Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation
The Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Neenah, Wisconsin. Established in February 2008, the foundation operates as a family foundation with a board of directors composed entirely of volunteer members who receive no compensation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
-4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$390K
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
50
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+16.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $382K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas:
- Education
- Community and economic development
- Housing development
- Human services
- Environmental education
- Science education
The foundation operates primarily throughout the United States, with a geographic reach extending across multiple states.
Grantmaking
The foundation made approximately 50 grants totaling $389,700 in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grantees include:
Grant Range
$1,000 to $30,000
Average Grant
$28,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple states including:
- California
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Maine
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,974,842
- Total Revenue: $217,759
- Total Expenses: $432,199
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $389,700
The foundation maintains a healthy asset base and demonstrates consistent grant-making activity year to year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,974,842 | $5,188,334 | $5,150,706 |
| Revenue | $217,759 | $412,062 | $343,303 |
| Expenses | $432,199 | $374,570 | $432,265 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $406,359 | $351,077 | $407,638 |
| Net Investment Income | $198,194 | $393,876 | $324,235 |
| Distributable Amount | $381,784 | $352,771 | $365,216 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Monterey Peninsula College Foundation ($30,000), Preserve Community Foundation ($30,000), Donors Choose ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AL NELSON FRIENDSHIP CENTER FOOD PANTRY NORTH ADAMS, MA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $2,500 |
| ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER MONONA, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NE WI GREEN BAY, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $6,200 |
| BAYSIDE HOUSING & SERVICES PORT HADLOCK, WA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $19,000 |
| BE GOOD FOUNDATION KETCHUM, ID | UNRESTRICTED USE | $10,000 |
| BEREA COLLEGE BEREA, KY | UNRESTRICTED USE | $10,000 |
| BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT NORTH ADAMS, MA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $2,500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EAST CENTRAL WI NEENAH, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $5,200 |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D (FORMERLY JDRF NE WI) MENASHA, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $6,200 |
| CAMP KESEM NATIONAL CORVINA, CA | SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN U-MAINE & CSU CHAPTERS | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a board of directors, all serving without compensation and dedicating minimal hours to their roles:
- Richard P. Inman – President/Director
- Henry Hildebrand – Treasurer/Secretary/Director
- Lauren Wallace – Vice President/Director
- Susan E. Brown – Director
- Jane W. Brown – Director
- Daniel T. Brown – Director
- Nancy J. Brown – Director
- Thomas P. Brown – Director
- Katherine Brown – Director
- Melinda S. Brown – Director
- Rebecca Brown-Nienow – Director
- Fredric L. Hildebrand Jr. – Director
- Sarah J. Hildebrand – Director
- Charles Hildebrand – Director
- Dale R. Nienow – Director
- Thomas Nienow – Director
- Matthew Nienow – Director
- Andrew Nienow – Director
- Taylor Storch – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREDRIC L HILDEBRAND JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JANE W BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DALE R NIENOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELINDA S BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICHARD P INMAN | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL T BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NANCY J BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAH J HILDEBRAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS P BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REBECCA BROWN-NIENOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAUREN WALLACE | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TAYLOR STORCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW NIENOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREW NIENOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HENRY HILDEBRAND | TREASURER/SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHARLES HILDEBRAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSAN E BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS NIENOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELISE NIENOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TIFFANY STORCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSHUA HALLMARK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TYLER WALLACE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SAMANTHA LADWIG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas: • Education • Community and economic development • Housing development • Human services • Environmental education • Science education The foundation operates primarily throughout the United States, with a geographic reach extending across multiple states.
How do I apply for a grant from Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000 to $30,000 • Median grant size: $5,200 • Average grant size: $28,000 **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** The foundation made approximately 50 grants totaling $389,700 in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grantees include: • Preserve Community Foundation (Scholarship Fund): $30,000 • Monterey Peninsula College Foundation (Scholarship Fund): $30,000 • Glidden Area Development Corporation (Unrestricted Use): $20,000 The foundation indicates …
Where does Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple states including: • California • Colorado • Idaho • Kentucky • Maine • New York • Pennsylvania • Utah • Washington • Wisconsin
What size grants does Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $390K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $382K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation's EIN?
Robert & Susan Brown Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0743538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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