The Cowles Foundation concentrates its modest giving on arts and arts-education initiatives, favoring place-based visual and studio arts projects. Grants are directed to a small set of repeat recipients, including a regional sculpture park and a fund supporting an island school's ceramics program, indicating interest in sustaining organizations and specific capital/program needs. Their grants prioritize general operating support and targeted arts facilities/program development rather than broad philanthropic diversification.
A two-year, $25,000 annual pledge to Franconia Sculpture Park is the clearest marker of how Constance Mayeron Cowles & Charles Fuller Cowles Foundation gives: steady support to arts organizations with a place-based footprint in Minnesota. The foundation’s recent record shows a small grantmaker that backs visual art, studio art education, and arts institutions, often through operating support or targeted program funding. Franconia Sculpture Park in Shafer appears repeatedly, including a year 1 and year 2 pledge payment and an earlier general operating grant, which points to recurring support rather than one-time awards. Mill Reef Fund in Detroit is another repeat recipient, with grants tied to Island Academy School’s ceramics studio and general support. The pattern extends to museums and arts groups in Minneapolis, such as Walker Art Center, the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and The Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts. In the broader record, the foundation also made grants for scholarships, community support, and selected public-interest organizations, but the arts remain the most visible thread across its recent giving.
Arts and arts education are the center of this foundation’s recent grantmaking. It gave $25,000 to Franconia Sculpture Park for general operating support in 2025, following a year 1 pledge payment of the same amount in 2024, and an earlier $2,500 general operating grant in 2023. Studio-based learning appears in its support for Mill Reef Fund, including $10,000 in 2025 for Island Academy School’s ceramics studio and an earlier $11,000 grant in 2023 that combined ceramics studio support with general support. The foundation also funds arts institutions in Minneapolis through smaller annual and operating gifts. Examples include $1,050 to Walker Art Center for the Garden Fund and annual fund, $1,000 to the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum for the CAB Fund, and $500 to The Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts for general operating support.
Typical grant size is small: the 25th percentile is $250, the median is $500, and the 75th percentile is $1,000. The recent record mixes a few larger, pledge-based gifts with many smaller operating grants, including annual fund support and year-over-year renewals. Recurring support is visible across multiple recipients and years, especially in pledge payments and repeat general operating awards. The foundation also funds individuals, and the grant list includes scholarship support tied to a named student award. Its structure appears straightforward rather than program-investment driven, since it makes no program-related investments.
$27K
$419K
$50K
$35K
Most grants fall between $250 and $1K, with a median of $500.
25th Percentile
$250
Median
$500
75th Percentile
$1K
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Concentrated, small portfolio: few, relatively large grants with repeat multi-year commitments to the same grantees; funding mixes general operating support and specific program/capital needs.
Notable grantees: Franconia Sculpture Park, Mill Reef Fund, Island Academy School / ceramic studio project
Giving is regional and heavily centered in Minnesota, which accounts for 78% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Minneapolis appears repeatedly in the recipient record through organizations such as Walker Art Center, Northside Achievement Zone, the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum, and Minneapolis Institute of Art. Other Minnesota recipients include Shafer, St Paul, Lindstrom, and Osceola/Wisconsin-border Northwoods organizations. All recent grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients.
The recent record is led by arts and arts-education organizations, especially visual arts and studio-based programs. Grants go to sculpture parks, museums, a dance and performing arts center, and ceramics education through Island Academy School. The foundation also makes smaller gifts to scholarship, community, and public-interest organizations.
Yes. The data shows multi-year pledges and repeated support to the same recipients across years. Franconia Sculpture Park received pledge payments in 2024 and 2025, and Mill Reef Fund appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with ceramics-studio and general-support grants.
The grant-size distribution is small: 25th percentile $250, median $500, and 75th percentile $1,000. Larger awards do appear, including $25,000 pledge payments and a $10,000 ceramics-studio grant, but those are above the core range shown in the distribution.
Minnesota is the main recipient state, with 78% of grants going to recipients there. Minneapolis is a frequent city in the recipient list, alongside Shafer, St Paul, Lindstrom, and other regional Minnesota locations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILL REEF FUND | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | ISLAND ACADEMY SCHOOL - CERAMICS STUDIO |
| MILL REEF FUND | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MNNDSD | ST PAUL, MN | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO | ST PAUL, MN | $2,500 | 2026 | ANNUAL GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALKER ART CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $2,500 | 2026 | 1-YEAR PLEDGE DEDICATED TO THE PERFORMING ARTS TO ASSIST IN MORIAH EVANS PERFORMANCE |
| FRANCONIA SCULPTURE PARK | SHAFER, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WALKER ART CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $750 | 2026 | ANNUAL FUND |
| STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHISAGO LAKES AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINDSTROM, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING - IN HONOR OF LENI & DAVID MOORE |
| STEAMBOAT ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL SPORTS (STARS) | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING - IN HONOR OF ROZA HOARD |
| UNIVERSITY OF MN FOUNDATION - WEISMAN ART MUSEUM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2026 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CHICAGO AVENUE FINE ARTS CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MINNPOST | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTHERN CLAY CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING - IN MEMORY OF GLORIA MAYERON ($100), IN MEMORY OF HARRY MAYERON ($100) |
| THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | ST PAUL, MN | $200 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND | ST PAUL, MN | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRANCONIA SCULPTURE PARK | SHAFER, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING - YEAR 2 OF 2-YEAR PLEDGE |
| MILL REEF FUND | DETROIT, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | ISLAND ACADEMY SCHOOL - CERAMICS STUDIO |
| ST CROIX FESTIVAL THEATRE | ST CROIX FALLS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | CURTAIN RISING CAMPAIGN |
| MILL REEF FUND | DETROIT, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMPASSION & CHOICES | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MNNDSD | St Paul, MN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| Walker Art Center | Minneapolis, MN | $750 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| WILD RIVERS CONSERVANCY | OSCEOLA, WI | $500 | 2025 | GERNERAL OPERATING |
| CHISAGO LAKES AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINDSTROM, MN | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNIVERSITY OF MN - WEISMAN ART MUSEUM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTHERN CLAY CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHICAGO AVENUE FINE ARTS CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MINNPOST | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING - IN MEMORY OF GLORIA MAYERON ($100), INMEMORY OF HARRY MAYERON ($100) |
| WHITE BEAR CENTER FOR THE ARTS | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $200 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRANCONIA SCULPTURE PARK | SHAFER, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING - YEAR 1 OF 2-YEAR PLEDGE |
| COMPASSION & CHOICES | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | FORMER TRUSTEE CHALLENGE FUND |
| NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | YEAR 3 OF 3 YEAR PLEDGE |
| ELKHORN MARINE CONSERVANCY | ROCHESTER, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILL REEF FUND | DETROIT, MI | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MNNDSD | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| Walker Art Center | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND |
| WILD RIVERS CONSERVANCY | OSCEOLA, WI | $500 | 2024 | GERNERAL OPERATING |
| THE COWLES CENTER FOR DANCE AND PERFORMING ARTS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | ST PAUL, MN | $500 | 2024 | PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA AND THE NORTHWOODS |
| MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO | SAINT PAUL, MN | $300 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PAGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| NORTHERN CLAY CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MNNDSD
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING
WALKER ART CENTER
$2,5001-YEAR PLEDGE DEDICATED TO THE PERFORMING ARTS TO ASSIST IN MORIAH EVANS PERFORMANCE
GENERAL OPERATING
WALKER ART CENTER
$750ANNUAL FUND
CHISAGO LAKES AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATING
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION
$500GENERAL OPERATING - IN HONOR OF LENI & DAVID MOORE
STEAMBOAT ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL SPORTS (STARS)
$500GENERAL OPERATING - IN HONOR OF ROZA HOARD
UNIVERSITY OF MN FOUNDATION - WEISMAN ART MUSEUM
$500ANNUAL FUND
CHICAGO AVENUE FINE ARTS CENTER
$250GENERAL OPERATING
MINNPOST
$250GENERAL OPERATING
MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
$250GENERAL OPERATING
NORTHERN CLAY CENTER
$250GENERAL OPERATING
TEMPLE ISRAEL
$200GENERAL OPERATING - IN MEMORY OF GLORIA MAYERON ($100), IN MEMORY OF HARRY MAYERON ($100)
ST CROIX FESTIVAL THEATRE
$5,000CURTAIN RISING CAMPAIGN
COMPASSION & CHOICES
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MNNDSD
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
Walker Art Center
$750ANNUAL FUND
CHISAGO LAKES AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATING
UNIVERSITY OF MN - WEISMAN ART MUSEUM
$500ANNUAL FUND
MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
$250GENERAL OPERATING
NORTHERN CLAY CENTER
$250GENERAL OPERATING
CHICAGO AVENUE FINE ARTS CENTER
$250GENERAL OPERATING
MINNPOST
$250GENERAL OPERATING
TEMPLE ISRAEL
$200GENERAL OPERATING - IN MEMORY OF GLORIA MAYERON ($100), INMEMORY OF HARRY MAYERON ($100)
AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL
$1,000FORMER TRUSTEE CHALLENGE FUND
ELKHORN MARINE CONSERVANCY
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MNNDSD
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
Walker Art Center
$500ANNUAL FUND
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$500PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA AND THE NORTHWOODS
NORTHERN CLAY CENTER
$250GENERAL OPERATING