Cary Brown Family Foundation
The Cary Brown Family Foundation is a public charity based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Formed in 2003, it is organized to support Christian Community Foundation, Inc., doing business as WaterStone, and other public charities with comparable religious and charitable purposes.
Cary Brown Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Cary Brown Family Foundation gave $955K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $73K), top state Texas. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $955,284
- -82.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $73,483
- -79.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $16,674,789
- +18.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (44% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cary Brown Family Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 10807 New Allegiance Drive 240, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Phone: (719) 447-4620
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cary Brown Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was First Priority of America Inc ($362K). Together the top 10 received $910K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 85 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Texas recipients received 44% of grant dollars, Tennessee recipients 38%, New York recipients 8%, Florida recipients 6%, and Missouri recipients 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cary Brown Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $85K. How we count
Medians: $46K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $955K (2024) to $5.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $955K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Priority of America Inc Brentwood, TN | General Support | $362,339 |
| KWO Ministries Midland, TX | General Support | $225,000 |
| Urban Hope Inc Staten Island, NY | General Support | $80,000 |
| Tim Tebow Foundation Jacksonville, FL | General Support | $54,900 |
| Unlock Ministries DBA Opportunity Tribe Midland, TX | General Support | $50,000 |
| Timberview Farmstead Inc Fort Worth, TX | General Support | $37,587 |
| Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
| First Liberty Institute Plano, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
| K-Life Ministries Branson, MO | General Support | $25,000 |
| Marble Falls Church of Christ Marble Falls, TX | General Support - Scholarship Fund | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cary Brown Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,674,789 | $3,951,367 | $1,119,799 | $955,284 | 13 | $1,935,340 |
| 2023 | $14,040,893 | $6,148,295 | $5,513,812 | $5,324,009 | 15 | $924,762 |
| 2022 | $13,817,820 | $1,831,229 | $2,258,109 | $2,102,076 | 19 | $196,284 |
| 2021 | $15,829,572 | $3,045,254 | $1,820,560 | $1,315,671 | 19 | $1,727,986 |
| 2020 | $13,659,600 | $2,033,933 | $1,722,400 | $1,423,367 | 19 | $944,603 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the purposes of Christian Community Foundation, Inc., doing business as WaterStone. Its filing describes its work as supporting WaterStone and other tax-exempt public charities whose religious and charitable purposes are comparable to WaterStone’s.
The 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, First Priority of America describes its mission as bringing the Gospel to middle and high schools by uniting local Christian communities. KWO Ministries says it raises funds for orphans and widows in Kenya through support for a Kenyan NGO. Urban Hope describes its work as bringing hope to under-resourced communities, while the Tim Tebow Foundation says it brings faith, hope, and love to people in need. Other recipients include Opportunity Tribe, which describes itself as a mentoring community for at-risk students; Timberview Farmstead, which provides farm-based learning and hospitality; K-Life Ministries, which provides Christian ministry to high school youth; and Abilene Christian University, which describes its mission as Christian higher education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $955,284. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $362,339, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $362,339 to First Priority of America Inc. in Brentwood, Tennessee; $225,000 to KWO Ministries in Midland, Texas; $80,000 to Urban Hope Inc. in Staten Island, New York; and $54,900 to the Tim Tebow Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida. Other reported grants included $50,000 to Unlock Ministries DBA Opportunity Tribe, $37,587 to Timberview Farmstead Inc., and $25,000 each to Abilene Christian University, First Liberty Institute, K-Life Ministries, and Marble Falls Church of Christ.
The foundation’s filing states that donor-designated fund use restrictions are communicated with grants in check-stub communications. Grantees acknowledge the restrictions by accepting and cashing the checks.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Cary Brown as president and chairman, Chris Start as treasurer and assistant secretary, and John Mulder as assistant treasurer.
Cary Brown Family Foundation is led by Cary Brown, President & Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cary Brown
President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Start
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Mulder
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Cary Brown Family Foundation
How much does Cary Brown Family Foundation give each year?
Cary Brown Family Foundation gave $955K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 15 grants.
What is Cary Brown Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Cary Brown Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $73,483, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cary Brown Family Foundation that year got $48K on average.
Where does Cary Brown Family Foundation give grants?
Cary Brown Family Foundation's top state is Texas, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Tennessee (38%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Midland, TX (3 grants).
Does Cary Brown Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Cary Brown Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Cary Brown Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Cary Brown Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include First Priority of America Inc ($362,339), KWO Ministries ($225,000) and Urban Hope Inc ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cary Brown Family Foundation?
Cary Brown Family Foundation reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.0M.
What does Cary Brown Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the purposes of Christian Community Foundation, Inc., doing business as WaterStone. Its filing describes its work as supporting WaterStone and other tax-exempt public charities whose religious and charitable purposes are comparable to WaterStone’s. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cary Brown Family Foundation?
Cary Brown Family Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cary Brown Family Foundation's EIN?
Cary Brown Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0298993. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cary Brown Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Colorado
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
WaterStone supports domestic and international nonprofits, including Christian ministries and charitable and educational organizations, through donor-directed grants; eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s whose mission aligns with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,028 to $11 million, and were concentrated in Texas and Colorado. Grant recommendations come from donor-advised fund holders; the profile does not state that it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
Moriah Foundation
Colorado Springs, CO
Moriah Foundation supports religious, charitable, and educational work aligned with Waterstone’s purposes, including Christian education, ministry, and religious-liberty efforts. In 2024, grants ranged from $9,050 to $585,000, with a median of $23,700; the largest shares went to organizations in Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia, and California. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.1M
Grants
68
Total Given
$3.3M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County in areas including food security, early care and education, workforce development, housing, health and convenient neighborhoods; it also offers statewide nonprofit capacity-building support. Typical giving varies widely: its 2024 median grant was $17,814, while Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $100,000. It accepts applications through listed grant opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
Daniels Fund
Denver, CO
The Daniels Fund supports nonprofits working in aging, amateur sports, disabilities, addiction, early childhood and K–12 education, homelessness, and youth development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $14,000, primarily for organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; select national-impact programs are also eligible, by invitation only.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
1,593
Total Given
$69.7M
The Denver Foundation
Denver, CO
The Denver Foundation supports nonprofits working in economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being, with an emphasis on racial equity and historically underserved communities in the seven-county Metro Denver region. Its Community Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000; the 2024 median across reported grants was $26,500. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,184
Total Given
$131.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cary Brown Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cary-brown-family-foundation-morg_5f4e8e67cd004163a576f39db29bb02e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300298993_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cary Brown Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cary-brown-family-foundation-morg_5f4e8e67cd004163a576f39db29bb02e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Cary Brown Family 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.
Cary Brown Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?