Leonard J and Irene Brown
Leonard J and Irene Brown is a private foundation based in Michigan City, Indiana. In 2024, it made 31 grants totaling $82,800 to organizations working in areas including medical research, youth and educational programming, emergency services, and historical preservation.
Leonard J and Irene Brown at a glance
In short: Leonard J and Irene Brown gave $83K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Indiana. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $82,800
- +35.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- -20.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,671
- +70.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $1,401,770
- +17.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (8 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Leonard J and Irene Brown
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written application stating the amount requested and the requesting organization’s charitable purpose. Awards are restricted to organizations exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3). The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Deborah B Hyndman
Mailing address: 720 W Us Hwy 20, Michigan City, IN 46360
Phone: (219) 872-8618
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leonard J and Irene Brown funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Heart Association ($25K). Together the top 10 received $59K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 169 grants of 169 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana (60%), Iowa (30%), Illinois (5%), Idaho (3%), and Pennsylvania (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Leonard J and Irene Brown open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 30 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 62% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $51K (2021) to $83K (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $83K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Heart Association Boone, IA | Medical Research | $25,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Laporte County Michigan City, IN | Youth Programming | $5,000 |
| Discovery School Pac Porter, IN | Educational Programming | $5,000 |
| Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN | Community Forum | $5,000 |
| Dunes Leathernecks Detachment 1056 Chesterton, IN | Youth Programming | $4,500 |
| Valparaiso Kiwanis Foundation Valparaiso, IN | Special Ed. Programming | $4,000 |
| Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum North Judson, IN | Historical Preservation | $3,000 |
| Chicago Public Mediawbez Chicago, IL | Public Radio Programming | $2,500 |
| Pinefeatherville Id EMS Pine, ID | Emergency Services | $2,500 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,401,770 | $311,735 | $103,907 | $82,800 | 31 | $83,300 | $291,128 | $86,942 |
| 2023 | $1,193,942 | $201,078 | $81,820 | $61,000 | 39 | $62,000 | $181,258 | $78,814 |
| 2022 | $1,074,684 | $193,120 | $79,126 | $60,650 | 34 | $61,400 | $175,394 | $80,238 |
| 2021 | $960,690 | $42,754 | $68,080 | $51,140 | 36 | — | $26,239 | $80,054 |
| 2020 | $986,016 | $33,977 | $65,070 | $51,650 | 29 | — | $20,557 | $67,463 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leonard J and Irene Brown reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable purposes. For example, Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum describes its mission as preserving the railroad history of northwest Indiana and providing interpretive train operations over a historic railroad corridor. Dunebrook says its mission is to prevent child abuse through education and advocacy. Citizens Concerned for the Homeless says it provides homeless families with temporary shelter and counseling on housing, employment, and substance abuse.
Other 2024 recipients include Stepping Stone Shelter, which describes its mission as providing food, lodging, and assistance to unemployed individuals searching for work; Ivy Tech Foundation, which supports Ivy Tech Community College; and Lakeshore Paws, which says it works to prevent animal suffering and cruelty.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $82,800. Grants ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median award of $1,500. Among the largest awards were $25,000 to the American Heart Association for medical research; $5,000 each to Boys & Girls Club of LaPorte County for youth programming, Discovery School PAC for educational programming, and Purdue University Northwest for a community forum; and $4,500 to Dunes Leathernecks Detachment 1056 for youth programming.
Other 2024 awards included $3,000 to Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum for historical preservation, $2,000 to Dunebrook for family services, $1,500 each to Stepping Stone Shelter and Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, and $100 to Lakeshore Paws. The American Heart Association describes its mission as working for a world of longer, healthier lives.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adele DePrizio as president; Deborah B Hyndman as secretary; and Valerie Blumenfeld, Barry Brown, and Christine Dacheff as directors.
Leonard J and Irene Brown is led by Adele Deprizio, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adele Deprizio
President
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Dacheff
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Blumenfeld
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah B. Hyndman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Leonard J and Irene Brown
How much does Leonard J and Irene Brown give each year?
Leonard J and Irene Brown gave $83K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $61K across 39 grants.
What is Leonard J and Irene Brown's typical grant size?
Leonard J and Irene Brown's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,671, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leonard J and Irene Brown that year got $2K on average.
Where does Leonard J and Irene Brown give grants?
Leonard J and Irene Brown gives mostly in Indiana: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Iowa (30%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Michigan City, IN (10 grants), Valparaiso, IN (4 grants), Chesterton, IN (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Leonard J and Irene Brown give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Leonard J and Irene Brown's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Supplies" (4 grants), "Medical Research" (3 grants) and "Scholarships" (3 grants).
Who are Leonard J and Irene Brown's largest grantees?
Leonard J and Irene Brown's largest 2024 grantees include American Heart Association ($25,000), Boys & Girls Club of Laporte County ($5,000) and Discovery School Pac ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Leonard J and Irene Brown?
Leonard J and Irene Brown reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $83K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (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 does Leonard J and Irene Brown fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leonard J and Irene Brown?
Submit a written application stating the amount requested and the requesting organization’s charitable purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Leonard J and Irene Brown's EIN?
Leonard J and Irene Brown's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0941100. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Leonard J and Irene Brown funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/leonard-j-and-irene-brown-morg_8c9663872a20424ab5a0065c7fb603e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310941100_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Leonard J and Irene Brown funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/leonard-j-and-irene-brown-morg_8c9663872a20424ab5a0065c7fb603e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Leonard J and Irene Brown'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.
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