Brooks-Mathews Foundation
The Brooks-Mathews Foundation is a private foundation based in Fremont, California. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including sailing, maritime history, arts and culture, and patient experience.
Brooks-Mathews Foundation at a glance
In short: Brooks-Mathews Foundation gave $204K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $203,500
- -57.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,438
- -68.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,250
- Total assets
- $196,303
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Brooks-Mathews Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request to William Mathews Brooks with a statement of purpose and a copy of exempt status. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and its filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: William Mathews Brooks
Mailing address: 4725 Thornton Ave, Fremont, CA 94536
Phone: (510) 797-7980
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Brooks-Mathews Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum ($70K). Together the top 8 received $204K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 44 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (41%), Maryland (34%), Rhode Island (12%), and New York (12%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Brooks-Mathews Foundation gives
- Giving fell 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $204K (2025) to $1.2M (2019). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $204K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum Annapolis, MD | Support general purposes. | $70,000 |
| Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF San Francisco, CA | Support General Purposes. | $50,000 |
| National Maritime Historical Societ Peekskill, NY | To support general purposes. | $25,000 |
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | Patient Experience Fund | $25,000 |
| Int'l Yacht Restoration School Newport, RI | Support General Purposes. | $17,500 |
| STFYC International Yacht Racing Fd San Francisco, CA | Support General Purposes | $8,000 |
| Newport Historical Society Newport, RI | Support General Purposes | $7,500 |
| St Francis Sailing Foundation Berkeley, CA | Support General Purposes | $500 |
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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 | $196,303 | $206,505 | $208,405 | $203,500 | 8 | $203,500 | $3,222 | $7,551 |
| 2024 | $198,203 | $272,181 | $480,402 | $477,500 | 6 | $477,500 | $183,399 | $17,627 |
| 2023 | $406,424 | $649,602 | $650,705 | $647,500 | 8 | $647,500 | $16,497 | $23,266 |
| 2022 | $407,527 | $724,480 | $681,693 | $678,665 | 11 | $678,665 | $22,472 | $22,197 |
| 2021 | $365,875 | $628,673 | $621,789 | $619,000 | 11 | $619,000 | $9,986 | $23,479 |
| 2020 | $358,991 | $625,491 | $1,080,773 | $1,071,600 | 14 | — | $98,136 | $35,539 |
| 2019 | $814,273 | $1,332,900 | $1,189,542 | $1,184,286 | 23 | — | $312,896 | $42,675 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brooks-Mathews 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 show support for a range of organizations, including museums, historical societies, sailing organizations, and a university foundation.
The Newport Historical Society describes its mission as collecting and preserving materials related to Newport County history, making them available for research and enjoyment, and educating the public. The St. Francis Sailing Foundation says it supports amateur sailors’ training, development, and participation in competition, as well as youth engagement and disabled access to sailing.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 8 grants totaling $203,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $70,000, with a median grant of $21,250. In earlier filing years, it reported 6 grants totaling $477,500 in 2024 and 8 grants totaling $647,500 in 2023.
Its largest 2025 grants were $70,000 to the National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum for general purposes; $50,000 to the Asian Art Museum Foundation of San Francisco for general purposes; and $25,000 each to the National Maritime Historical Society for general purposes and the UCSF Foundation for its Patient Experience Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William Mathews Brooks as president and Sherry Liang as secretary.
Brooks-Mathews Foundation is led by William Mathews Brooks, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William Mathews Brooks
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Liang
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Gail Fishley (2019–2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Brooks-Mathews Foundation
How much does Brooks-Mathews Foundation give each year?
Brooks-Mathews Foundation gave $204K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $478K across 6 grants.
What is Brooks-Mathews Foundation's typical grant size?
Brooks-Mathews Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $21,250, and its average grant was $25,438, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Brooks-Mathews Foundation give grants?
Brooks-Mathews Foundation's top state is California, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (34%) and Rhode Island (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Newport, RI (2 grants).
Does Brooks-Mathews Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Brooks-Mathews Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Brooks-Mathews Foundation's largest grantees?
Brooks-Mathews Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum ($70,000), Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF ($50,000) and National Maritime Historical Societ ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Brooks-Mathews Foundation?
Brooks-Mathews Foundation reported $196K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $204K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Brooks-Mathews Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations, including museums, historical societies, sailing organizations, and a university foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Brooks-Mathews Foundation?
Submit a written request to William Mathews Brooks with a statement of purpose and a copy of exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Brooks-Mathews Foundation's EIN?
Brooks-Mathews Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6098103. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
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