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The Lowe Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.8M
Decision Time
5mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,779,602 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4-5 months (application to notification)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified (approximately 90 grants awarded annually)
  • Geographic Focus: Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas/Fort Worth regions of Texas
  • Total Assets: $53.3 million (2024)

Contact Details

Website: www.thelowefoundation.org
Phone: (512) 579-3453
Email: info@thelowefoundation.org
Address: 1717 W 6th St Suite 470, Austin, TX 78703-5082

Overview

The Lowe Foundation was created in 1988 by Erma Lowe and her daughter Mary Ralph Lowe with the mission to "give back to the State of Texas by supporting women and children's health and educational needs." Since its inception, the foundation has assisted over 400 organizations across Texas. With total assets of $53.3 million and annual giving of approximately $3.8 million, the foundation supports preventive and rehabilitative programs that benefit at-risk women and children. The foundation maintains a focused geographic approach, concentrating its grantmaking exclusively in the Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas/Fort Worth regions. The foundation is a private family foundation that takes a relationship-based approach to philanthropy, with trustees conducting site visits to prospective grantees before making final funding decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers three types of grants:

  • Single-Year Grants: One-time awards for specific programs or projects (amounts vary, not publicly specified)
  • Multi-Year Grants: Support spanning multiple years for sustained initiatives (requires annual progress reports)
  • Capital Campaign Grants: Funding for capital projects with structured disbursements—initial funding post-groundbreaking and final payment post-project completion

Application Method: Online portal, with applications accepted between July 1st and December 1st annually for funding the following spring.

Priority Areas

The foundation exclusively funds organizations involved in preventive or rehabilitative programs that benefit the critical needs of at-risk women and children in Texas. Recent 2025 grantees represent diverse sectors including:

  • Education: KIPP Texas Public Schools, Teach For America, St. Andrews Episcopal School, St. John's School
  • Youth Services: Boys & Girls Clubs (multiple locations), Girls Incorporated, Friends of The Children - Austin, Explore Austin
  • Healthcare & Social Services: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Hospice Austin, Genesis Women's Shelter, CASA organizations, Cancer Care Services
  • Food Security: Central Texas Food Bank, North Texas Food Bank, San Antonio Food Bank, Tarrant Area Food Bank

The foundation awarded approximately 90 grants in 2025, demonstrating broad support across organizations serving vulnerable women and children.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly detailed on their website, the foundation's narrow focus implies they do not fund:

  • Programs outside the Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas/Fort Worth regions
  • Organizations not serving women and children as primary beneficiaries
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Programs that do not demonstrate preventive or rehabilitative approaches

Governance and Leadership

The Lowe Foundation is governed by a family-led board of trustees:

Lead Trustees:

  • Mary Ralph Lowe, President (Dallas/Fort Worth region) - Co-founder and daughter of Erma Lowe
  • Diana Strauss, Trustee (Dallas/Fort Worth region)
  • Samantha Yost Pace, Trustee (Dallas/Fort Worth region)
  • Clayton Maebius, Vice President (Austin/San Antonio area)

Additional Leadership:

  • Geoffrey Perrin, Treasurer

The foundation maintains its family-led character, with Mary Ralph Lowe continuing the philanthropic legacy she established with her mother in 1988. The trustee structure reflects the foundation's geographic focus, with trustees assigned to specific regions across Texas.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Application Window: Submit online applications between July 1st and December 1st for funding consideration the following spring
  2. Required Documentation:
    • IRS determination letter indicating 501(c)(3) status
    • Most recent audited financial statements
    • Tax returns for the last three years
  3. Application Portal: Available at www.thelowefoundation.org/applications

Decision Timeline

  • July 1 - December 1: Application submission window
  • End of January: Notification of whether applications are moving forward for further consideration
  • Early Spring: Trustees conduct site visits to selected organizations
  • April: Final funding decisions made
  • Early May: All applicants notified of final outcomes

Total timeline: Approximately 4-5 months from submission to final notification.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the number of applications received. Based on available data, the foundation awards approximately 90 grants annually from its total giving pool of approximately $3.8 million, suggesting an average grant size of around $40,000, though actual amounts vary significantly depending on project scope and type (single-year, multi-year, or capital campaign).

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply for a new grant in the following cycle after receiving their last funding disbursement. This suggests that grantees receiving single-year grants can reapply the following year, while multi-year grantees would wait until their grant period concludes. The foundation does not specify waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants, suggesting organizations can reapply in subsequent cycles.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not provide extensive public guidance on what makes applications competitive, the following factors emerge from their documented processes and priorities:

  1. Geographic Alignment: Organizations must serve populations in Austin, San Antonio, or Dallas/Fort Worth—this is a non-negotiable requirement
  2. Target Population: Clear focus on at-risk women and children as primary beneficiaries
  3. Preventive or Rehabilitative Approach: The foundation specifically seeks programs with these orientations rather than purely maintenance-focused services
  4. Trustee Site Visits: Being selected for a trustee site visit in early spring is a strong indicator of serious consideration—organizations should be prepared to demonstrate program impact in person
  5. Financial Documentation: Complete and current financial documentation is required, including three years of tax returns and recent audits
  6. Reporting Capacity: Organizations must demonstrate ability to provide progress reports (annual reports by March 31st for multi-year grants, status reports within 12 months for single-year grants)
  7. Diverse Sector Support: The foundation's 2025 grantee list shows funding across education, youth services, healthcare, social services, and food security—demonstrating openness to various approaches to serving women and children

The foundation reserves the right to suspend funding if an organization's tax-exempt status changes or if funds are misused, indicating strong emphasis on organizational stability and accountability.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is Critical: Mark your calendar for the July 1 - December 1 application window; applications outside this period will not be considered
  • Geographic Focus is Non-Negotiable: Only organizations serving Austin, San Antonio, or Dallas/Fort Worth regions should apply
  • Prepare for Site Visits: If your application advances (you'll know by end of January), prepare for trustee site visits in early spring—this is where funding decisions are truly made
  • Women and Children Only: The foundation has maintained this exclusive focus since 1988; applications serving other populations will not be competitive
  • Multi-Year Relationships Welcome: The foundation supports both single and multi-year grants, and grantees can reapply after funding concludes
  • Capital Campaigns Supported: Unlike some foundations, The Lowe Foundation does fund capital projects with a structured two-phase disbursement (post-groundbreaking and post-completion)
  • Strong Financial Documentation Required: Ensure you have current audited financials and three years of tax returns ready before applying

References

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