Brownell Family Foundation
The Brownell Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Grinnell, Iowa. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with the EIN 42-1276134. The foundation operates with no employees and focuses on supporting charitable causes through strategic grantmaking to preselected organizations.
Key facts about Brownell Family Foundation
- EIN
- 42-1276134
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $456,792
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- Average grant
- $24,042
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (11 of 19, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Brownell Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Brownell Family Foundation's 19 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (78%), Washington (7%) and Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grinnell, IA (8 grants). None of its 19 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (18 grants).
Is Brownell Family Foundation open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 19 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $46K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $32K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Brownell Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Brownell Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$457K
+4.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+4.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide private support to projects found acceptable by the trustees. The foundation supports those who protect and defend the nation and communities, with primary grant focus areas including:
- Second Amendment initiatives to preserve the right to own and bear arms
- Support for U.S. military service members struggling with Operator Syndrome and addictions
- Critical safety and security equipment for local law enforcement
- Arts and culture
- Community improvement
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Grant Range
s:** Grants range from $500 to $100,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, with some national reach. Geographic areas of interest include Poweshiek and Woodbury counties in Iowa, though grants have also been made to organizations in Kansas, Washington, Montana, South Carolina, Virginia, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 19 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,269,409
- Total Revenues: $85,512
- Total Expenses: $500,157
- Total Grants Made: $438,090
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1.97 million
- Total Revenues: $144,000
- Total Expenses: $511,000
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $38,331
- Investment income and dividends: $60,324
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
83 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Soww ($125,966), Des Moines Metro Opera ($75,000), Grinnell School of Music Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SOWW Grinnell, IA | Charitable | $125,966 |
| Des Moines Metro Opera Indianola, IA | Charitable | $75,000 |
| Grinnell School of Music Inc Grinnell, IA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Second Amendment Foundation Vellevue, WA | Charitable | $31,823 |
| Gun Owners of America Inc Springfield, VA | Charitable | $31,823 |
| Iowa Farms Coalition Moville, IA | Charitable | $31,823 |
| Iowa State Patrol Des Moines, IA | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Claude W & Dolly Ahrens Foundation Grinnell, IA | Charitable | $27,500 |
| Boone and Crockett Club Foundation Inc Missoula, MT | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Command and General Staff College Foundation Inc Fort Leavenworth, KS | Charitable | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Frank R. Brownell – Trustee
- Peter R. Brownell – Trustee
- Peter Brownell – Contact person (641-623-5401)
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank R Brownell III | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Peter R Brownell | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3006 Brownells Parkway, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-623-5401
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brownell Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide private support to projects found acceptable by the trustees. The foundation supports those who protect and defend the nation and communities, with primary grant focus areas including: • Second Amendment initiatives to preserve the right to own and bear arms • Support for U.S. military service members struggling with Operator Syndrome and addictions • Critical safety and security equipment for local law enforcement • Arts and culture • Community imp…
How do I apply for a grant from Brownell Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. **Grant Sizes:** Grants range from $500 to $100,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2023):** • Total grants made: $438,090 • Number of grants: 10 documented grants **Sample Recent Grants:** • SOWW Corp: $110,874 • American Suppressor Association: $100,000 • Grinnell School of Music: $50,000 • Gun Owners of America: $22,222 • Iowa Firearms Coalition: $22,222 • Second Amen…
Where does Brownell Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, with some national reach. Geographic areas of interest include Poweshiek and Woodbury counties in Iowa, though grants have also been made to organizations in Kansas, Washington, Montana, South Carolina, Virginia, and other states.
What size grants does Brownell Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Brownell Family Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $457K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Brownell Family Foundation's EIN?
Brownell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1276134. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Brownell Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.