James Graham Brown Foundation Inc
The James Graham Brown Foundation is a private foundation established in 1954 and based in Louisville, Kentucky. The foundation was created to carry forward the philanthropic legacy of James Graham Brown, a Louisville hotel owner and holder of vast timberlands. Upon his death in 1969, Mr. Brown willed almost all of his estate to the foundation. The foundation is one of the largest private foundations focused on the Commonwealth of Kentucky and operates with a dedicated staff of seven employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$391.0M
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.9M
+18.8% YoY
Grant Count
50
-13.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$299K
+37.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to give for higher education, civic organizations, community and economic development, human service organizations, culture and humanities, and health. According to the terms of James Graham Brown's will, a substantial part of the foundation's available funds and assets are used to make grants to projects that promote the well-being of citizens of Louisville and the state of Kentucky in matters of business, education, health, and general welfare and advancement.
The foundation's strategic outcomes include:
- Opportunities for all
- Civic engagement
- Improved perceptions of Kentucky
- Improved well-being of citizens of Kentucky
Primary focus areas include:
- Health and Well-being
- Civic and Cultural Assets
- Community and Economic Development
- Education
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two primary grant programs:
Grant Range
s are between $150,000–$500,000 for nonprofit organizations located primarily in the Louisville metro area. Organizations should demonstrate significant financial support for projects, including contributions from private donors, private and public grants, and other sustainable sources of revenue.
Ready to take the next step with James Graham Brown Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in Louisville and throughout Kentucky. However, grant activity has also been documented in the District of Columbia and Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $366,000,000 (as of 2023); $390,953,333 (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue: $31,229,055
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $11,900,000
- Total Expenses: $16,900,000
- Total Assets: $366,000,000
- Total Liabilities: $5,270,000
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since August 1964; EIN 61-0724060
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $390,953,333 | $366,389,366 | $332,997,825 |
| Revenue | $14,322,563 | $11,883,246 | $7,619,738 |
| Expenses | $22,389,850 | $16,908,139 | $20,611,195 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,770,976 | $14,166,049 | $17,676,097 |
| Net Investment Income | $17,230,570 | $11,974,945 | $8,681,561 |
| Distributable Amount | $18,615,233 | $16,849,699 | $17,655,044 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from James Graham Brown Foundation Inc
Community & Economic Prosperity Grants
JAMES GRAHAM BROWN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Education & Workforce Readiness: K-12 Grantmaking
JAMES GRAHAM BROWN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Education & Workforce Readiness: Place-Based Education Grantmaking
JAMES GRAHAM BROWN FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
Stephen P. Campbell – Chairman. A specialist in providing strategic and financial advice to financial institutions on a global basis, with career positions at Lazard Freres & Co, Dresdner Kleinwort, and Wasserstein Perella & Co. He serves on the boards of Berea College, Hardscuffle, Inc., and American Life & Accident Insurance Company of Kentucky.
Crit Luallen – Vice Chair. A former Lieutenant Governor and State Auditor who has served seven Kentucky Governors. Active in retirement with service on several boards including Centre College, Community Trust Bank, Hardscuffle/American Life, Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship, Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, and Executive Branch Ethics Commission.
Jerry Abramson – Trustee. Former mayor of the City of Louisville and most recently served as Executive in Residence at Spalding University.
Ben Chandler – Trustee
Condrad Daniels – Trustee
Sandra Frazier – Trustee
Doug Grissom – Trustee
Lopa Mehrotra – Trustee
Greg Rousos – Trustee
Steve Sautel – Trustee
Aaron Thompson – Trustee
Staff:
- Bleik Pickett – Program Director
- Nick Clifton – Chief Financial Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN CAMPBELL | CHAIRMAN | 10 | $50,000 |
| CRIT LUALLEN | VICE CHAIR | 1 | $16,400 |
| JERRY ABRAMSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $7,000 |
| BEN CHANDLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $16,400 |
| CONDRAD DANIELS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $11,800 |
| SANDRA FRAZIER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $13,800 |
| DOUG GRISSOM | TRUSTEE | 1 | $19,200 |
| LOPA MEHROTRA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $15,800 |
| GREG ROUSOS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $5,800 |
| STEVE SAUTEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AARON THOMPSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $16,800 |
| R ALEX RANKIN | TRUSTEE (PREVIOUS) | 1 | $11,000 |
| R TED STEINBOCK MD | TRUSTEE (PREVIOUS) | 1 | $11,800 |
| MASON RUMMEL | PRESIDENT, CEO | 50 | $381,315 |
| WILLIAM CLIFTON | TREASURER, CFO | 40 | $151,067 |
| BLEIK PICKETT | SECRETARY | 40 | $165,413 |
| KATHY KOTCAMP | TREASURER/SECRETARY (PREVIOUS) | 30 | $56,132 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements include:
**University of Pikeville:** $1,000,000 grant (December 2025)
**Chestnut Street YMCA:** $500,000 grant (December 2024)
Chestnut Street YMCA receives $500,000 grant**Louisville Free Public Library:** $1,500,000 matching grant for library projects
James V. Brown Library gets 3 grants from different funds | News, Sports,**Waterfront Botanical Gardens:** Grant awarded (2024)
Waterfront Botanical Gardens to Receive James Graham Brown Foundation Grant**Kentucky Derby Museum:** $1,000,000 grant (May 2024)
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with recent grant activity documented in current tax filings and continues to accept applications for both strategic and responsive community grants.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens to Receive James Graham Brown Foundation GrantRelated Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Mildred H Dunning Memorial Fund Trust
LEXINGTON, KY
Assets
$4.3M
Grants
3
Total Given
$209K
Pauline C Young Scholarship
LEXINGTON, KY
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Welcome House Inc
COVINGTON, KY
Assets
$15.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$405K
Tw Hl & Ns Donovan Scholarship
LEXINGTON, KY
Assets
$673K
Grants
2
Total Given
$36K
Taking Back Our Neighborhood Together
GLENVIEW, KY
Assets
$21K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
John T Reis Private Foundation
COVINGTON, KY
Assets
$200K
Grants
11
Total Given
$341K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with James Graham Brown Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities