Harold and Colene Brown Family
The Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Beverly Hills, California, established in 1997. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since June 1997. The foundation is supported by the Harold and Colene Brown Family Trust and is governed by trustee Harold Brown.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.5M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-12.8% YoY
Grant Count
13
-13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$90K
+0.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold and Colene Brown Family reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. Primary funding areas include education nonprofits and STEM education initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$25,000 to $200,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $24,542,484
- Total revenues: $1,237,250
- Total expenses: $1,420,438
- Total liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $24.8 million
- Total revenues: $1.49 million
- Total expenses: $1.55 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,542,484 | $24,802,609 | $24,887,303 |
| Revenue | $1,237,250 | $1,488,691 | $264,754 |
| Expenses | $1,420,438 | $1,551,297 | $1,689,329 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,172,385 | $1,343,820 | $1,475,362 |
| Net Investment Income | $987,648 | $1,279,887 | $403,701 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,150,308 | $1,167,456 | $1,331,715 |
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
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rand Corporation ($200,000), California Institute of Technology ($150,000), Questbridge ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY BROOKLYN, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| RAND CORPORATION SANTA MONICA, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $200,000 |
| NY PUBLIC RADIO NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $75,000 |
| LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PASADENA, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| SOUTHERN CA PUBLIC RADIO PASADENA, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $122,385 |
| CRISTO REY NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| OCCIDENTIAL COLLEGE LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| QUESTBRIDGE PALO ALTO, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| ARLINGTON GARDEN OF PASADENA PASADENA, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Harold Brown: Trustee of the foundation
- Deborah Brown: Board member of BRIC (arts organization), daughter who honors her late mother Colene Brown through the foundation's support
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH BROWN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ELLEN BROWN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation funds the **Colene Brown Art Prize** through BRIC (a Brooklyn-based arts organization), an annual $100,000 grant program honoring Colene Brown's legacy. The prize is distributed among ten under-recognized New York-based visual artists. Recipients are selected through a nomination process by curators, critics, and artists, with eligible artists at any career stage who have yet to receive substantial institutional support.
BRIC Announces Recipients of 2022 Colene Brown Art PrizeSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harold and Colene Brown Family fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. Primary funding areas include education nonprofits and STEM education initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Harold and Colene Brown Family?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.2 million • Number of grants: 13 grants in 2024 • Grant range: $25,000 to $200,000 • Median grant size: $75,000 • Giving rate: 4.8% of assets **Recent Grants (2024):** • RAND Corporation: $200,000 • QuestBridge: $150,000 • California Institute of Technology: $150,000 • Mingei Museum (mentioned as recent recipient) **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Where does Harold and Colene Brown Family make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Harold and Colene Brown Family award?
In 2024, Harold and Colene Brown Family awarded 13 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $90K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harold and Colene Brown Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Harold and Colene Brown Family reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harold and Colene Brown Family's EIN?
Harold and Colene Brown Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-6203761. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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