About Howley Foundation
The Howley Foundation concentrates its giving on K–12 Catholic and Catholic-affiliated secondary schools and scholarship funds that expand access to private college-preparatory education, often supporting capital campaigns, scholarship endowments, and counseling/coordinator positions. It also funds college-preparatory and career-pathway programs (including Cristo Rey schools and Cleveland Clinic education pathways) and occasional higher education and school-choice policy organizations. Grants are large and targeted, frequently funding a small set of repeat beneficiaries in the Cleveland/Great Lakes and greater Philadelphia region.
Focus Areas
Scholarship endowments for Catholic and independent college-preparatory high schoolsCapital campaigns and facility investments for private secondary schoolsSupport for Cristo Rey network and work-study Catholic high schoolsCollege- and career-pathway programs tied to medical systems (e.g., Cleveland Clinic Pathways/ASPIRE)School choice and education policy organizations
Who They Fund
high school students (general)students at Cleveland High School
About Howley Foundation
The Howley Foundation’s recent giving is shaped by large, targeted grants to Catholic and Catholic-affiliated secondary schools, especially through scholarships, capital campaigns, and staffing for counseling or coordinator roles. Its largest recent award was $2,938,908 to Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, for scholarships, a capital campaign, and a coordinator position, a pattern that shows the foundation pairing tuition support with institutional capacity. In Philadelphia, it backed St Joseph Prepatory School with $2,386,450 for scholarships, a capital campaign, and a counselor position, and supported Merion Mercy Academy with $1,808,373 for scholarships, a capital campaign, and a coordinator. The foundation also extends this school-access model into work-study and pathway programs, including support for Cleveland Clinic Aspire and Cristo Rey schools. Higher education and education-policy organizations appear as a smaller part of the portfolio, alongside grants tied to scholarship endowments and school facilities. Across the recent grant list, the same operating style is visible: concentrated awards to named institutions, often connected to private college-preparatory access and school infrastructure.
What Howley Foundation Funds
A central theme is scholarship support for Catholic secondary schools. The Howley Foundation gave $2,860,210 to Gilmour Academy for Cleveland High School scholarship and general support, and it also funded $1,111,000 to Independence Mission Schools for general support. Another recurring theme is capital investment in school facilities. In 2025, it awarded $1,473,012 to Malvern Preparatory School for scholarships and a capital campaign, and $500,000 to Basilica School of St Mary Star of the Sea for a capital campaign. The foundation also backs pathway and workforce-oriented education. It gave $1,653,800 to Cristo Rey Network for literacy, leaders and math education programs, Project Waitlist, office administration, and scholarships, and $533,872 to Pennsylvania College of Technology for Aspire programs. School-choice advocacy is present as well, with a $1,500,000 general grant to American Federation for Children.
How Howley Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $35,000, the median is $124,000, and the 75th percentile is $504,845. The recent list shows a mix of one-time and repeat support, with some recipients appearing in multiple years, including Gilmour Academy, Cristo Rey Network, Cleveland Clinic Aspire, Merion Mercy Academy, Williamson College, St Joseph Prepatory School, and St Martin De Porres High School. The foundation is structured as a grantmaker that also funds individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Grants are usually directed to specific institutions or named programs rather than broad open calls, based on the pattern of purpose descriptions in the recent awards.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$28.5M
Total Assets
$131.9M
Total Revenue
$77M
Total Expenses
$30.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $35K and $505K, with a median of $124K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$124K
75th Percentile
$505K
Geographic Reach
National6 states funded
About 42% of grants go to recipients in OH.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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