Brown Dana Charitable Trust
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Eagan, Minnesota. It supports organizations serving financially disadvantaged children up to age 18 in the Greater St. Louis area, as well as programs that help children learn about the world and nature through wild-animal and zoology programs.
Brown Dana Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Brown Dana Charitable Trust gave $4.5M across 113 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,512,063
- +27.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 113
- +43.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $39,930
- -10.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $42,367,668
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Missouri (98% 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 Brown Dana Charitable Trust
- Review Cycle
- Spring LOIs are accepted January 1–February 12; fall LOIs are accepted July 1–August 20. The fall 2026 LOI deadline is August 20, 2026.
- Deadline
- Spring LOIs are accepted January 1–February 12; fall LOIs are accepted July 1–August 20.
- Contact
Application contact: Carol Eaves
Mailing address: Us Bank Na PO Box 387, St Louis, MO 63166
Phone: (314) 505-8204
Website: https://danabrowncharitabletrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Brown Dana Charitable Trust
Who Brown Dana Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Louis Zoo Association ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 156 grants of 195 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust limits grants to the Greater St. Louis, Missouri–Illinois metropolitan area. Its stated Missouri service area includes St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Warren County, Franklin County, Washington County, and the city of Sullivan in Crawford County. In Illinois, it includes Madison, Monroe, St. Clair, Calhoun, Jersey, Clinton, Macoupin, and Bond counties. National nonprofits may also be eligible if they provide qualifying services through a chapter or regional office in the area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 113 itemized grants.
Cities
How Brown Dana Charitable Trust gives
- 18% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2021) to $4.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 113 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Louis Zoo Association St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $500,000 |
| Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $485,714 |
| Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Maryland Heights, MO | General Operating | $250,000 |
| St Louis Childrens Hospital St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $250,000 |
| The Sheldon Arts Foundation St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $200,000 |
| St Louis Symphony St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $110,000 |
| International Institute of St Louis St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $101,500 |
| Operation Food Search St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $65,000 |
| A Million Stars Inc St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $65,000 |
| CASA of St Louis St. Louis, MO | General Operating | $65,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Brown Dana Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri and 2% to recipients in Illinois.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,367,668 | $4,571,511 | $5,424,874 | $4,512,063 | 113 | $4,717,051 | $3,895,595 | $4,247,260 |
| 2024 | $43,219,259 | $4,445,039 | $4,440,377 | $3,534,309 | 79 | $3,648,472 | $3,708,014 | $3,885,738 |
| 2023 | $43,175,959 | $3,286,292 | $3,954,868 | $3,185,039 | 1 | $3,375,367 | $2,698,854 | $3,607,341 |
| 2022 | $43,840,273 | $5,865,507 | $4,815,754 | $3,993,426 | 1 | $4,087,863 | $5,204,988 | $4,191,900 |
| 2021 | $42,795,361 | $5,537,639 | $3,912,240 | $3,140,850 | 1 | — | $4,922,948 | $3,864,144 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brown Dana Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $4.2M 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
The Trust’s stated purpose is to support financially disadvantaged children and programs that enable children to expand their knowledge of the world and nature through programs featuring wild animals. It also considers programs with animals that provide services and resources for financially disadvantaged children, particularly those focused on mental health, support, and community building.
The Trust requires applicants to be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that have operated for at least four years and provide programming or projects aligned with its mission. Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of organizational work: Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation describes its mission as providing exceptional health care services; The Sheldon Arts Foundation says it uses music and art to provide relevant experiences and strengthen community; and Operation Food Search says it works to heal hunger through food provision and longer-term solutions. CASA of St. Louis says it advocates for abused and neglected children and youth, while City Garden Montessori School describes its work as providing education to a diverse student population.
Grantmaking
The Trust reported 113 grants totaling $4,512,063 in 2025. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $500,000, with a median of $22,500. The largest listed awards included $500,000 to St. Louis Zoo Association, $485,714 to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, $250,000 each to Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and $200,000 to The Sheldon Arts Foundation. These grants were reported for general operating purposes.
Applications begin with a Letter of Intent (LOI). The Trust holds spring and fall cycles; its Grant Review Committee reviews LOIs and may invite organizations to submit a full application. The stated eligibility requirements include being a 501(c)(3) organization, operating for at least four years, and passing a charity verification check. The application materials also describe an eligibility quiz, with one attempt per cycle, and state that grants are not awarded directly to individuals. The grant-program information says only one LOI is permitted per year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lela G. Rice and Daniel D. Watt as co-trustees, U.S. Bank N.A. as co-trustee, and Cathy Rhae Yancey as executive director. The Trust’s website identifies Scott Schmid, a U.S. Bank executive, as Trust Chair.
Brown Dana Charitable Trust is led by Cathy Rhae Yancey, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cathy Rhae Yancey
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$70K (2024) → $73K (2025)
US Bank N A
Co-Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$635K (2025)
Daniel D. Watt
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lela G. Rice
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: U S Bank (2021–2024) — Co-Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $635K, to US Bank N a (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Brown Dana Charitable Trust
How much does Brown Dana Charitable Trust give each year?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust gave $4.5M across 113 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.5M across 79 grants.
What is Brown Dana Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $39,930, across 113 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Brown Dana Charitable Trust give grants?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust gives mostly in Missouri: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (81 grants), Bridgeton, MO (3 grants), Chesterfield, MO (3 grants) and Florissant, MO (3 grants).
Does Brown Dana Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Brown Dana Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (111 of 113) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Brown Dana Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include St Louis Zoo Association ($500,000), Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation ($485,714) and Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Brown Dana Charitable Trust?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust reported $42.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Brown Dana Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s stated purpose is to support financially disadvantaged children and programs that enable children to expand their knowledge of the world and nature through programs featuring wild animals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Brown Dana Charitable Trust?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check danabrowncharitabletrust.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Brown Dana Charitable Trust's EIN?
Brown Dana Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6531876. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 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 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brown Dana Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
St Louis Community Foundation Inc
St. Louis, MO
The foundation supports nonprofits through its own community priorities and funds it administers for private and family foundations, including economic mobility, youth connections, and a range of other donor-directed causes. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,050 to $4 million, with a median of $20,000; community-impact funding focuses mainly on high-need ZIP codes in Missouri and Illinois, though grants also go elsewhere. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests; applicants should check each funder’s criteria and deadlines.
Assets
$494.4M
Grants
839
Total Given
$63.9M
United Way of Greater St Louis Inc
Saint Louis, MO
United Way of Greater St. Louis funds local nonprofits working on essential needs, youth success, health, financial mobility, and community stability, including direct services and efforts addressing root causes. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,305 to $2.1 million, with a median of about $78,500; it primarily serves a 16-county region in Missouri and Illinois. It accepts applications through listed funding cycles, including a 2027 Targeted Fund cycle due October 12, 2026.
Assets
$122.5M
Grants
294
Total Given
$47.8M
Jordan Mary R & Ettie a Charitable
Eagan, MN
This foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including health care, arts, education, parks, animal welfare, and social services, primarily in Missouri. It awarded 77 grants totaling $791,000 in 2025; grants ranged from $1,000 to $175,000, with a median of $5,000. It accepts a letter of inquiry, and no deadline is listed.
Assets
$19.0M
Grants
77
Total Given
$791K
Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations and community projects, with 2024 grants typically small (median $1,500) but ranging from $200 to $60,500. Most funding went to Missouri, followed by Kansas and Illinois, with smaller amounts elsewhere; it says applicants should contact the program director and provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$35.0M
Grants
645
Total Given
$2.0M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Pott Foundation
Eagan, MN
The Pott Foundation supports evidence-based programs for children and families, especially those focused on family support, preventive health care, early learning, and high-quality child care. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $90,000, with a median of $10,000; most funding went to Missouri, with some grants in Virginia and Illinois. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to its website for an application and guidelines.
Assets
$27.0M
Grants
85
Total Given
$1.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Brown Dana Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/brown-dana-charitable-trust-morg_801549745cf34a17a253f5b50ae8d50e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_436531876_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Brown Dana Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/brown-dana-charitable-trust-morg_801549745cf34a17a253f5b50ae8d50e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Brown Dana Charitable Trust'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.
Brown Dana Charitable Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?