Brooks-Mathews Foundation
The Brooks-Mathews Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1959 and based in Fremont, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a philanthropic grantmaker supporting nonprofit organizations across multiple regions of the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$198K
-51.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$478K
-26.3% YoY
Grant Count
6
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$80K
-1.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brooks-Mathews Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports projects across multiple subject areas, including:
- Mountaineering and sailing organizations
- Health
- Environmental conservation
- Education
- Arts and culture
The foundation provides general operating support and project support to its grantees.
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
approximately $331 per grant
Average Grant
approximately $331 per grant
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Brooks-Mathews Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island
Cities: Annapolis, Berkeley, La Jolla, Nantucket, New York, Newport, Peekskill, Pensacola, Rye, San Anselmo, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Leandro
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $406,424 |
| Total Revenues | $649,602 |
| Total Expenses | $650,705 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
| Grants & Contributions | $631,000 |
| Investment Income & Dividends | $12,384 |
| Net Gain from Asset Sales | $6,218 |
Year-over-Year Changes (2022–2023):
- Total revenues decreased 10.3% ($724,480 in 2022)
- Total grants and contributions decreased 9.9% ($700,000 in 2022)
- Investment income increased 10.8% ($11,172 in 2022)
Tax Status:
- EIN: 94-6098103
- Tax-exempt since July 1961
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $198,203 | $406,424 | $407,527 |
| Revenue | $272,181 | $649,602 | $724,480 |
| Expenses | $480,402 | $650,705 | $681,693 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $477,500 | $647,500 | $678,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $183,399 | $16,497 | $22,472 |
| Distributable Amount | $17,627 | $23,266 | $22,197 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum ($225,000), Conservation International ($175,000), Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF San Francisco, CA | Support General Purposes. | $50,000 |
| Int'l Yacht Restoration School Newport, RI | Support General Purposes. | $16,000 |
| Conservation International San Anselmo, CA | Support General Purposes. | $175,000 |
| Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum Annapolis, MD | Support general purposes. | $225,000 |
| Sparkman Stephens MuseumResearch Ct Newport, RI | Public Education-General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Newport Historical Society Newport, RI | Support General Purposes | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: William Mathews Brooks (volunteer, no compensation)
- Secretary: Sherry Liang (volunteer, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Mathews Brooks | President | 1 | — |
| Sherry Liang | Secretary | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 4725 Thornton Ave, Fremont, CA 94536-6408
Phone: 510-797-7980
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brooks-Mathews Foundation fund?
The foundation supports projects across multiple subject areas, including: • Mountaineering and sailing organizations • Health • Environmental conservation • Education • Arts and culture The foundation provides general operating support and project support to its grantees.
How do I apply for a grant from Brooks-Mathews Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 14 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $647,500–$648,000 • Average grant size: approximately $331 per grant **Recent Grants:** • Sail Newport: $40,000 (2023) for general purposes support • The Sailing Foundation of New York: $25,000 (2023) for general purposes support **Application Process:** The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does Brooks-Mathews Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island **Cities:** Annapolis, Berkeley, La Jolla, Nantucket, New York, Newport, Peekskill, Pensacola, Rye, San Anselmo, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Leandro
What size grants does Brooks-Mathews Foundation award?
In 2024, Brooks-Mathews Foundation awarded 6 grants totaling $478K — an average of about $80K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Brooks-Mathews Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Brooks-Mathews Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brooks-Mathews 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.