Brown-Forman Foundation
The Brown-Forman Foundation is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. It supports mission-driven organizations through charitable grants, with the foundation describing its work as enriching life, especially in communities around Brown-Forman’s Louisville headquarters.
Brown-Forman Foundation at a glance
In short: Brown-Forman Foundation gave $9.8M across 56 grants in 2026 (avg $175K), mostly in Kentucky. 16% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $9,805,000
- +36.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 56
- +47.4% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $175,089
- -7.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $111,055,151
- +11.0% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (9 of 56, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Brown-Forman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s grant guidelines say eligible nonprofits may submit one application per fiscal year for restricted or unrestricted funding, using its online grant application. The guidelines also describe a separate application for nonprofit event sponsorships and say not to submit the same request through both applications. The program listing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, while the grant guidelines say eligible nonprofits may apply. The foundation does not accept capital campaign requests or in-kind requests; funding requests should be for monetary donations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists May 1, August 1, November 1, and February 1 as submission deadlines for the May 1, 2025–April 30, 2026 cycle. That cycle has passed. The website gives the same quarterly dates for its fiscal-year application process and says funding decisions are typically made 90–120 days after a submission deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists May 1, August 1, November 1, and February 1 as submission deadlines for the May 1, 2025–April 30,…
- Contact
Application contact: Jill Horn
Mailing address: 850 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40210
Phone: (502) 774-5918
Email: jill_horn@b-f.com
Website: https://brown-forman.com
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-Forman Foundation
Who Brown-Forman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Louisville Central Community Centers Inc ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $6.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 248 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Louisville is central to the foundation’s stated philanthropic efforts. Its 2026 filing shows that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky; all listed largest grants were to Louisville organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Brown-Forman Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 9 of 56 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $202K; repeat grants $170K. How we count
Medians: $85K first-time, $80K repeat.
- 54% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 191% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $3.0M (2020) to $9.8M (2026). In 2026 it made 56 grants totaling $9.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville Central Community Centers Inc Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| Simmons College of Kentucky Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| West End Boys School Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| West End Girls School Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| Academy of Music Production Education and Development Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $500,000 |
| Louisville Orchestra Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $500,000 |
| Louisville Urban League Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $500,000 |
| Louisville Ballet (Kentucky Dance Council Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $400,000 |
| University of Louisville Foundation Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $235,000 |
| Metro United Way Louisville, KY | General Program Support | $200,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $111,055,151 | $6,302,350 | $5,157,900 | $9,805,000 | 56 | $9,866,826 | $6,112,844 | $5,161,964 |
| 2025 | $100,091,329 | $3,522,853 | $4,382,328 | $7,195,000 | 38 | $7,253,460 | $3,339,576 | $4,727,512 |
| 2024 | $99,766,995 | $21,284,671 | $4,202,773 | $9,782,000 | 59 | $9,872,050 | $2,021,535 | $3,902,455 |
| 2023 | $81,819,690 | $424,500 | $3,957,954 | $7,218,000 | 39 | $7,307,758 | $1,730,893 | $4,006,816 |
| 2022 | $88,478,001 | $1,747,119 | $50,005,624 | $4,000,000 | 56 | $4,084,178 | $1,798,568 | $4,847,366 |
| 2021 | $99,410,566 | $24,207,060 | $9,128,546 | $7,600,000 | 55 | — | $1,557,460 | $3,631,649 |
| 2020 | $65,577,117 | $1,760,730 | $3,289,818 | $3,000,000 | 46 | — | $1,622,478 | $3,460,175 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brown-Forman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.2M for 2026 — 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 foundation’s website describes its giving as supporting organizations that champion lifelong learning, celebrate arts and culture, and cultivate community. It identifies three focus areas: cultural institutions that foster shared experiences and quality of life; education, mentorship, and career pathways; and initiatives that strengthen community well-being, steward shared natural spaces, and promote alcohol responsibility.
Its 2026 grants included organizations with varied missions. Simmons College of Kentucky describes itself as a biblical higher-education institution serving the urban context. Metro United Way says its mission is to improve lives and the community by engaging people to give, advocate, and volunteer. Actors Theatre of Louisville says it uses theatre to unlock human potential, build community, and enrich quality of life. Kentucky Opera describes its work as fostering discovery, joy, and connection through opera, while the Filson Historical Society says it collects, preserves, and shares Kentucky and Ohio Valley history and culture.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $9,805,000. Grants ranged from $25,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $80,000. The largest listed grants were $1,000,000 each to Louisville Central Community Centers, Simmons College of Kentucky, West End Boys School, and West End Girls School; each was for general program support. Other notable grants included $500,000 each to Academy of Music Production Education and Development, Louisville Orchestra, and Louisville Urban League.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Brown-Forman Foundation is led by Jill Horn, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Jill Horn
Executive Director
Secretary → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Peterson
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawson Whiting
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Garvin Deters
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grant Adams
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Graham
Director
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Staci Rawls
Director
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Perram
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Chris Brown (2022–2025) — Director
- Former: Dwight Haygood (2024–2025) — Director
- Former: Maureen Brekka (2024–2025) — Director
- Former: Dace Polk Brown (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Owsley Brown III (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Sanjhi Agrawal (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Ralph de Chabert (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Sharell Sandvoss (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Austin Musselman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jane Morreau (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sandra Frazier (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ernie Patterson (2020) — Director-Partial Year Ending August
- Former: Jay Koval (2020) — Treasurer-Partial Year Ending July
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Brown-Forman Foundation
How much does Brown-Forman Foundation give each year?
Brown-Forman Foundation gave $9.8M across 56 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $7.2M across 38 grants.
What is Brown-Forman Foundation's typical grant size?
Brown-Forman Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $80,000, and its average grant was $175,089, across 56 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Brown-Forman Foundation that year got $202K on average.
Where does Brown-Forman Foundation give grants?
Brown-Forman Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (54 grants).
Does Brown-Forman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Brown-Forman Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Brown-Forman Foundation's largest grantees?
Brown-Forman Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Louisville Central Community Centers Inc ($1,000,000), Simmons College of Kentucky ($1,000,000) and West End Boys School ($1,000,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Brown-Forman Foundation?
Brown-Forman Foundation reported $111.1M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Brown-Forman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its giving as supporting organizations that champion lifelong learning, celebrate arts and culture, and cultivate community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Brown-Forman Foundation?
The foundation’s grant guidelines say eligible nonprofits may submit one application per fiscal year for restricted or unrestricted funding, using its online grant application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2026.
Does Brown-Forman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Brown-Forman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/brown-forman-foundation-morg_5277c9f5cda740988935274edf00869f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_824595018_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Brown-Forman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/brown-forman-foundation-morg_5277c9f5cda740988935274edf00869f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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-Forman Foundation'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.
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