The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn is a private foundation, based in St. Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $182K. Net investment income was $154K.
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn at a glance
In short: The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn gave $182K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $181,500
- +16.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,929
- +33.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $4,046,654
- -2.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was One Classroom ($45K). Together the top 7 received $182K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 44 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $156K (2024) to $215K (2019). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $182K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| One Classroom St. Louis, MO | Support hiring additional development staff. | $45,000 |
| Bridge of Hope Ministries of the MidAmerica District of the Christian Miss St. Louis, MO | Support the medical recuperative care program. | $40,000 |
| Reach Reproductive Health Bridgeton, MO | Support the St. Peters Branch expansion program. | $40,000 |
| Christian Friends of New Americans St. Louis, MO | Support the new building project. | $20,000 |
| One Heart Family Ministries St. Louis, MO | Support hiring the Family Connections Specialist position. | $17,500 |
| Restoration House Inc St. Louis, MO | Support the Dream Builders program. | $15,000 |
| All Nations St. Louis, MO | Support the aquisition of a development consultant. | $4,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,046,654 | $218,116 | $305,236 | $181,500 | 7 | $233,866 | $154,090 | $218,877 |
| 2024 | $4,136,979 | $203,083 | $270,402 | $156,000 | 8 | $206,827 | $147,318 | $210,296 |
| 2023 | $4,124,897 | $126,032 | $283,607 | $170,000 | 6 | $220,536 | $101,746 | $207,641 |
| 2022 | $4,391,053 | $70,916 | $291,508 | $175,000 | 12 | $224,189 | $28,678 | $218,933 |
| 2021 | $4,629,130 | $303,891 | $322,180 | $205,250 | 11 | $249,443 | $243,559 | $245,192 |
| 2020 | $4,619,008 | $408,570 | $294,568 | $180,000 | 9 | — | $347,656 | $224,877 |
| 2019 | $4,504,966 | $291,423 | $338,082 | $215,000 | 10 | — | $220,266 | $227,955 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn reported a distributable amount of $219K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn is led by Mike Sullivan, President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mike Sullivan
President
Director & Treasurer → Chairman & President, 2023
Chairman & President → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle O'Toole
Vice President
Director & Secretary → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andre Alexander
Secretary
Director → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Sommer
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Wilkes
Board Memmber
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Con McGrath
Board Memmber
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Robinson
Board Memmber
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: James N. Hall (2019–2023) — Past Chairman & President
- Former: Gregory Shepardson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lindsay Matush (2019–2021) — Contract Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn
How much does The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn give each year?
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn gave $182K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $156K across 8 grants.
What is The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's typical grant size?
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,929, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn give grants?
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn gives mostly in Missouri: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (6 grants).
Does The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's largest grantees?
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's largest 2025 grantees include One Classroom ($45,000), Bridge of Hope Ministries of the MidAmerica District of the Christian Miss ($40,000) and Reach Reproductive Health ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn?
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $234K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $219K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's EIN?
The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0167894. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Barbara and Helen Brown Family Fdn funds
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