The Cowles Charitable Trust is a left-of-center grantmaking foundation based in Staten Island, New York founded by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr., a co-owner of the Cowles Media Company.

Background

The Cowles Charitable Trust was established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr., a newspaper editor, publisher, and co-owner of the Cowles Media Company. In June 1950, the organization was registered as a tax-exempt private foundation in Staten Island, New York. ^{1 2}

According to the Trust’s website, Cowles was heavily influenced by his mother, Florence Cowles, a pro-abortion activist and close associate of Margaret Sanger notable for bailing the latter out of jail on multiple occasions. In that vein, the website also describes the Cowles Family as having been “passionate” about civil rights and race relations issues in the 20^th century. ³

As of April 2024, the majority of the Trust’s trustees are direct descendants of Gardner Cowles. ⁴

Grantmaking

Organizations and institutions that that have received grants from the Cowles Charitable Trust include the ACLU, Americas Society, Animal Medical Center, Art Council, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Breast Cancer Action, Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment, Chinati Foundation, Coalition for the Homeless, Doctors Without Borders, Equal Justice USA, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Multicultural Health Institute, National Urban League, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of New York City, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Women’s Housing and Economic Development, Clean Air Task Force, Clean and Healthy New York Inc, Council on the Environment, Florida Justice Institute, Food for the Poor, Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partners (GRASP), Ladies Empowerment and Action Program, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Peregrine Fund, Safe Horizon, Teachers Unite, and Women Engaged. ⁵

While the organization notes on its website that its maximum yearly grant is $10,000, according to its 2022 tax return the Trust has made grants larger than that amount. For instance, in that filing the trust notes a grant of $35,000 to GRASP, a $12,000 grant to the SPLC, and a $20,000 grant to the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. ^{6 7}

Leadership

Virginia Cowles Schroth is a trustee and the chairwoman of the Cowles Charitable Trust as well as the head of development for the Tate Americas Foundation, an organization that supports the Tate Museum in the United Kingdom through grants and gifts of works of art from North and South America. Additionally, Cowles Schroth sits on the advisory board of the Bridge Initiative, an environmentalist advocacy organization. ^{8 9 10}

John Patrick Harrison is a trustee and the financial officer of the Cowles Charitable Trust as well as a member of the board of directors of the Harrison Charitable Foundation, a grantmaking foundation based in Osprey, Florida. ^{11 12}

1. “Our Story.” Cowles Charitable Trust. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://cowlescharitabletrust.org/read-me
2. “Cowles Charitable Trust.” Accessed April 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136090295
3. “Our Story.” Cowles Charitable Trust. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://cowlescharitabletrust.org/read-me
4.  “Our Story.” Cowles Charitable Trust. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://cowlescharitabletrust.org/read-me
5.    Cowles Charitable Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136090295/202440169349100769/full
6. Cowles Charitable Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. (Form 990), 2022.

   https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136090295/202440169349100769/full

7. “FAQ.” Cowles Charitable Trust. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://cowlescharitabletrust.org/faq
8. “Who We Are.” BRIDGE. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.bridgeinitiative.org/about
9. “About.” Tate Americas Foundation. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://tateamericas.org/about/
10. “CCT Trustees.” Cowles Charitable Trust. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://cowlescharitabletrust.org/partners
11. “Harrison Charitable Foundation.” Grantmakers. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/582023561-harrison-charitable-foundation-inc/
12. “CCT Trustees.” Cowles Charitable Trust. Accessed April 1, 2024.  https://cowlescharitabletrust.org/partners