Clayton Brown Family Foundation
The Clayton Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wheaton, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including Christian schools, ministries, and youth-serving organizations.
Clayton Brown Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Clayton Brown Family Foundation gave $1.7M across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $93K), mostly in Illinois. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,665,000
- +202.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -28.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $92,500
- +320.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $71,113,603
- +6.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (4 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Clayton Brown Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 651 Elmwood Dr, Wheaton, IL 60189
Phone: (630) 913-8696
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clayton Brown Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Josiah Venture ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
145 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 145 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in Illinois received 57% of grant dollars, Florida 19%, Colorado 8%, and Texas and North Carolina 6% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Clayton Brown Family Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 18 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $98K; repeat grants $91K. How we count
Medians: $113K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 303% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 47% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $414K (2022) to $1.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Josiah Venture Wheaton, IL | General purposes | $200,000 |
| Wheaton Academy West Chicago, IL | General pourposes | $150,000 |
| Naples Christian Academy Naples, FL | General purposes | $150,000 |
| By the Hand Club for Kids Chicago, IL | General purposes | $125,000 |
| Ligonier Ministries Sanford, FL | General purposes | $125,000 |
| Moody Global Ministries Chicago, IL | General purposes | $125,000 |
| The Navigators Colorado Springs, CO | General purposes | $125,000 |
| South Point Youth Wheaton, IL | General Purposes | $125,000 |
| Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TX | General purposes | $100,000 |
| Outreach Community Ministries Wheaton, IL | General purposes | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Clayton Brown Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,113,603 | $6,582,566 | $2,115,474 | $1,665,000 | 18 | $1,725,000 | $5,138,789 | $3,648,857 |
| 2024 | $66,646,511 | $60,324,004 | $746,949 | $550,000 | 25 | $550,000 | $2,312,989 | $1,648,917 |
| 2023 | $7,069,456 | $499,018 | $695,781 | $594,079 | 33 | $594,104 | $433,041 | $565,295 |
| 2022 | $7,266,219 | $2,058,696 | $485,853 | $413,500 | 33 | $413,525 | $1,268,927 | $583,042 |
| 2021 | $5,693,376 | $174,384 | $594,218 | $531,250 | 36 | — | $132,843 | $474,126 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clayton Brown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in several fields. Josiah Venture says its mission is “to equip young leaders throughout Central and Eastern Europe to fulfill Christ's commission through the local church.” Wheaton Academy describes its mission as providing an educational program characterized by biblical values and traditional educational standards. Naples Christian Academy says it partners with Christian parents to develop students prepared to love God, think biblically, and serve. By the Hand Club for Kids describes itself as a faith-based after-school program that supports children’s minds, bodies, and souls.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $1,665,000. Awards ranged from $15,000 to $200,000, with a median of $100,000. Among the largest reported grants were $200,000 to Josiah Venture; $150,000 each to Wheaton Academy and Naples Christian Academy; and $125,000 each to By the Hand Club for Kids, Ligonier Ministries, Moody Global Ministries, The Navigators, and South Point Youth.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Steven C. Brown as president and treasurer, Cari Brown as vice president and secretary, and Jennifer Brown as director.
Clayton Brown Family Foundation is led by Steven C Brown, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven C Brown
President & Treasurer
Treasurer & Secretary → President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$30K (2025)
Jennifer Brown
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Cari Brown
Vice President & Secretary
Vice President → Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
$30K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Clayton F Brown (2021–2023) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $30K, to Steven C Brown (Pres/Treas). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Clayton Brown Family Foundation
How much does Clayton Brown Family Foundation give each year?
Clayton Brown Family Foundation gave $1.7M across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $550K across 25 grants.
What is Clayton Brown Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Clayton Brown Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $92,500, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Clayton Brown Family Foundation that year got $98K on average.
Where does Clayton Brown Family Foundation give grants?
Clayton Brown Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (19%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wheaton, IL (5 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Sanford, FL (2 grants).
Does Clayton Brown Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Clayton Brown Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Clayton Brown Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Clayton Brown Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Josiah Venture ($200,000), Wheaton Academy ($150,000) and Naples Christian Academy ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Clayton Brown Family Foundation?
Clayton Brown Family Foundation reported $71.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Clayton Brown Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in several fields. Josiah Venture says its mission is “to equip young leaders throughout Central and Eastern Europe to fulfill Christ's commission through the local church.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clayton Brown Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Clayton Brown Family Foundation's EIN?
Clayton Brown Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3250579. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Clayton Brown Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Clayton Brown Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Clayton Brown Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/clayton-brown-family-foundation-morg_27746627020240e1b9330f7f8f31002f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363250579_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Clayton Brown Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/clayton-brown-family-foundation-morg_27746627020240e1b9330f7f8f31002f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Clayton 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.
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