Michael and Laura Brader-Araje
The Michael & Laura Brader-Araje Foundation is a private foundation based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Founded in 2000, it says it supports innovative programs addressing social needs, with grantmaking focused primarily in North Carolina.
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje at a glance
In short: Michael and Laura Brader-Araje gave $249K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in North Carolina. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $249,000
- +12.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,750
- +30.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $16,250
- Total assets
- $5,329,030
- -4.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (94% 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 Michael and Laura Brader-Araje
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says organizations must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status to be considered.
- Contact
Mailing address: 109 E Franklin Street Suite 200, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 433-3700
Website: https://www.brader-araje.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Michael and Laura Brader-Araje funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chapel Hill-Carrboro Children's Museum DBA Kidzu Children's Museum ($60K). Together the top 10 received $242K.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 67 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it focuses primarily on grantmaking in North Carolina. In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 4% to Pennsylvania, and 2% to Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Michael and Laura Brader-Araje open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $187K (2021) to $249K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $249K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill-Carrboro Children's Museum DBA Kidzu Children's Museum Chapel Hill, NC | Support Hands-on Children's Museum | $60,000 |
| UNC Health Foundation Chapel Hill, NC | Support unc school of medicince and unc health care | $50,000 |
| Wunc Radio Chapel Hill, NC | Support Public Radio | $30,000 |
| Lillian's List Foundation Raleigh, NC | Support the training of women interested in public office | $20,000 |
| Planned Parenthood - South Atlantic Raleigh, NC | Support the Improvement of Women's Health and Welfare | $20,000 |
| Morehead Planetarium & Science Center Chapel Hill, NC | Support Science Education | $17,500 |
| Triangle Ultimate Morrisville, NC | Supporting the comunity by emphasizing accessibiity, relationships, and engagement through learning, playing, and teaching the sport of ultimate in the triangle region of North Carolina. | $15,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Support the fresh produce program in improving community health | $12,000 |
| Lafayette College Easton, PA | Support Higher Education | $10,000 |
| Elon University Elon, NC | Support Philanthropic Involvement and Education at Elon University | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Michael and Laura Brader-Araje?
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 | $5,329,030 | $153,066 | $448,651 | $249,000 | 12 | $352,028 | $19,468 | $342,055 |
| 2023 | $5,601,206 | $222,567 | $391,581 | $222,087 | 14 | $307,123 | $113,950 | $298,081 |
| 2022 | $5,769,195 | $407,874 | $389,891 | $223,163 | 14 | $295,255 | $230,347 | $276,706 |
| 2021 | $5,752,129 | $874,597 | $329,904 | $186,695 | 12 | $262,684 | $858,423 | $308,946 |
| 2020 | $5,205,539 | $1,575,019 | $326,923 | $192,000 | 15 | — | — | $247,597 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Michael and Laura Brader-Araje reported a distributable amount of $342K 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
The foundation identifies empowerment, education, and entrepreneurship as values at its core. It describes its grants as investments in social change and says it seeks innovative ideas with the potential to stimulate change and make a lasting impact. It also says it values nonprofits whose organizational discipline is well matched to their cause.
Its 2024 grants included support for a children’s museum, public radio, science education, women’s health and political leadership, higher education, community health, and student journalism. Among the grantees’ own stated missions, UNC Health Foundation says it inspires support for UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine to transform health care; Lillian’s List Foundation says it works to develop a pipeline of women prepared to run for elected office; and Just Tryan It says it provides financial assistance to families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $249,000. The grants ranged from $2,000 to $60,000, with a median of $16,250. The foundation’s website describes its average grant sizes as ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 and says it does not typically make multiyear pledges.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $60,000 to Kidzu Children’s Museum for hands-on children’s museum support; $50,000 to UNC Health Foundation for support of the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health Care; $30,000 to WUNC Radio for public radio; and $20,000 each to Lillian’s List Foundation and Planned Parenthood – South Atlantic. Other grants included $17,500 to Morehead Planetarium & Science Center and $15,000 to Triangle Ultimate.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael Brader-Araje as president/secretary and Laura Brader-Araje as vice president/treasurer.
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje is led by Michael Brader-Araje, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Brader-Araje
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Brader-Araje
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 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 Michael and Laura Brader-Araje
How much does Michael and Laura Brader-Araje give each year?
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje gave $249K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $222K across 14 grants.
What is Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's typical grant size?
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's median grant in 2024 was $16,250, and its average grant was $20,750, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Michael and Laura Brader-Araje that year got $12K on average.
Where does Michael and Laura Brader-Araje give grants?
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje gives mostly in North Carolina: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chapel Hill, NC (5 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does Michael and Laura Brader-Araje give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's largest grantees?
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's largest 2024 grantees include Chapel Hill-Carrboro Children's Museum DBA Kidzu Children's Museum ($60,000), UNC Health Foundation ($50,000) and Wunc Radio ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Michael and Laura Brader-Araje?
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $352K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $342K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Michael and Laura Brader-Araje fund?
The foundation identifies empowerment, education, and entrepreneurship as values at its core. It describes its grants as investments in social change and says it seeks innovative ideas with the potential to stimulate change and make a lasting impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michael and Laura Brader-Araje?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's EIN?
Michael and Laura Brader-Araje's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2205579. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Michael and Laura Brader-Araje accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
Live grants for the work Michael and Laura Brader-Araje funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Michael and Laura Brader-Araje funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/michael-and-laura-brader-araje-morg_e3d32ae147654290b053e98d952aadfa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562205579_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Michael and Laura Brader-Araje funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/michael-and-laura-brader-araje-morg_e3d32ae147654290b053e98d952aadfa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Michael and Laura Brader-Araje'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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