Who We Are

The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund is a philanthropic family foundation dedicated to furthering William McGowan’s tradition of compassionate philanthropy and ethical leadership. Directed by an 11-member board, the Fund supports programs that embody William McGowan’s tireless optimism while addressing root causes of poverty and flexing to meet emerging needs.

Our grant making focuses on three areas: Education, Human Services, and Healthcare. Through the McGowan Fellows Program, the Fund supports and inspires emerging business leaders. Our research and analysis informs our grant making and supports our partners and communities.

Guiding us in all our endeavors are six principles: accountability, character and integrity, courage, empathy, resilience, and self-awareness. As leaders, we employ these principles in our work, and we look to grantees who can do the same.