The John Brown Cook Foundation is a private foundation based in Chester, Connecticut. Incorporated in 1952, it operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation with a focus on supporting institutions and organizations aligned with conservative American values and individual rights.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.7M
+0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+12.3% YoY
Grant Count
14
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$209K
+4.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Brown Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to make grants to institutions, including colleges and universities, educational associations, and public policy research organizations relating to preservation of the American economic system and national defense.
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations that address individual rights and freedoms, with emphasis on promoting conservative American values. Recent funding priorities include:
- Human Rights
- Social Justice
- Journalism
- Arts and Culture
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation provides project support and general operating support to grantees.
Grant Range
$10,000–$1,000,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grants are made nationwide, with emphasis on the New York City metropolitan area. Primary funding regions include New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $37,692,528
- Total revenues: $3,553,211
- Total expenses: $3,389,531
- Investment income and dividends: $1,386,341
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,692,528 | $37,619,513 | $37,917,705 |
| Revenue | $3,553,211 | $2,705,496 | $1,466,239 |
| Expenses | $3,389,531 | $3,003,688 | $4,141,733 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,937,176 | $2,616,333 | $3,616,537 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,133,041 | $2,183,559 | $1,049,627 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,721,482 | $2,479,574 | $2,608,073 |
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research ($475,000), Foundation for Individual Rights in Education ($450,000), Moving Picture Institute ($325,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $275,000 |
| AMERICA'S FUTURE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $225,000 |
| EPIDEMIC ANSWERS WEST SIMSBURY, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $450,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $475,000 |
| GLOBAL PEHT TRUMBULL, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| HAND TO HEART PROJECT CORNISH FLAT, NH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREGORY M COOK | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| BRETT PHANEUF | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHELLEY GREGORY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WALLIS GRAHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KIRBY LIM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 450 4 Water Street Chester, CT 06412-0450
Telephone: 860-526-4911
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John Brown Cook Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to make grants to institutions, including colleges and universities, educational associations, and public policy research organizations relating to preservation of the American economic system and national defense. The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations that address individual rights and freedoms, with emphasis on promoting conservative American values. Recent funding priorities include: • Human Rights • Social Justice • Journalism • Arts an…
How do I apply for a grant from John Brown Cook Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $2,925,000 (2024) • Typical grant range: $10,000–$1,000,000 • Made 12 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression: $450,000 (General Support) • Moving Pictures Institute (MPI): $325,000 (General Support) • Accuracy in Media (AIM): $275,000 (General Support) **Types of Support:** The foundation provides project support and general operating support to grantees.
Where does John Brown Cook Foundation make grants?
Grants are made nationwide, with emphasis on the New York City metropolitan area. Primary funding regions include New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does John Brown Cook Foundation award?
In 2024, John Brown Cook Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $209K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John Brown Cook Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John Brown Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John Brown Cook Foundation's EIN?
John Brown Cook Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6022958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John Brown Cook Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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