The Willows Foundation was started in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabelle in 2003 as Willows Beach Club, Inc., a non-profit, non-stock Maryland corporation. The founding mission of the beach club was to clean up, restore, and manage the Willows Beach for the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

In 2005, Willows Beach Club, Inc. became Willows Foundation, Inc. Its tax-exempt status was also approved by the IRS in 2005. The Foundation may accept public donations.

In January 2007, the volunteer Board of Trustees expanded the Foundation’s mission to include humanitarian and environmental causes. The Foundation will continue to evolve and grow as our social awareness and organizational capabilities become clearer and stronger, and as others join us with their vision.