Peter Bowe and Barbara Stewart

Entrepreneurs, philanthropists, partners, innovators. 

Meet Barbara Stewart and Peter Bowe. Together, they formed the Bowe Stewart Foundation to support organizations that strengthen American civic life and expand pathways to opportunity.

Why We Give

We established the Bowe Stewart Foundation because we believe philanthropy can help sustain and strengthen the ideas, institutions, and opportunities that make our American free society possible. Our giving is rooted in gratitude—for the opportunities we have been afforded—and in a desire to see those same opportunities extended to others.

Our giving begins with a simple conviction: a healthy democracy depends on both an informed citizenry and the opportunity for individuals to build meaningful, productive lives.

We support organizations that deepen understanding of American history, civic institutions, and the principles of a free society. The United States is, at its core, a nation bound together by shared ideals—liberty, self-government, and personal responsibility. These ideas are not self-sustaining; they must be learned, renewed, and passed on to each generation.

We also support organizations that expand pathways to work, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility. We are especially drawn to organizations that support those who undertake one of the ultimate acts of entrepreneurship: immigrating legally to America to build a new life in a new place, often at great personal risk. Their determination reflects something enduring about the American story—that through individual agency, responsibility, and perseverance, it is possible to optimize opportunities and outcomes for oneself and one's family, and, thereby, for American society as a whole.

Across these areas, we value work that strengthens the habits of civil dialogue. A free society requires a willingness to engage across differences with curiosity and mutual respect. Many of the organizations we support seek to strengthen this culture of thoughtful debate and civic understanding.

We view philanthropy not simply as an act of giving, but as a form of participation. At its best, it is relational, grounded in shared purpose, and shaped over time through trust.

We seek to support organizations and leaders whose work reflects integrity and conviction. In doing so, we are continually reminded that we are not only contributors, but also learners. We have been humbled by the individuals and communities we support—by their resilience, initiative, and desire to share in the unique American story that binds us together.