Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Brookline, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 8 grants totaling $428K. Net investment income was $35K.
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation gave $428K across 8 grants in 2021 (avg $53K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $427,954
- +692.5% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 8
- -42.9% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $53,494
- +1286.9% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $3,088
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (97% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was The Boston Foundation ($406K). Together the top 8 received $428K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 22 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $54K (2020) to $428K (2021). In 2021 it made 8 grants totaling $428K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Boston Foundation Boston, MA | Support Social Services | $405,779 |
| Seattle Opera Seattle, WA | Support Arts | $8,000 |
| Oxfam America Inc Boston, MA | Support Social Services | $6,000 |
| The Greater Boston Food Bank Boston, MA | Support Social Services | $5,175 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc New York, NY | Support Social Services | $1,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Public Policy Network of the Northwest and Hawaii Seattle, WA | Support Social Services | $1,000 |
| Bat Conservation International Austin, TX | Support Wildlife Conservation Activities | $500 |
| Bixby School Boulder, CO | Support Social Services | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $38,797 | $437,075 | $427,954 | 8 | $432,441 | $34,719 | $22,023 |
| 2020 | $398,278 | $27,385 | $59,912 | $54,000 | 14 | — | $39,219 | $22,097 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation is led by Marshall J. Brown, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Marshall J. Brown
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benedict Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dorrit H. Lowsen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Lowsen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane K. Brown
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "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 Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation
How much does Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation give each year?
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation gave $428K across 8 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $54K across 14 grants.
What is Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $3,088, and its average grant was $53,494, across 8 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation give grants?
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Social Services" (6 grants).
Who are Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include The Boston Foundation ($405,779), Seattle Opera ($8,000) and Oxfam America Inc ($6,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
How much is Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's EIN?
Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2506320. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 11, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Marshall & Jane Brown Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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