proposals
• Mississippi Department of Health applications must be approved by the State Health Officer prior to submission

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Bower Foundation states explicitly: "The Foundation typically identifies almost all our grantees through our own research – not from grant submittal forms." This means most grants are proactively identified by the foundation rather than through unsolicited applications. However, they do maintain a formal two-step application process.

Two-Step Application Process:

Step 1: Grant Concept Summary

• Submit a concept summary of two pages or less for Grant Committee consideration
• Must include:
  • Organization name
  • Mission statement and purpose
  • Tax ID number
  • Contact information
  • Project title and brief description
  • Proposed fund use
  • Target audience
  • Project timeframe and budget
  • Organizational resources
  • Sustainability plans

Step 2: Full Grant Application

• Organizations whose Grant Concept Summary is approved will be invited to complete a full grant application
• Full application submitted to Grant Committee for final review

Eligibility Requirements:

• 501(c)(3) organizations
• 4940(D)(1) organizations
• 170(C)(1) or Section 511(A)(2)(B) organizations
• Government entities/agencies
• Must work primarily in Mississippi
• Must be clearly committed to improving Mississippi health

Decision Timeline

• Foundation acknowledges receipt of Grant Concept Summary upon arrival
• Grant Committee reviews at next regularly scheduled meeting
• Response provided within 90 days of submission

Evaluation Criteria

The Grant Committee assesses proposals based on:

1. Alignment with foundation mission and goals - Does the project clearly address Mississippi health improvement?
2. Likelihood of program success - Does the organization have proven track record and capacity?
3. Benefits relative to total cost - Is the investment cost-effective?
4. Program sustainability after funding - Will the project continue beyond grant period?

The foundation prioritizes "experienced, structured and innovative organizations" with demonstrated commitment to improving Mississippi health.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not published. However, with 37 grants awarded in 2023 compared to previous years (21 in 2022, 18 in 2021), the foundation appears to be expanding its grant-making activity. The foundation's proactive research-driven approach means that many successful grants may originate from foundation-initiated outreach rather than unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions or waiting periods are documented. The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make multi-year commitments and renewed funding to successful partners (e.g., ongoing support to UMMC, USM, and other institutions).

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Strategies

Alignment with Healthcare Workforce Focus The foundation has clearly prioritized healthcare workforce education in recent years. Since 2020, the vast majority of major grants have supported nursing education, social work programs, and allied health training. Projects addressing Mississippi's healthcare workforce shortage are strongly preferred.

Emphasis on Scalability and Sustainability The foundation's mission explicitly states they seek projects that are "scalable and sustainable." Successful applications must demonstrate:

• How the project will create systemic, long-term improvements
• Plans for sustainability beyond the grant period
• Potential to serve as models for broader implementation
• Concrete metrics for measuring success

Proven Track Record Required The foundation supports "experienced, structured and innovative organizations" - this is not a funder for new organizations or untested approaches. Successful applicants typically demonstrate:

• Years of operation in Mississippi healthcare
• Established infrastructure and capacity
• History of successful program delivery
• Strong partnerships with healthcare institutions

Strategic Partnership Approach Recent grants show the foundation values collaborative initiatives. The $5.4 million healthcare workforce grant supported five education partners simultaneously. The Women's Foundation of Mississippi grant created a network across seven colleges. Consider how your project might leverage or create partnerships.

Community College Focus Multiple recent grants support community colleges as critical pipelines for healthcare workforce development. The foundation recognizes "the key role the state's community colleges play in supporting students toward the completion of their healthcare degrees."

Research-Driven Selection Process Since the foundation "identifies almost all grantees through our own research," successful grant seekers should focus on:

• Building visibility in Mississippi healthcare circles
• Publishing outcomes and successes
• Networking with foundation-supported institutions
• Demonstrating measurable impact that would attract foundation attention

Recent Priority: Student Support Services Beyond direct educational programming, recent grants fund student recruitment, advisement, emergency funding, and professional development - recognizing that helping students complete their degrees on time is critical to workforce development.

What the Foundation Values (From Their Own Words)

• Projects that "incorporate best-of-class talent"
• Initiatives that "amplify existing frameworks" (building on what works)
• Programs with "concrete metrics for success"
• Solutions that are "scalable and sustainable"
• Organizations "clearly committed to improving Mississippi health"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Proactive Foundation: Most grantees are identified through foundation research, not applications. Focus on building visibility and demonstrating measurable impact in Mississippi healthcare rather than relying solely on the application process.

• Healthcare Workforce is Priority #1: Current funding heavily emphasizes nursing, social work, and allied health education. Projects addressing Mississippi's healthcare worker shortage are strongly favored.

• Large, Multi-Year Commitments: Recent grants range from $272,000 to $3.8 million, often structured as multi-year commitments. This is not a small grant funder - think systemically.

• Sustainability is Critical: Every application must clearly articulate how the project will continue after grant funding ends and how it creates lasting systemic change.

• Mississippi-Only Focus: 100% of funding stays in Mississippi. Organizations must work primarily in Mississippi on Mississippi health issues.

• Community Colleges Are Strategic Partners: Multiple recent grants support community college healthcare programs as critical workforce pipelines.

• Institutional Relationships Matter: UMMC and other major Mississippi institutions have received multiple grants. Building relationships with successful grantees may provide strategic insights and partnership opportunities.

References

• Bower Foundation Official Website. https://bowerfoundation.org. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Bower Foundation Grant Application Information. https://bowerfoundation.org/grant-application/. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Bower Foundation Grants Page. https://bowerfoundation.org/grants/. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Bower Foundation "Who We Are" Page. https://www.bowerfoundation.org/who-we-are.php. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Cause IQ Profile: Bower Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bower-foundation,640540635/. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Bower Foundation (EIN 64-0540635). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/640540635. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Instrumentl 990 Report: Bower Foundation. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/bower-foundation. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• University of Mississippi Medical Center. "In Honor of John D. Bower, MD." https://umc.edu/SoPH/About-Us/John-D-Bower.html. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• University of Mississippi Medical Center. "In Memoriam: Dr. John D. Bower." https://umc.edu/news/Miscellaneous/2023/05/May-8-2023/InMemoriam.html. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• PR Newswire. "The Bower Foundation Awards $5.4MM in Grants to Meet Mississippi's Growing Demand for Healthcare Workers." April 28, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-bower-foundation-awards-5-4mm-in-grants-to-meet-mississippis-growing-demand-for-healthcare-workers-301529758.html. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Mississippi State University-Meridian. "MSU-Meridian receives grants from The Bower Foundation to boost student recruitment." April 26, 2024. https://www.meridian.msstate.edu/news/2024/04/msu-meridian-receives-grants-bower-foundation-boost-student-recruitment. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• University of Southern Mississippi. "Bower Foundation Grant Strengthens Pathways to the Social Work Profession." 2022. https://www.usm.edu/news/2022/release/grant-strengthens-pathways.php. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Mississippi State Board of Nursing. "The Bower Foundation - Advancing Mississippi's Healthcare Workforce." https://www.msbn.ms.gov/onw/2020-03/bower-foundation-advancing-mississippis-healthcare-workforce. Accessed February 11, 2026.
• Women's Foundation of Mississippi. "The Women's Foundation of Mississippi will support nursing and healthcare students at seven Mississippi colleges." https://www.womensfoundationms.org/the-womens-foundation-of-mississippi-will-support-nursing-and-healthcare-students-at-seven-mississippi-colleges/. Accessed February 11, 2026.