The Browning Kimball Foundation is a private foundation based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, established in 1981. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a philanthropic grantmaker supporting diverse initiatives across the United States.
Key facts about Browning Kimball Foundation
- EIN
- 94-2766079
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $964,479
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- Average grant
- $32,149
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (11 of 30, 2024)
- Total assets
- $29,310,955
- Primary geography
- Montana (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept applications. Full details ↓
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 Browning Kimball Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Browning Kimball Foundation's 30 itemized 2024 grants were Montana (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Great Falls, MT (7 grants), Havre, MT (3 grants), Chinook, MT (2 grants) and Livingston, MT (2 grants). 17% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Exempt Purpose" (14 grants).
Is Browning Kimball Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 30 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
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 Browning Kimball Foundation
- How to evaluate Browning Kimball 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
$29.3M
+6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$964K
-4.8% YoY
Grant Count
30
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
+42.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Browning Kimball Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks to enhance the quality of life in Montana through the promotion of sustainable agriculture and the well-being of youth and families.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Museums
- Education
- Health and mental health care
- Diseases and conditions
- Human services
- Family services
- Child welfare
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000-$336,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Browning Kimball Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, with particular emphasis on:
- Montana (primary focus)
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
Additional states receiving support include Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 30 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $27.4-$29.3 million
- Total Revenue: $1.47-$1.6 million
- Total Expenses: $1.28-$1.29 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $807,449
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $791,084
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $25.3-$27.4 million
- 2022: $30.3 million
- 2021: $26.7 million
- 2020: $24.6 million
The foundation has maintained relatively stable assets and consistent annual giving levels over the past five years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,310,955 | $27,443,496 | $25,310,223 |
| Revenue | $1,598,533 | $1,466,547 | $1,759,225 |
| Expenses | $1,283,229 | $1,289,278 | $1,453,903 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,148,608 | $1,180,244 | $1,286,366 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,479,912 | $1,361,318 | $1,648,688 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,377,007 | $1,280,138 | $1,346,441 |
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
251 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Browning Kimball Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include CM Russell Museum ($250,000), Friends of the Pool & Park Foundati ($100,000), Friends of Beaver Creek Park Inc ($78,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CM RUSSELL MUSEUM Great Falls, MT | BROWNING FIREARMS EXHIBIT | $250,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE POOL & PARK FOUNDATI Chinook, MT | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| FRIENDS OF BEAVER CREEK PARK INC Havre, MT | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $78,000 |
| PRODUCERS PARTNERSHIP INC Livingston, MT | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| SPECIAL K RANCH Columbus, MT | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $46,900 |
| WESTERN SUSTAINABILITY EXCHANGE Livingston, MT | REGENERATIVE RANCHING PROGRAM | $35,000 |
| MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Bozeman, MT | BEARPAW EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE SC | $31,579 |
| AWARE Anaconda, MT | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BEAR PAW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT Havre, MT | IN SUPPORT OF CHALLENGE GRANT FOR A | $30,000 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES INC Great Falls, MT | HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE 2023-2024 | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a team of uncompensated directors:
- Barbara Cowan
- Michelle Cowan
- William Cowan (President)
- William B. Cowan
- Brett Huestis
- Lisa Cowan Huestis
The foundation is managed by Foundation Management Inc., based in Oklahoma City.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Cowan | Director | — | — |
| Michelle Cowan | Director | — | — |
| William Cowan | Director | — | — |
| William B Cowan | President | — | — |
| Brett Huestis | Director | — | — |
| Lisa Cowan Huestis | Director | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Browning Kimball Foundation fund?
The foundation seeks to enhance the quality of life in Montana through the promotion of sustainable agriculture and the well-being of youth and families. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Museums • Education • Health and mental health care • Diseases and conditions • Human services • Family services • Child welfare
How do I apply for a grant from Browning Kimball Foundation?
The foundation does not accept applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Browning Kimball Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, with particular emphasis on: • Montana (primary focus) • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania Additional states receiving support include Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Washington.
What size grants does Browning Kimball Foundation award?
In 2024, Browning Kimball Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $964K — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Browning Kimball Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Browning Kimball Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Browning Kimball Foundation's EIN?
Browning Kimball Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2766079. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.