The Edward M. Dowd Foundation concentrates its giving on education-focused capital projects in California, funding large facility improvements and naming gifts for schools and universities. Recent grants show a preference for supporting campus buildings and athletic facilities at faith-affiliated K–12 and higher education institutions. The foundation appears to make few, high-impact gifts rather than many small awards.
Highly concentrated: very few but large grants focused on capital and naming opportunities; one-time project support rather than broad program funding or many small grants.
A defining pattern in The Edward M Dowd Foundation C/o Baker Tilly Lp’s recent giving is its support for major campus projects in California. Two of the largest awards in the file went to Palma School in Salinas for renovating and renaming a gymnasium on campus and to Santa Clara University for the Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building. Those gifts show a preference for physical improvements tied to education, arts, and campus identity rather than broad operating support. The foundation also shows a local orientation through smaller gifts in Salinas, including support for Palma School Foundation and other community organizations. Recent grantmaking suggests a portfolio built around designated capital projects, with some unrestricted grants alongside larger project-specific awards. The result is a grant pattern that links schools, universities, and nearby civic organizations, with faith-affiliated education appearing among the recipients. Its named focus areas include education and arts, health and human services, and veteran programs, but the largest recent awards point most clearly to educational facilities and campus infrastructure in California.
In education and arts, the foundation backed Santa Clara University with a grant for the Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building, signaling support for academic and cultural space on campus. It also supported Palma School in Salinas for renovating and renaming the gymnasium on campus, which places athletics facilities within its education giving. Beyond campus projects, the file includes unrestricted support for Food Bank for Monterey County in Salinas and Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, showing that the foundation also funds local human services organizations. Another 2024 gift went to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York, a reminder that its grant list includes health-related support as well as California-based education and community awards.
Typical grant size is $10,550 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $97,500 at the 75th percentile, which reflects a mix of modest grants and much larger capital awards. The recent file includes both one-time project gifts and smaller unrestricted grants, indicating a split between designated facility funding and general support. The foundation accepts unsolicited online applications through its general grant program. The grant record is concentrated in California, but the pattern also includes occasional awards outside that state.
$5M
$162.8M
$167.9M
$5.3M
Most grants fall between $11K and $98K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$98K
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Notable grantees: Palma School, Santa Clara University
Grants are heavily centered in California, with 90% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Salinas appears repeatedly, including Palma School, Food Bank for Monterey County, Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra, and the Oldtown Salinas Hometown Hero Banners Committee. Santa Clara also appears through Santa Clara University. Outside California, the recent file includes a grant to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New York, NY.
The recent record centers on capital projects tied to education and arts, especially campus buildings and athletic facilities. Examples include Palma School’s gymnasium renovation and naming, and Santa Clara University’s Art and Art History Building. The foundation also lists health and human services and veteran programs among its grant program areas.
Yes. Its general grant program says it accepts online grant applications, and the program description notes that unsolicited applications are accepted.
The typical grant size in the file is $10,550 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $97,500 at the 75th percentile. That spread shows a mix of routine grants around $15,000 and much larger project awards.
California is the main giving area. The data says 90% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is CA. Salinas and Santa Clara appear repeatedly in the recent grants list.
The record leans toward one-time, designated awards for specific projects, especially capital improvements. It also includes smaller unrestricted grants, such as gifts to Food Bank for Monterey County and Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, which suggests a mix of project-specific and general support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY | SANTA CLARA, CA | $4,800,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIVIDAD MEDICAL FOUNDATION | SALINAS, CA | $77,225 | 2026 | MUSIC AND ARTS |
| RAMPS | RICHMOND, VA | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HENRICO POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE | RICHMOND, VA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RANCHO CIELO | SALINAS, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | ART PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | ART PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ROSEBURG, OR | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROSEBURG RESCUE MISSION INC | ROSEBURG, OR | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OLDOWN SALINAS HOMETOWN HEROES | SALINAS, CA | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE | HAMPDENSYDNEY, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | GOLF TEAM |
| GLENBROOK UNDERGROUND INC | CARSON CITY, NV | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FLOWER ARTS CENTER INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MENLO SCHOOL FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLLEGIATE SCHOOL FUND | RICHMOND, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PHILLIPS BROOKS SCHOOL | MENLO PARK, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN PRAIRIE FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTH PENINSULA WATER POLO FNDTN | MENLO PARK, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOSPICE OF ORANGE AND SULLIVAN COUN | NEWBURGH, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUNBEAM FOUNDATION | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JASPER RIDGE FARM | PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB | SALINAS, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS | San Francisco, CA | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PALMA SCHOOL | SALINAS, CA | $2,100,000 | 2025 | Grant for renovating and renaming gymnasium on campus |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY | SANTA CLARA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Grant for Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRANCISCAN WORKERS OF JUNIPERO SERRA | SALINAS, CA | $12,200 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OLDTOWN SALINAS HOMETOWN HERO BANNERS COMMITTEE | SALINAS, CA | $3,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GROWER SHIPPER ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION | SALINAS, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FOOD BANK FOR MONTEREY COUNTY | SALINAS, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE SALINAS VALLEY | SALINAS, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PALMA SCHOOL FOUNDATION | SALINAS, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
$4,800,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RAMPS
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HENRICO POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RANCHO CIELO
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
$10,000ART PROGRAM SUPPORT
DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ROSEBURG RESCUE MISSION INC
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
OLDOWN SALINAS HOMETOWN HEROES
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
$5,000GOLF TEAM
FLOWER ARTS CENTER INC
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MENLO SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLLEGIATE SCHOOL FUND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTH PENINSULA WATER POLO FNDTN
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOSPICE OF ORANGE AND SULLIVAN COUN
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SUNBEAM FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JASPER RIDGE FARM
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PALMA SCHOOL
$2,100,000Grant for renovating and renaming gymnasium on campus
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000Grant for Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building
OLDTOWN SALINAS HOMETOWN HERO BANNERS COMMITTEE
$3,500UNRESTRICTED
GROWER SHIPPER ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE SALINAS VALLEY
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
PALMA SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED