The Branson Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 2006 and based in Los Altos, California. The foundation operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.9M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$895K
+2.9% YoY
Grant Count
42
+2.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Branson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $982K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Disaster relief
- Humanitarian aid
- Economic development
- Environmental protection
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $19,890,875
- Total revenues: $901,303
- Total expenses: $1,004,506
- Total liabilities: $82,800
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $18,800,000
- Total revenues: $608,000
- Total expenses: $942,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,890,875 | $18,805,971 | $17,824,661 |
| Revenue | $901,303 | $607,915 | $663,095 |
| Expenses | $1,004,506 | $942,378 | $1,062,702 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $895,100 | $870,100 | $990,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $821,425 | $549,557 | $658,951 |
| Distributable Amount | $982,417 | $900,301 | $935,752 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Village Enterprise ($100,000), Rocky Mountain Institute ($90,000), Care ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CARE Atlanta, GA | Economic development | $70,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Disaster relief | $70,000 |
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MN | disaster relief | $70,000 |
| PATH Seattle, WA | medical research | $5,000 |
| Mercy Corp Prescott, AZ | economic development | $25,000 |
| CamFed USA San Francisco, CA | economic development | $5,000 |
| Heifer International Little Rock, AZ | economic development | $5,000 |
| Hesperian Health Guides Berkeley, CA | Medical information for areas with no trained medical staff | $2,000 |
| One Acre Fund Brooklyn, NY | economic development | $20,000 |
| Room To Read San Franciscco, CA | education | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Cheryl Branson – Chief Executive Officer
- Kenneth W Branson – Chief Financial Officer
- Cynthia Lamparter – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheryl Branson | CEO | — | — |
| Ken Branson | CFO | 0.25 | — |
| Cynthia Lamparter | Director | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 701 Los Ninos Way, Los Altos, CA 94022-1508
- Phone: 650-823-6177
- Website: www.bransonfamilyfounda[tion]
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Branson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Disaster relief • Humanitarian aid • Economic development • Environmental protection • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Branson Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 45 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $895,000 • Typical award range: $1,000–$100,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Village Enterprise: $100,000 (Economic Development) • Rocky Mountain Institute: $90,000 (Environmental Protection) • Wii Care Project: $70,000 (Economic Development)
Where does Branson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Branson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Branson Family Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $895K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Branson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Branson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $982K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Branson Family Foundation's EIN?
Branson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4963649. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Branson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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