Brown-Forman Foundation
The Brown-Forman Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky, dedicated to enriching the experience of life through philanthropic giving. Granted charitable status in February 2019, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with the primary purpose of enriching the experience of life by responsibly building beverage alcohol brands that thrive and endure for generations.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$100.1M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.2M
-26.4% YoY
Grant Count
38
-35.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$189K
+14.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brown-Forman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.7M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's charitable giving strategy is designed to meet the needs of the communities in which Brown-Forman lives and works, reflecting the shared values of stakeholders and the company's culture of caring.
The foundation's strategic focus areas include:
- Enhance Arts and Cultural Living — Increasing access to vibrant, diverse, and educational arts and cultural experiences
- Ensure Essential Living Standards — Supporting social services that improve well-being and strengthen communities, and funding education initiatives that provide opportunities for lifelong success
- Empower Responsible and Sustainable Living — Investing in initiatives related to sustainability and responsible practices
Additional funding interests encompass Arts & Culture, Environment, and Social & Human Services.
Grantmaking
Notable grants include:
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Average Grant
amount: $166,000
Review Cycle
occur four times annually:
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Kentucky, with particular emphasis on:
- Louisville (headquarters location)
- Clermont
- Lexington
The foundation also supports initiatives internationally through Brown-Forman Corporation's more than 30 production and regional offices around the globe, which have community engagement committees that determine local funding allocation.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (April 2024):
- Total assets: $99,766,995
- Total revenues: $21,284,671
- Total expenses: $4,202,773
- Total grants and contributions: $20,000,000
- Investment income and dividends: $2,194,758
Prior Year (April 2023):
- Total assets: $100,091,329
- Total distributions: $9.9 million
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $100,091,329 | $99,766,995 | $81,819,690 |
| Revenue | $3,522,853 | $21,284,671 | $424,500 |
| Expenses | $4,382,328 | $4,202,773 | $3,957,954 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,253,460 | $9,872,050 | $7,307,758 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,339,576 | $2,021,535 | $1,730,893 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,727,512 | $3,902,455 | $4,006,816 |
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
227 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Brown-Forman Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include West End Girls School ($2,000,000), Louisville Central Community Centers Inc ($1,000,000), Simmons College of Kentucky Inc ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $200,000 |
| AMPED YOUTH PROGRAMMING Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $500,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana Louisville, KY | General program support | $100,000 |
| BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK INC Louisville, KY | General program support | $35,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS Louisville, KY | General program support | $25,000 |
| Brightside Foundation Louisville, KY | General program support | $30,000 |
| CENTER FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $35,000 |
| Dare to Care Food Bank Louisville, KY | General program support | $50,000 |
| EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $30,000 |
| Family and Children's Place Louisville, KY | General program support | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Staff:
- Crystal Peterson — President
- Jill Horn — Executive Director
- Sue Perram — Treasurer
- Lawson Whiting — Director
- Chris Brown — Director
- Maureen Brekka — Director
- Garvin Deters — Director
- Dwight Haygood — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2022, the Brown-Forman Foundation announced a significant $50 million investment in five West End Louisville organizations, representing a major commitment to community development in West Louisville.
Brown-Forman Foundation announces $50 million investment ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brown-Forman Foundation fund?
The foundation's charitable giving strategy is designed to meet the needs of the communities in which Brown-Forman lives and works, reflecting the shared values of stakeholders and the company's culture of caring. The foundation's strategic focus areas include: • **Enhance Arts and Cultural Living** — Increasing access to vibrant, diverse, and educational arts and cultural experiences • **Ensure Essential Living Standards** — Supporting social services that improve well-being and strengthen com…
How do I apply for a grant from Brown-Forman Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Total assets: $99.8 million (as of April 2024) • Total giving: $7.2–$9.9 million annually • Average grant amount: $166,000 • Median grant amount: $60,000 • Grant range: $15,000–$2,000,000 • Number of grants: 46–59 annually **Recent Grants (2024):** Notable grants include: • West End School (WES): $2,000,000 • Louisville Central Community Center: $1,000,000 • Simmons College of Kentucky: $1,000,000 **Application Process:** Application submission deadlines occur fo…
Where does Brown-Forman Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Kentucky, with particular emphasis on: • Louisville (headquarters location) • Clermont • Lexington The foundation also supports initiatives internationally through Brown-Forman Corporation's more than 30 production and regional offices around the globe, which have community engagement committees that determine local funding allocation.
What size grants does Brown-Forman Foundation award?
In 2025, Brown-Forman Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $7.2M — an average of about $189K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Brown-Forman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Brown-Forman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Brown-Forman Foundation's EIN?
Brown-Forman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4595018. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brown-Forman 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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