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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Tw Hl & Ns Donovan Scholarship
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Taking Back Our Neighborhood Together
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Assets
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Total Given
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John T Reis Private Foundation
COVINGTON, KY
Assets
$200K
Grants
11
Total Given
$341K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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