Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc
The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky, and managed by Zelkova Strategic Partners. Founded by Owsley Brown II, a former president of Brown-Forman Corporation, it supports higher education, Christian causes, and local arts and culture.
Key facts about Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 61-1189915
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Total assets
- $60,178,269
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$60.2M
+11.8% YoY
Revenue
$7.0M
-63.8% YoY
Qualifying Distributions
$10.3M
+170.7% YoY
Expenses
$621K
-24.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 93% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 257% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated areas of support include higher education, Christian causes, and local arts and culture. Higher education is identified as its largest giving area, with ongoing support for the University of Louisville.
In 2023, the foundation supported the University of Louisville Foundation Inc, whose stated mission is to help the university maintain its distinction as a nationally recognized metropolitan research university and promote its educational, scientific, and literary efforts. It also supported the Kentucky College of Art and Design, which says it opens the door to a creative and productive life through undergraduate education in the contemporary arts.
Grantmaking
The filing data reports two grants totaling $425,000 in 2023. The grants were $250,000 to the University of Louisville Foundation Inc and $175,000 to the Kentucky College of Art and Design, both in Louisville. In 2022, the foundation reported 77 grants totaling $5,307,053; its 2024 filing reports zero grants. Typical grants are described as ranging from $500 to $250,000, with an average grant of about $20,000.
How to Apply
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Both organizations listed as 2023 grantees are located in Louisville.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $425K (2023) to $6.2M (2020). In 2023 it made 2 grants totaling $425K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
199 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 199 (53%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,178,269 | $6,959,713 | $621,156 | 0 |
| 2023 | $53,839,712 | $19,249,438 | $821,856 | $425,000; 2 grants |
| 2022 | $35,817,824 | $6,564,227 | $5,573,800 | $5,307,053; 77 grants |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $60,178,269 | $53,839,712 | $35,817,824 |
| Revenue | $6,959,713 | $19,249,438 | $6,564,227 |
| Expenses | $621,156 | $821,856 | $5,573,800 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,330,797 | $3,816,771 | $5,353,392 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,606,496 | $10,028,407 | $1,359,003 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,027,413 | $4,475,676 | $4,798,915 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christina Lee Brown as president and director; Owsley Brown III as director; Brooke Brown Barzun as secretary, treasurer, and director; Augusta Brown Holland as director; and Osha Cowley-Shireman as executive director.
Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc is led by Christina Lee Brown, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christina Lee Brown
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Osha Cowley-Shireman
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Augusta Brown Holland
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Brown Barzun
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Owsley Brown III
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 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.
Contact
Mailing address: 427 W Muhammad Ali Blvd 801, Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 805-7200
Frequently asked questions about Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc
How large is Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc?
Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc reported $60.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated areas of support include higher education, Christian causes, and local arts and culture. Higher education is identified as its largest giving area, with ongoing support for the University of Louisville. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it 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 ↑
Where does Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Both organizations listed as 2023 grantees are located in Louisville.
What is Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1189915. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc 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 October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Owsley Brown II Family Foundation Inc by hand.
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