John Brown Cook Foundation
The John Brown Cook Foundation is a private foundation based in Chester, Connecticut. It made 15 grants totaling $3.1 million in filing year 2025.
John Brown Cook Foundation at a glance
In short: John Brown Cook Foundation gave $3.1M across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $207K), top state New York. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,100,000
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $206,667
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $39,319,811
- +4.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (32% 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 John Brown Cook Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Gregory M Cook and obtain an application. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The filing states there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Gregory M Cook
Mailing address: PO Box 450, Chester, CT 06412
Phone: (860) 526-4911
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John Brown Cook Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Foundation for Individual Rights in Education ($450K). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 23 grants of 69 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (32%), Connecticut (21%), Pennsylvania (18%), Washington, DC (8%), and New Hampshire (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John Brown Cook Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $125K; repeat grants $236K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $500K (2023) to $3.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $450,000 |
| Global Peht Trumbull, CT | General Support | $400,000 |
| Moving Picture Institute New York, NY | General Support | $350,000 |
| Accuracy in Media Washington, DC | General Support | $250,000 |
| Documenting Hope West Simsbury, CT | General Support | $250,000 |
| Constructive Dialogue Institute New York, NY | General Support | $150,000 |
| Emergent Order Foundation Inc Austin, TX | General Support | $150,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | General Support | $150,000 |
| Davidson Institute for Global Security Hanover, NH | General Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John Brown Cook 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 | $39,319,811 | $5,198,518 | $3,571,235 | $3,100,000 | 15 | $3,111,422 | $4,770,302 | $2,881,521 |
| 2024 | $37,692,528 | $3,553,211 | $3,389,531 | $2,925,000 | 14 | $2,937,176 | $3,133,041 | $2,721,482 |
| 2023 | $37,528,848 | $433,638 | $524,303 | $500,000 | 11 | $500,809 | $401,069 | $416,751 |
| 2022 | $37,917,705 | $1,466,239 | $4,141,733 | $3,600,000 | 15 | $3,616,537 | $1,049,627 | $2,608,073 |
| 2021 | $40,593,199 | $5,060,381 | $3,161,576 | $2,725,000 | 14 | — | $4,634,806 | $2,782,501 |
| 2020 | $38,694,394 | $3,220,821 | $3,483,252 | $3,075,000 | 12 | — | $2,024,350 | $2,438,305 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Brown Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M 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 included general support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Global PEHT says it works to combat human trafficking through outreach, transitional housing, and job assistance. Moving Picture Institute describes itself as a nonprofit production company and talent incubator creating films about human freedom. Documenting Hope says it provides education and networking related to chronic illness in children and treatments.
Other 2025 grantees describe missions involving media accuracy and fairness (Accuracy in Media), individual liberties through litigation and other activities (Institute for Justice), dialogue across differences (Constructive Dialogue Institute), and storytelling intended to champion civilization and human potential (Emergent Order Foundation).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $3,100,000. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $450,000, with a median of $150,000. The largest listed awards were:
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. An application must be obtained; Gregory M Cook is listed as the contact. The filing reports no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gregory M Cook, Brett Phaneuf, Shelley Gregory, Wallis Graham, and Kirby Lim as trustees.
John Brown Cook Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brett Phaneuf
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory M. Cook
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Gregory
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wallis Graham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirby Lim
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kirby Grabowski (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 John Brown Cook Foundation
How much does John Brown Cook Foundation give each year?
John Brown Cook Foundation gave $3.1M across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.9M across 14 grants.
What is John Brown Cook Foundation's typical grant size?
John Brown Cook Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $150,000, and its average grant was $206,667, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John Brown Cook Foundation that year got $125K on average.
Where does John Brown Cook Foundation give grants?
John Brown Cook Foundation's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (21%) and Pennsylvania (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants).
Does John Brown Cook Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John Brown Cook Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John Brown Cook Foundation's largest grantees?
John Brown Cook Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Foundation for Individual Rights in Education ($450,000), Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research ($450,000) and Global Peht ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Brown Cook Foundation?
John Brown Cook Foundation reported $39.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John Brown Cook Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Global PEHT says it works to combat human trafficking through outreach, transitional housing, and job assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John Brown Cook Foundation?
Contact Gregory M Cook and obtain an application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 20, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John Brown Cook Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Pierre F & Enid Goodrich Foundation
Carmel, IN
The Pierre F & Enid Goodrich Foundation supported educational activities related to human liberty and individual freedom, with recent grants going to organizations in Indiana. Its giving ranged from about $1.2 million total across 47 grants in 2024 to a single $24.3 million grant in 2025; it did not accept unsolicited requests and dissolved in 2024, distributing its remaining assets to Liberty Fund, Inc.
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$24.3M
The Dunn Foundation
Collegeville, PA
The Dunn Foundation funds public charities advancing classical liberalism, free enterprise, market capitalism, individual liberty, and related work in policy, education, free speech, and journalism. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $2 million, with a median of $47,500, and went to organizations in multiple states and Washington, DC. It does not accept unsolicited requests; organizations must be contacted or invited to apply.
Assets
$90.1M
Grants
76
Total Given
$9.3M
Springview Foundation
Holland, MI
Springview Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations working on individual rights, free societies, free-market economics, and education, including conservative university women’s education and leadership. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $40,000, with a median of $20,000, and went to organizations in multiple states. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations; the filing says a form is available from Diana Sprik.
Assets
$6.1M
Grants
20
Total Given
$395K
John P & Kathryn G Evans Foundation
Indianola, WA
The John P & Kathryn G Evans Foundation’s recent grants include operating support for charitable organizations, but its 2025 filing reports just one $500 grant; giving totaled about $128,000–$137,000 in 2023 and 2024. Its grant dollars went to a Virginia recipient in 2025, and it accepts no unsolicited requests, contributing only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$922K
Grants
1
Total Given
$500
William S & Ann Atherton Foundation
Tulsa, OK
The foundation supports education, arts and sciences, and cultural, civic, and policy organizations, with most of its giving in Oklahoma and some grants elsewhere in the U.S. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $510,500, with a median of $12,000. It asks applicants to contact Jessica Faubert with a program description and outline of needs; no deadline is listed.
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
21
Total Given
$1.3M
The Searle Freedom Trust
Madison, WI
The Searle Freedom Trust funds research, education and outreach, journalism, and litigation, with 2024 grants ranging from $535 to $1.1 million and a median of $200,000. Its 2024 giving was concentrated in the District of Columbia and Virginia, followed by California, Texas, and New York. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.4M
Grants
80
Total Given
$18.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John Brown Cook Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-brown-cook-foundation-morg_2ac02cee43e44874bef72bb0722b88f7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066022958_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John Brown Cook Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-brown-cook-foundation-morg_2ac02cee43e44874bef72bb0722b88f7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 John Brown Cook 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.
John Brown Cook Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?