Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family
The Alvin I. & Peggy S. Brown Family Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a private charitable foundation based in the Washington, D.C. area. The foundation was established to continue the philanthropic legacy of Alvin I. Brown, a self-made home builder and developer who passed away in 2010 at age 94.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.5M
-5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
41
-14.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
+29.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports research and educational initiatives focused on learning from failure and cognitive science in education. The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and research that helps students and teachers embrace failure as a valuable learning tool.
Grantmaking
The foundation has awarded significant grants to support educational research. Most notably, the foundation provided a five-year, $1 million grant to support the "Learning from Failure" research initiative at Teachers College, Columbia University. This research examines how students can improve their academic performance in STEM fields by learning about the personal struggles and failed experiments of renowned scientists.
Ready to take the next step with Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has supported institutions in New York, including Teachers College, Columbia University.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,452,828 | $11,070,717 | $12,409,579 |
| Revenue | $1,300,061 | $451,411 | $1,116,334 |
| Expenses | $1,887,099 | $1,771,547 | $2,197,519 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,767,964 | $1,771,547 | $2,197,519 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,180,926 | $273,194 | $984,919 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,000,819 | $954,339 | $977,919 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Blue Skye Foundation ($375,000), Aha Learning Inc ($330,000), Teachers College Columbia University ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU BALTIMORE, MD | CHARITY | $20,000 |
| AHA LEARNING INC GREAT NECK, NY | CHARITY | $330,000 |
| AIZHEIMERS' FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | CHARITY | $1,000 |
| BLUE SKYE FOUNDATION SANTA FE, NM | CHARITY | $375,000 |
| B'NAI ISRAEL CONGREGATION ROCKVILLE, MD | CHARITY | $3,664 |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH NEW YORK, NY | CHARITY | $700 |
| CHILDRENS' DEFENSE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITY | $200 |
| COMMITTEE FOR MISSING CHILDREN LAWRENCEVILLE, GA | CHARITY | $150 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | CHARITY | $25,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITY | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA A BROWN | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| DONNA L BROWN | TREASURER | 3 | — |
| LAURA CAT ENGEL-BROWN | SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| GABRIEL GUNTHER-BROWN | VICE PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a five-year, $1 million grant to Professor Xiaodong Lin-Siegler at Teachers College, Columbia University to further her "Learning from Failure" research initiative. This research builds on Lin-Siegler's 2016 study demonstrating that high school students who learned about the personal struggles and failed experiments of great scientists such as Albert Einstein and Marie Curie showed improved science grades.
Alumnus funds scholarship for parents in medical school\_ | University of\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family fund?
The foundation supports research and educational initiatives focused on learning from failure and cognitive science in education. The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and research that helps students and teachers embrace failure as a valuable learning tool.
How do I apply for a grant from Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family?
The foundation has awarded significant grants to support educational research. Most notably, the foundation provided a five-year, $1 million grant to support the "Learning from Failure" research initiative at Teachers College, Columbia University. This research examines how students can improve their academic performance in STEM fields by learning about the personal struggles and failed experiments of renowned scientists.
Where does Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family make grants?
The foundation has supported institutions in New York, including Teachers College, Columbia University.
What size grants does Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family award?
In 2025, Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family awarded 41 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family's EIN?
Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6041735. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Abell Foundation Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$296.4M
Grants
391
Total Given
$13.4M
Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent
COLUMBIA, MD
Assets
$376K
Grants
1
Total Given
$12K
American Federation for Children Growth
COLUMBIA, MD
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
11
Total Given
$2.4M
Mayfield Scholastic Ltd
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$38K
Baltimore Curriculum Project Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$17.3M
Grants
6
Total Given
$2.7M
Government Employees' Benefit
HANOVER, MD
Assets
$3K
Grants
43
Total Given
$108K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Alvin I and Peggy S Brown Family to a real strategy.