Rowan Foundation concentrates on rights-based social justice work tied to Ireland and the Irish diaspora, funding advocacy and civil society groups that address migration, civil liberties, criminal justice reform, substance abuse response, and LGBTQ+ equality. Their grantees are mostly advocacy organizations and service-oriented collectives rather than arts or institutional charities, indicating a priority for civic change and policy-oriented impact. Grants are sizable and targeted, with repeat support to several core organizations, suggesting relationship-driven funding rather than one-off gifts.
Concentrated, relationship-driven giving: a small number of fairly large grants (many six-figure) with repeat funding to core advocacy groups rather than broad, small-dollar distribution.
Rowan Foundation’s largest recent grant was $387,304 to American Ireland Fund, and that scale sits alongside a clear pattern of general operating support for organizations working on rights-based social justice. The foundation’s recent giving centers on Ireland and the Irish diaspora, with grants to groups focused on civil liberties, immigrant and migrant rights, penal reform, transgender equality, and responses to the drugs crisis. Several of the largest awards went to Dublin-based organizations, including Irish Council Civil Liberties and Migrant Rights Center Ie, showing a sustained relationship with core advocacy groups rather than one-off project funding. In the United States, the foundation also backs organizations tied to immigration, legal aid, and community infrastructure, including Chicago-based groups and other regional partners. The grant list suggests a funder that supports policy-oriented civil society work and operational stability for organizations pursuing legal, civic, and community change. Across the recent record, the foundation repeatedly uses unrestricted or general operating support to strengthen organizations already active in its priority areas.
In civil liberties and human rights work, Rowan Foundation gave $223,042 to Irish Council Civil Liberties for general operating support. For migrant and immigrant rights, it awarded $220,514 to Migrant Rights Center Ie in 2025 and had also supported the same organization with $213,452 in 2024, indicating continued backing for that advocacy lane. In penal reform, the foundation gave $118,150 to Irish Penal Reform for general operating support. Its support for transgender equality included $109,435 to Transgender Equality Network Ireland, also as general operating support. The foundation also funded responses to the drugs crisis, including $163,509 to Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign. These grants align with a rights-based portfolio shaped around civic advocacy and community response organizations.
Rowan Foundation’s recent grants cluster around a typical size of $30,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $45,000 and an interquartile range from $30,000 to $50,000. The pattern is relationship-driven: multiple recipients appear in consecutive years, including Migrant Rights Center Ie, The Chicago Community Foundation, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugees, Caring for Colorado, Cabrinigreen Legal Aid, Museum of Contemporary Photography, and Tri County Health Network. The foundation is structured as a grantmaking institution rather than one that funds individuals, and the recent record is dominated by general operating support, suggesting flexible support for organizational sustainability. No application process is described in the provided data.
$1.6M
$22.6M
$5.3M
$2M
Most grants fall between $30K and $50K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 55% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Rowan Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 27 | $1.3M | 75.0% |
| 2 | Ireland | 8 | $1.3M |
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Notable grantees: Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Irish Penal Reform Trust, Transgender Equality Network Ireland, American Ireland Fund
Most grants land in Illinois, which accounts for 54% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s giving record. Chicago appears frequently, including Chicago Abortion Fund, Illinois Immigration Funders, Crossroads Fund, The Chicago Community Foundation, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugees, Museum of Contemporary Photography, and Cabrinigreen Legal Aid. Outside Illinois, Dublin is a major recipient location, with several grants to Irish civil society groups. The recipient country distribution also shows a strong Ireland presence, with 8 grants to EI-based recipients and 1 to the UK.
Recent grants go to advocacy and service organizations working on civil liberties, migrant and immigrant rights, penal reform, responses to the drugs crisis, transgender equality, legal aid, and community infrastructure. The foundation’s portfolio is centered on rights-based social justice work rather than arts or institutional charity.
The grant-size pattern is centered on mid-sized general operating awards: the 25th percentile is $30,000, the median is $45,000, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. Larger awards also appear in the recent record, including a $387,304 grant and multiple six-figure grants.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Migrant Rights Center Ie, The Chicago Community Foundation, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugees, Caring for Colorado, Cabrinigreen Legal Aid, Museum of Contemporary Photography, and Tri County Health Network. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 54% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago is especially common in the recent record, with grants to groups such as Chicago Abortion Fund, Illinois Immigration Funders, Crossroads Fund, The Chicago Community Foundation, and Cabrinigreen Legal Aid.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | United Kingdom | 1 | $48K | 2.8% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN IRELAND FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $387,304 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IRISH COUNCIL CIVIL LIBERTIES | DUBLIN | $223,042 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IE | DUBLIN | $220,514 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IRISH PENAL REFORM | DUBLIN | $118,150 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRANSGENDER EQUALITY NETWORK IRELAND | DUBLIN | $109,435 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPOER |
| THE HOPE AND COURAGE COLLECTIVE | DUBLIN | $108,590 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACT NOW | DUBLIN | $104,679 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE | LONDON | $48,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY | CHICAGO, IL | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT REFUGEES | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRI COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK | TELLURIDE, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CABRINIGREEN LEGAL AID | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARING FOR COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ANGEL BASKETS | TELLURIDE, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUST FOR KIDS FOUNDATION | TELLURIDE, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLORADO DOULA PROJECT | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO ABORTION FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER | TELLURIDE, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MIDWEST ACCESS COALITION | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COBALT ABORTION FUND | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UPLIFT CHARITY | ANAHEIM, CA | $251,252 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IE | DUBLIN | $213,452 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN | DUBLIN | $163,509 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CROSSROADS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS IMMIGRATION FUNDERS | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRI COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK | TELLURIDE, CO | $45,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT REFUGEES | CHICAGO, IL | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUST FOR KIDS FOUNDATION | TELLURIDE, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARING FOR COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CABRINIGREEN LEGAL AID | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER | TELLURIDE, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
AMERICAN IRELAND FUND
$387,304GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IRISH COUNCIL CIVIL LIBERTIES
$223,042GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IE
$220,514GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IRISH PENAL REFORM
$118,150GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TRANSGENDER EQUALITY NETWORK IRELAND
$109,435GENERAL OPERATING SUPPOER
THE HOPE AND COURAGE COLLECTIVE
$108,590GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ACT NOW
$104,679GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
$48,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT REFUGEES
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TRI COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CABRINIGREEN LEGAL AID
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CARING FOR COLORADO
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ANGEL BASKETS
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JUST FOR KIDS FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COLORADO DOULA PROJECT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHICAGO ABORTION FUND
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MIDWEST ACCESS COALITION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COBALT ABORTION FUND
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UPLIFT CHARITY
$251,252GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IE
$213,452GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN
$163,509GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CROSSROADS FUND
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ILLINOIS IMMIGRATION FUNDERS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TRI COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK
$45,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT REFUGEES
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JUST FOR KIDS FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CARING FOR COLORADO
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CABRINIGREEN LEGAL AID
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT