Brazelton Family Foundation
Brazelton Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It made 15 grants totaling $405,500 in filing year 2025, supporting charitable organizations in Texas and other states.
Brazelton Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Brazelton Family Foundation gave $406K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Texas. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $405,500
- +214.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -51.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,033
- +549.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $40,217
- -88.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Brazelton Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3900 Essex Lane 1000, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 629-1381
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Brazelton Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hilltop Adventures (FKA Endless River Ministries) ($225K). Together the top 10 received $393K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 113 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 12% each to Alabama and Minnesota, and 1% each to Missouri and Virginia. The listed grants also included a $5,000 award to Stanford University in California and a $2,000 award to Young Life in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Brazelton Family Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 2239% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2022) to $406K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $406K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hilltop Adventures (FKA Endless River Ministries) Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $225,000 |
| JH Ranch Birminham, AL | General Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Evangelical Free Church of America Minneapolis, MN | General Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Grace Bible Church Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $20,000 |
| Small Steps Nurturing Center Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $17,500 |
| University of Texas Austin, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| Fellowship Christian Athletes Kansas City, MO | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
| Hope & Healing-Institute Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
| Navy Seal Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Dallas, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Brazelton Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,217 | $86,718 | $410,022 | $405,500 | 15 | $407,613 | $84,309 | $8,431 |
| 2024 | $363,521 | $48,811 | $136,164 | $129,021 | 31 | $130,996 | $46,817 | $24,098 |
| 2023 | $450,874 | $126,580 | $130,536 | $127,050 | 23 | $128,725 | $124,769 | $27,908 |
| 2022 | $569,016 | $208,835 | $24,690 | $17,340 | 23 | $19,015 | $32,118 | $21,428 |
| 2021 | $390,442 | $544,953 | $332,755 | $327,950 | 21 | $330,350 | $222,457 | $15,589 |
| 2020 | $405,621 | $6,903 | $180,179 | $179,700 | 23 | — | $10,935 | $27,187 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brazelton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including churches, educational institutions, youth-serving groups, and charitable organizations. For example, Small Steps Nurturing Center describes its mission as fostering the growth of economically at-risk children and their families through an early childhood program. Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star says it supports Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, and the Navy SEAL Foundation says it provides support for Naval Special Warfare warriors, veterans, and families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $405,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $225,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest listed grants were $225,000 to Hilltop Adventures (formerly Endless River Ministries) in Houston, Texas; $50,000 each to JH Ranch in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Evangelical Free Church of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and $20,000 to Grace Bible Church in Houston. Other listed grants included $17,500 to Small Steps Nurturing Center, $10,000 to the University of Texas, and $5,000 each to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hope & Healing-Institute, the Navy SEAL Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, and Stanford University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Frederick W Brazelton as president and secretary, and Lewis E Brazelton IV, Shelley B Bracken, and William Westervelt Brazelton as directors.
Brazelton Family Foundation is led by Frederick W. Brazelton, President & Secretary since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frederick W. Brazelton
President & Secretary
Director → Vice President & Secretary, 2023
Vice President & Secretary → President & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lewis E. Brazelton IV
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Shelley B. Bracken
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William Westervelt Brazelton
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Lewis E. Brazelton III (2020–2024) — President & Treasurer
- Former: Shelley F. Brazelton (2020–2022) — Vice President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Brazelton Family Foundation
How much does Brazelton Family Foundation give each year?
Brazelton Family Foundation gave $406K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $129K across 31 grants.
What is Brazelton Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Brazelton Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $27,033, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Brazelton Family Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Brazelton Family Foundation give grants?
Brazelton Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Alabama (12%) and Minnesota (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (7 grants).
Does Brazelton Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Brazelton Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Brazelton Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Brazelton Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hilltop Adventures (FKA Endless River Ministries) ($225,000), JH Ranch ($50,000) and Evangelical Free Church of America ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Brazelton Family Foundation?
Brazelton Family Foundation reported $40K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $408K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Brazelton Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including churches, educational institutions, youth-serving groups, and charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Brazelton Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Brazelton Family Foundation's EIN?
Brazelton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3833718. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Brazelton Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work Brazelton Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brazelton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Texas
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
The Brown Foundation Inc
Houston, TX
The Brown Foundation funds education, arts and culture, healthcare, human services, and civic assets, with education and the arts as top priorities and public education giving focused almost exclusively on greater Houston. Its 2025 grants ranged from $20,000 to $11 million, with a median of $50,000; it primarily supports Houston organizations and selectively funds distinctive opportunities elsewhere in Texas and beyond.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
222
Total Given
$84.3M
Strake Foundation
Houston, TX
The Strake Foundation funds Catholic institutions, education (especially high school and above), women’s health and pro-life causes, free-market and individual-liberty work, and Houston community, homelessness, and low-income needs, with a strong Houston emphasis. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts unsolicited online requests, limits applicants to one application per calendar year, and has no stated deadline.
Assets
$47.3M
Grants
203
Total Given
$3.4M
Vivian L Smith Foundation
Houston, TX
The Vivian L Smith Foundation supports qualifying nonprofit organizations across charitable fields, including education, health care, youth services, and family support; it does not fund individuals. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000, and nearly all grant dollars went to Texas, though it reports no geographic restrictions. It accepts requests without a required form; applicants must state the purpose and provide proof of qualifying status.
Assets
$69.1M
Grants
189
Total Given
$4.5M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
The BNSF Railway Foundation funds civic, cultural, education, health and human services, environmental, and youth programs, including operating costs and specific projects. Its 2025 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged from $100 to $500,000; it supports eligible organizations serving communities near BNSF rail lines across its 28 operating states. The foundation provides an online application process, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$23.0M
Grants
993
Total Given
$7.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Brazelton Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/brazelton-family-foundation-morg_4994e85aeb444d52901add9299ffc4f1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043833718_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Brazelton Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/brazelton-family-foundation-morg_4994e85aeb444d52901add9299ffc4f1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
} The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Brazelton Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Brazelton Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?