The Howe Foundation Grant Program

The Howe Foundation is a private philanthropic entity administered through Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services. Established by Thomas E. Howe of Clark County, Nevada, who was born on February 5, 1944, and passed away on April 28, 2013, the foundation’s philanthropic intentions continue under the management of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., acting as its sole trustee. The foundation operates within the broader framework of Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management division, which provides various philanthropic services across private foundations and trust management. The primary mission of the Howe Foundation is to support charitable organizations within the United States that work in the fields of education, medical advancements, or are associations related to game hunting. The foundation maintains a clear and limited funding scope, concentrating its philanthropic resources on these three defined areas. It does not provide scholarships to individuals, and those seeking such aid are redirected to a separate scholarship site, csascholars.org. Eligible organizations must hold tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No additional criteria based on geography, organizational size, or institutional type are specified beyond the requirement of U.S. incorporation and alignment with one of the foundation’s three focus areas. There is no indication that private institutions of higher education or tribal organizations are excluded, as long as they meet the 501(c)(3) standard and align with one of the three designated funding purposes. The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. However, in order to be considered at the foundation’s annual grant review meeting held in September, applications must be submitted by August 1 of the same calendar year. An automated email confirms receipt of the application. Final funding decisions are typically communicated to applicants in September following the application deadline. Applicants may also be required to submit periodic progress and final reports if selected for funding. There is no publicly listed information about award amounts, ceilings, or the total number of grants awarded per cycle, nor is there mention of a required matching contribution. The foundation does not specify any formal application questions or time estimates, nor does it provide a list of prior grantees or examples of funded work. The submission process occurs online through the Wells Fargo portal. For questions related to grant program or technical support, applicants are encouraged to call 1-888-235-4351 or email grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. All applicants are advised to ensure their proposals align with the foundation’s defined interest areas, and that their tax-exempt documentation is up-to-date. Given the firm application deadline and limited scope of funding, early planning is recommended to ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and timeline requirements.