M K Brown Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Pampa, TX EIN: 75-6034058

M K Brown Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Pampa, Texas. In 2024, it gave grants to organizations in Texas and Oklahoma, including community, social-service, food-assistance, youth, and educational organizations.

M K Brown Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: M K Brown Foundation Inc gave $494K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$493,625
+109.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
31
+47.6% vs 2023
Average grant
$15,923
+41.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$9,964,382
+38.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
29% first-time grantees (9 of 31, 2024)
Primary geography
Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to M K Brown Foundation Inc

How to Apply

Contact Leland Waters. The filing says to see Schedule B for the form and materials and lists no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Leland Waters
Mailing address: PO Box 581, Pampa, TX 79066-0581
Phone: (806) 669-6890

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who M K Brown Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Pampa Youth and Community Center: $200KPampa Youth and CommunityCenter$200KThe Panhandle Gives: $60KThe Panhandle Gives$60KGolden Spread Council Boy Scouts: $40KGolden Spread Council BoyScouts$40KPampa Senior Citizens: $20KPampa Senior Citizens$20KGirl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plain: $20KGirl Scouts of Texas OklahomaPlain$20KTexas Tech University: $15KTexas Tech University$15KHigh Plains Food Bank: $15KHigh Plains Food Bank$15KSt Matthews Episcopal: $14KSt Matthews Episcopal$14KGood Samaritan Christian Services: $10KGood Samaritan ChristianServices$10KPampa Meals on Wheels: $10KPampa Meals on Wheels$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Pampa Youth and Community Center ($200K). Together the top 10 received $404K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($17,500), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

150 grants across all recorded years

145<$50K4$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 145 grants of 150 (97%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 1% to recipients in Oklahoma. Pampa and other Texas Panhandle communities appear among the locations of listed grantees.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.

Cities

PampaAmarilloCanyonClarendonLubbockAbileneGarden CityArlingtonAustinGainesvilleMobeetieStillwaterWeatherfordDentonNormanSpearmanTulsaWacoWichita FallsWitchita

Is M K Brown Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

29%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 9 of 31 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $11K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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

$0$200K$400K$600K35 grants2019 32 grants2020 33 grants2021 33 grants2022 21 grants2023 31 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $236K (2023) to $494K (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $494K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Pampa Youth and Community Center Pampa, TXFacility Improvements$200,000
The Panhandle Gives Amarillo, TXOperating Expenses for TX Panhandle Charities$60,000
Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts Amarillo, TXOperating Expenses & Septic Systems$40,000
Pampa Senior Citizens Pampa, TXOperations & Equipment Purchase$20,000
Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plain Amarillo, TXOperations$20,000
1 individual scholarship Recipients not named —$17,500
Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXScholarships$15,000
High Plains Food Bank Amarillo, TXRural Operations$15,000
St Matthews Episcopal Pampa, TXOperation$14,125
Good Samaritan Christian Services Pampa, TXFood for Programs$10,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with M K Brown Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$9,964,382$321,274$639,700$493,62531$493,625$153,571$376,243
2023$7,220,753$218,598$365,457$235,80021$235,800$106,556$337,579
2022$6,631,362$598,962$394,125$260,85033$260,181$378,856—
2021$7,867,177$771,539$462,175$322,50033$382,559$571,026$349,066
2020$8,150,237$293,665$403,534$273,00032—$158,931$311,067
2019$6,767,376$407,078$383,438$256,70035—$231,274$306,487

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, M K Brown Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $376K 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 included support for a youth and community center, senior-citizen services, food assistance, scouting, scholarships, and cultural and historical organizations.

The grantees describe their work in their own terms: Pampa Youth and Community Center says it provides a place for the community to manage mental and physical health; Pampa Senior Citizens says it helps older adults maintain independence, wellness, and quality of life. High Plains Food Bank says it works to address hunger and food insecurity in the Texas Panhandle, while Good Samaritan Christian Services says it operates a food bank and provides utility assistance. Other supported organizations include Window on a Wider World, which describes its work as enriching Texas Panhandle students’ education through art, science, and cultural experiences, and Saints’ Roost Museum, which provides historical information and relics for local communities.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $493,625. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $200,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $200,000 to Pampa Youth and Community Center for facility improvements, $60,000 to The Panhandle Gives for operating expenses for Texas Panhandle charities, and $40,000 to Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts for operating expenses and septic systems. Other awards included $20,000 each to Pampa Senior Citizens for operations and equipment and Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plain for operations; $17,500 to an individual recipient A&M University and $15,000 to Texas Tech University for scholarships; and $15,000 to High Plains Food Bank for rural operations.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Leland W Waters as Chairman, Doug Carmichael as Vice Chairman, JA Johnson as Secretary/Treasurer, and Diane Waters as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

M K Brown Foundation Inc is led by Leland W. Waters, Chairman on every filing since 2019; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Leland W. Waters

    Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    10 hrs/week

    $10K (2019) → $15K (2024)

  • Diane Waters

    Assistant Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    20 hrs/week

    $20K (2019) → $22K (2024)

  • Doug Carmichael

    Vice Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Ja Johnson

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Diane Waters — Asst Sec/Treas: $22KDiane WatersAsst Sec/Treas$22KLeland W Waters — Chairman: $15KLeland W WatersChairman$15K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $22K, to Diane Waters (Asst Sec/Treas). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about M K Brown Foundation Inc

How much does M K Brown Foundation Inc give each year?

M K Brown Foundation Inc gave $494K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $236K across 21 grants.

What is M K Brown Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

M K Brown Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,923, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from M K Brown Foundation Inc that year got $27K on average.

Where does M K Brown Foundation Inc give grants?

M K Brown Foundation Inc gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pampa, TX (12 grants), Amarillo, TX (7 grants) and Clarendon, TX (2 grants).

Does M K Brown Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 10% of M K Brown Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (9 grants) and "Scholarships" (8 grants).

Who are M K Brown Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

M K Brown Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Pampa Youth and Community Center ($200,000), The Panhandle Gives ($60,000) and Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($17,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is M K Brown Foundation Inc?

M K Brown Foundation Inc reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $494K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $376K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does M K Brown Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a youth and community center, senior-citizen services, food assistance, scouting, scholarships, and cultural and historical organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from M K Brown Foundation Inc?

Contact Leland Waters. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is M K Brown Foundation Inc's EIN?

M K Brown Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6034058. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in M K Brown Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust

Amarillo, TX

The Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust makes grants to preselected charitable organizations; its filings do not specify funding priorities. Recent annual grant totals range from $328,600 to $372,000, with reported 2026 funding going to a recipient in Texas. It does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$6.3M

Grants

1

Total Given

$372K

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$594.3M

Grants

1

Total Given

$101.4M

Mary E Bivins Foundation

Amarillo, TX

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation supports eldercare, Christian religious education, and qualified nonprofits addressing non-recurring needs, with a preference for work benefiting older people. It focuses on the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle; 2025 grants ranged from $6,836 to $375,000, with a median of $25,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$153.6M

Grants

63

Total Given

$2.7M

Dr Kent Roberts & Ilene Roberts Balliett Foundation

Amarillo, TX

This Amarillo-based foundation funds a range of charitable work, including education, arts, housing, human services, and wildlife rehabilitation, with its 2025 grants going to organizations in Texas. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.1M

Grants

59

Total Given

$397K

Kimble Foundation Trust

Amarillo, TX

Assets

$4.1M

Grants

1

Total Given

$214K

CJ and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust

Amarillo, TX

The CJ and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust funds operating and capital needs of 501(c)(3) organizations in the top 20 counties of the Texas Panhandle, including work in hunger relief, education, children’s services, disability access, and public information. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median of $5,000. It accepts written applications describing the organization’s need and planned use of funds; no deadline is stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$5.9M

Grants

37

Total Given

$307K

More similar funders

More Funders in Texas

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). M K Brown Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/m-k-brown-foundation-inc-morg_81e9e4dd98ec435a8d104facb801ac89

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_756034058_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{M K Brown Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/m-k-brown-foundation-inc-morg_81e9e4dd98ec435a8d104facb801ac89},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 M K Brown Foundation Inc'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.

M K Brown Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?