The Robert Bowne Foundation (RBF) supported the development of quality programs that offer literacy education to the children and youth of New York City, in the out-of-school hours, especially for those living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The Foundation was established in 1968 by Edmund A. Stanley, Jr. and named in honor of Robert Bowne (1744-1818), founder of Bowne & Company. Beginning in 1987, the Robert Bowne Foundation concentrated its grantmaking on Out-of-School Time (OST) programs in New York City that were addressing, or wished to address, youth literacy. The Foundation’s goal was to increase access to youth-centered, quality OST programs for all young people. By spending-out the Foundation’s assets by the end of 2015, we believe that we did our best to accomplish that goal.