How We Work

The McGowan Fund welcomes applications from organizations that are working to solve educational, healthcare, and social challenges within our geographic regions. Learn more about our programs.

Our Grant-Making Philosophy

In our grant making, we seek innovative and holistic methods of delivery that advance our mission and the communities we serve, with an eye toward sustainable change in the trajectory and quality of people’s lives.

In all our work, we deploy and support strong leadership. Our board subscribes to six principles, including accountability. Accordingly, we set specific quantitative goals for our initiatives, and we extend that concern for identifiable outcomes to our grantees. We believe in organizational mapping to define strategies and benchmarks of success, and we require applicants to include a detailed outcomes matrix.

The Process

The Fund is governed by an engaged board of directors whose members live in our grant-making regions. Board members play an active role, evaluating applications, making local site visits, and providing stewardship during the grant period.

Grants are considered in a two-step process for new applicants—the Letter of Inquiry and the application itself—and grants are made by the board three times a year. Check our deadlines here.