Brown Dana Charitable Trust
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1994 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The trust honors the legacy of Dana Brown, a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and adventurer who built the Safari Coffee brand and was deeply committed to sharing his passion for nature and wildlife with the St. Louis community. The foundation continues Brown's philanthropic tradition by supporting organizations that serve disadvantaged children and promote education about wildlife and animals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
79
+7800.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
-98.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The primary purpose of the Dana Brown Charitable Trust is to provide grants to organizations supporting the health, education, and welfare of underprivileged and economically disadvantaged children in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
The trust focuses on two primary funding areas:
Primary Focus: Organizations providing education through programs and resources that enable children to experience and expand their world knowledge by learning about wild animals and zoology. The trust seeks organizations that embrace new perspectives and innovative approaches to creating programs or providing services for disadvantaged children up to age 18.
Secondary Focus: Programs with animals that provide services and resources for financially disadvantaged children, with emphasis on mental health, support, and community building.
The foundation values organizations displaying courage, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit in their efforts to create positive change.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** The trust permits only one Letter of Intent per year from applicants. Individual grants are not awarded directly to individuals.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust limits its grants exclusively to the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), including portions of Illinois. This geographic restriction reflects Dana Brown's lifetime philanthropic efforts, which were centered in St. Louis, the city he called home.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $43,175,959
- Total Revenues: $3,286,292
- Total Expenses: $3,954,868
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,921,867
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $1,356,480
Staffing: The trust operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Brown Dana Charitable Trust
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Louis Childrens Hospital Fdn ($250,000), Mercy Health Foundation ($200,000), Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST LOUIS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FDN ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $250,000 |
| OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| KIDSMART BRIDGETON, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| HOME WORKS - THVP ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $30,000 |
| DELTA GAMMA CENTER FOR RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY INC ROBERTSVILLE, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $30,000 |
| ST LOUIS BEREAVEMENT CENTER ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $12,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| ST LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| PARENTS AS TEACHERS NAT'L CENTER STLOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $19,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel associated with the trust include:
- James T. Tyrrell, Senior Vice President - U.S Bank Private Wealth Management Private Wealth Advisor
- Jennifer M. Kipping, Senior Vice President
- Kristen Polchinski, Vice President - St Louis Metro Bank, U.S Bank
- Mark Sandvos, Senior Vice President - U.S Bank Private Wealth Management Wealth Trust Advisor
- Scott Schmid, Senior Vice President - U.S Bank Private Wealth Management
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| U S BANK | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | $601,784 |
| LELA G RICE | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DANIEL D WATT | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CATHY RHAE YANCEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1 | $69,996 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust has been actively awarding grants to organizations in the St. Louis area. Recent grant recipients have included organizations focused on early childhood education and community collaboration initiatives serving disadvantaged children in the region.
Dana Brown Charitable Trust GrantSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brown Dana Charitable Trust fund?
The primary purpose of the Dana Brown Charitable Trust is to provide grants to organizations supporting the health, education, and welfare of underprivileged and economically disadvantaged children in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The trust focuses on two primary funding areas: **Primary Focus:** Organizations providing education through programs and resources that enable children to experience and expand their world knowledge by learning about wild animals and zoology. The trust seeks organ…
How do I apply for a grant from Brown Dana Charitable Trust?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $6,000 to $500,000. **Grant Activity:** The trust made $3,043,500 in annual grants in the most recent fiscal year (2023). Total giving reported at $3,534,309. **Application Process:** The trust permits only one Letter of Intent per year from applicants. Individual grants are not awarded directly to individuals. **Funding Approach:** The trust favors collaborative, high-impact projects and prioritizes immediate needs over long-term funding.
Where does Brown Dana Charitable Trust make grants?
The Dana Brown Charitable Trust limits its grants exclusively to the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), including portions of Illinois. This geographic restriction reflects Dana Brown's lifetime philanthropic efforts, which were centered in St. Louis, the city he called home.
What size grants does Brown Dana Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Brown Dana Charitable Trust awarded 79 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brown Dana Charitable Trust'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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