Cowan Slavin Foundation Corp

Cowan Slavin Foundation Corp explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This is a closed, invitation-only foundation. Cold outreach or unsolicited proposals will not be considered. The foundation is closely tied to Two Twelve Arts Center (twotwelvearts.org), a visual and performing arts hub that the foundation sponsors — this is the clearest pathway to relationship building. Prospective grantees should focus on establishing connections through the arts community in New York City or through the foundation's leadership (Marjorie Slavin Bovee, Emily Weinstein, Andrea Weinstein) via arts networks, Philanthropy New York membership, or mutual organizational relationships. Creative/arts organizations with youth or community development programming in NYC or nationally are the best-fit profile.

The foundation awards a small, concentrated portfolio: 4–5 grants per year totaling $37,500–$210,926 (FY 2024 distributions were higher at ~$211K, but grantmaking data shows a tighter ~$37,500 pattern in more typical years). Individual grants cluster at $7,500–$10,000. The foundation has $4.6M in assets and generates income primarily through investment dividends and asset sales (no external contributions). Focus areas based on grantee history: (1) Arts/Creative Writing — NY Writers Coalition ($10,000); (2) Youth Vocational Training — Waterside Workshops ($10,000); (3) Youth Empowerment — Catrock Ventures ($10,000); (4) African and Diaspora Arts/Culture — Cumbe Center ($7,500). All recent grantees are based in New York City or the Bay Area. The foundation itself maintains a Framingham, MA address but has New York City operational ties through Two Twelve Arts Center.

Cowan Slavin is a micro private foundation by asset size ($4.6M) operating well below the scale of major Massachusetts arts funders like the Boston Foundation, Barr Foundation, or Highland Street Foundation. It is closely comparable to other family-run NYC-connected arts foundations in the $5M–$10M asset range. Unlike most peer arts foundations, Cowan Slavin does not participate in open grant cycles or publish RFPs. Its preselected-only policy puts it in the same category as foundations that function as extended grant-making arms of family philanthropy. Total annual giving (~$37,500–$211K) is modest, though the FY 2024 jump in disbursements ($210,926) is notable and may indicate expanded giving or a one-time larger grant not yet fully reflected in public data.

FY 2024 (fiscal year ending April 2024) data shows total assets of $4,626,065 and charitable disbursements of $210,926 — a significant increase from the $37,500 reported in FY 2023, suggesting either expanded grantmaking or changes in what counts as charitable disbursement. Known recent grantees (FY 2023–2024): Waterside Workshops, Berkeley, CA ($10,000 — youth vocational training); NY Writers Coalition, Brooklyn, NY ($10,000 — community creative writing); Catrock Ventures Inc, Bronx, NY ($10,000 — youth inspiration and empowerment); Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance, Brooklyn, NY ($7,500 — arts/culture). The foundation was founded in 1964 and has operated continuously. Leadership compensation (FY 2024): President Marjorie Slavin Bovee ($75,112), Director Emily Weinstein ($61,944), VP Andrea Weinstein ($3,283). The foundation sponsors Two Twelve Arts Center as its primary operational affiliate.

1. Do not submit unsolicited proposals — the foundation explicitly does not accept them. Any application sent cold will be disregarded. 2. The only realistic path to a grant is through a relationship with the foundation's leadership or Two Twelve Arts Center. Visit twotwelvearts.org to understand the operational ecosystem. 3. Best-fit organizations: NYC-based arts organizations with youth development, creative writing, vocational training, or diaspora arts programming, with grants typically in the $7,500–$10,000 range. 4. If connected through Philanthropy New York, leverage that network to reach Marjorie Slavin Bovee or Emily Weinstein. 5. The FY 2024 spike in disbursements ($211K vs. typical $37.5K) warrants monitoring — if the foundation is expanding its grantmaking scope, the preselected pool may be growing and a warm introduction may carry more weight in 2025–2026.