Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Lone Pine, CA EIN: 20-4779170

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Lone Pine, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $75K. Net investment income was $87K.

Key facts about Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation

In short: Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation gave $75K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-4779170
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$74,650
Grants made (2025)
7
Average grant
$10,664
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$1,626,146
Primary geography
California (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.6M

-0.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$75K

+12.9% YoY

Grant Count

7

-30.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$11K

+61.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $92K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.

Cities

BishopLone PineIndependenceBozemanHuntsvilleSouth BendGrangerMammoth LakesScottsdaleClaremontGreat FallsHoustonMishawakaMt VernonPortlandSan Francisco

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K8 grants2019 13 grants2020 9 grants2021 11 grants2022 7 grants2023 10 grants2024 7 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $61K (2021) to $94K (2020). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $75K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2025

Eastern Sierra Institute: $20KEastern Sierra Institute$20KLone Pine Unified School Dist: $19KLone Pine Unified School Dist$19KStay Indiana Youth Aviation: $11KStay Indiana Youth Aviation$11KWildcare Eastern Sierra: $10KWildcare Eastern Sierra$10KHoused Great Falls: $6KHoused Great Falls$6KFriends of the LP airport: $5KFriends of the LP airport$5KLand and Trust of Alabama: $4KLand and Trust of Alabama$4K

The largest 2025 recipient was Eastern Sierra Institute ($20K). Together the top 7 received $75K.

Grant Size Distribution

44 grants across all recorded years

44<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 44 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Eastern Sierra Institute Bishop, CAOutdoor STEM program for 3-8 grade$20,000
Lone Pine Unified School Dist Lone Pine, CALP Pool, 8th grade STEM trip to Catalina$19,150
Stay Indiana Youth Aviation Granger, INYouth Building Airplane$11,000
Wildcare Eastern Sierra Bishop, CAInjured wildlife and education program for local schools$10,000
Housed Great Falls Great Falls, MTHousing Homeless$6,000
Friends of the LP airport Lone Pine, CAYouth Building Airplanes$5,000
Land and Trust of Alabama Huntsville, ALYouth Outdoor Education program$3,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,626,146$1,636,442$1,612,743
Revenue$101,410$114,331$-64,322
Expenses$111,706$90,633$101,790
Qualifying Distributions$85,438$75,252$90,014
Net Investment Income$86,904$103,313$42,738
Distributable Amount$91,582$87,877$83,859

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation is led by Bruce Branson, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Bruce Branson

    President

    President → CEO, 2024

    CEO → President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • James Johnson

    Director

    Vice President → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Branson

    Vice President

    Vice President → President, 2024

    President → Vice President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Ed Johnson

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Matt Branson

    Treasurer

    Vice President → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Jim Johnson (2022–2024) — Vice President
  • Former: Ben Branson (2019–2023) — Legal Counsel
  • Former: Matthew Branson (2019–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Dorothy Branson (2020) — Sargent at Arms

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation

How much does Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation give each year?

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation gave $75K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $66K across 10 grants.

What is Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's typical grant size?

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,664, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation give grants?

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation gives mostly in California: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (15%) and Montana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bishop, CA (2 grants) and Lone Pine, CA (2 grants).

Does Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's largest grantees?

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Eastern Sierra Institute ($20,000), Lone Pine Unified School Dist ($19,150) and Stay Indiana Youth Aviation ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation?

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $85K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $92K (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 is Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's EIN?

Donald and Ruby Branson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4779170. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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