Brooks Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2001 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with a focus on education, philanthropy, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.7M
-7.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+191.9% YoY
Grant Count
35
-47.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$64K
+450.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brooks Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $885K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- Maine
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total Assets: $17,665,066
- Total Revenues: $1,240,691
- Total Expenses: $2,392,814
- Investment Income and Dividends: $482,809
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,665,066 | $19,023,556 | $17,463,576 |
| Revenue | $1,240,691 | $304,663 | $346,350 |
| Expenses | $2,392,814 | $873,191 | $3,800,569 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,287,228 | $811,108 | $3,624,639 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,171,648 | $296,224 | $310,663 |
| Distributable Amount | $885,045 | $812,847 | $934,876 |
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
235 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Cornell University ($2,000,000), Southern Maine Community College Foundation ($50,000), Portland Stage Company ($32,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Center of Tompkins County Ithaca, NY | General Support | $2,000 |
| Center for Transformative Action (FBO Ithaca City of Asylum) Ithaca, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Choral Art Society Portland, ME | General Support | $1,000 |
| Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia Jeremiahs Hope Denver, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy | $2,000,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
| FeedMore WNY Buffalo, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Food Bank of Central New York Syracuse, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Foodlink Inc Rochester, NY | General Support | $7,000 |
| Foodnet Meals on Wheels Ithaca, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is supported by James E Brooks.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James E Brooks | Trustee | 3 | — |
| Cherie Wendelken | Trustee | 3 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: Co LWC, 230 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
- Telephone: 617-523-6531
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brooks Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Brooks Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 111 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending June 2025) • Total giving: $2,243,500 • Typical award range: $1,000–$3,000,000 **Recent Notable Grants (FY 2025):** • Cornell University (Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy): $2,000,000 • Southern Maine Community College Foundation (General Support): $50,000 • Portland Stage Company (General Support): $32,500 **Grantees Include:** • Healthreach Community Health Centers • Various educational and community organizatio…
Where does Brooks Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • Maine • Massachusetts
What size grants does Brooks Family Foundation award?
In 2025, Brooks Family Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $64K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Brooks Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Brooks Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $885K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Brooks Family Foundation's EIN?
Brooks Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3582018. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brooks 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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