About J K Lowder Family Foundation
The J K Lowder Family Foundation is a regionally focused funder in Alabama that prioritizes sustaining a flagship cultural institution — the Alabama Shakespeare Festival — while also supporting local higher-education initiatives and community capital campaigns. Its grants emphasize long-term stability (endowment and capital/board campaign support) and discretionary funding for university programs and community facilities. The foundation favors a small number of substantial, targeted investments rather than many small awards.
Focus Areas
Major performing arts institution support in Alabama (Alabama Shakespeare Festival — operations, endowment, capital/board campaigns)Capital and endowment support for community institutions (campaign and facility funding)Support for Alabama higher education programs and athletics (Auburn University and associated units)
Who They Fund
local/community residentsyouth (music education/orchestra participants)performing arts organizations (music and dance companies)general public/audience members
About J K Lowder Family Foundation
The J K Lowder Family Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by a large, recurring commitment to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The foundation gave $300,000 in 2025 for endowment and capital support, following board-campaign grants of $162,500 in 2023, $125,000 in 2024, and $125,000 in 2025. That pattern signals a funder interested in institutional stability rather than one-time project support. Around that core, the foundation also backs higher education and civic institutions in Alabama, including Auburn University units, Montgomery-based nonprofits, and capital campaigns for community facilities. Its portfolio points to a local, relationship-driven grantmaker. The foundation’s grants to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival span operating, endowment, gala, and board-campaign support, while other awards go to organizations such as River Region United Way, YMCA capital efforts, and Cloverdale Playhouse. The grant list also shows repeated support across multiple years for several recipients, suggesting ongoing ties to a small set of organizations. Although the foundation funds a range of mission areas, its recent awards consistently center on arts, education, community development, and social services in Montgomery and nearby Alabama communities.
What J K Lowder Family Foundation Funds
Arts and culture is the most visible area in the recent grants. In 2025, The J K Lowder Family Foundation gave $300,000 to Alabama Shakespeare Festival for endowment and capital support, and it also funded the festival’s board campaign in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Education appears through Alabama institutions beyond the arts. The foundation awarded $75,000 to Auburn University Tigers Unlimited in 2025 and $75,000 to Auburn College of Business in 2023, with additional $50,000 grants to each in later years. Community support is another recurring theme. River Region United Way received $50,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for community support, while Mission to North America received $35,000 in each of those same years. Capital support also shows up in the grant list. Cloverdale Playhouse received $23,800 in 2025 as a capital campaign contribution.
How J K Lowder Family Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,125, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Even so, the recent grant list includes much larger targeted awards, indicating a split between routine smaller grants and occasional major commitments. The pattern also shows repeat support across years for several recipients, including Alabama Shakespeare Festival, River Region United Way, and Mission to North America. The foundation is a family foundation, and the active programs show invitation-based grantmaking alongside an application request form route. It also funds 501(c)(3) organizations, with awards centered on Montgomery and neighboring areas in Alabama, plus occasional exceptions.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$956K
Total Assets
$17.7M
Total Revenue
$654K
Total Expenses
$1.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
Geographic Reach
Local6 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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