The Blackthorn Foundation
The Blackthorn Foundation is a private foundation, based in Great Falls, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $160K. Net investment income was $61K.
The Blackthorn Foundation at a glance
In short: The Blackthorn Foundation gave $160K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $160,000
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,000
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $3,409,326
- +10.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (75% 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 Blackthorn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was House of Mercy ($70K). Together the top 4 received $160K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 21 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Blackthorn Foundation gives
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $56K (2020) to $160K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $160K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| House of Mercy Manassas, VA | For general support | $70,000 |
| Youth Leadership Foundation Washington, DC | For general support | $40,000 |
| A Woman's Choice Falls Church, VA | For general support | $35,000 |
| Mario E Dorsonville Foundation Great Falls, VA | For homeless program | $15,000 |
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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 | $3,409,326 | $61,609 | $160,905 | $160,000 | 4 | $160,180 | $60,704 | $159,779 |
| 2024 | $3,082,884 | $59,892 | $150,827 | $150,000 | 4 | $150,149 | $59,035 | $147,903 |
| 2023 | $2,735,858 | $61,757 | $125,805 | $125,000 | 3 | $125,186 | $60,982 | $127,629 |
| 2022 | $2,412,487 | $46,412 | $130,585 | $130,000 | 4 | $130,161 | $45,827 | $130,071 |
| 2021 | $3,023,783 | $402,545 | $126,106 | $125,000 | 6 | $125,110 | $36,092 | $126,006 |
| 2020 | $2,326,533 | $1,192,066 | $59,622 | $56,000 | 4 | — | $22,103 | $54,920 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Blackthorn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $160K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Blackthorn Foundation is led by Monica Drennan Brown, Chair on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Monica Drennan Brown
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Drennan Brown
Officer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Anthony Brown
Officer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Anthony Brown
Officer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mark Ellis Brown (2020) — Officer & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Blackthorn Foundation
How much does The Blackthorn Foundation give each year?
The Blackthorn Foundation gave $160K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $150K across 4 grants.
What is The Blackthorn Foundation's typical grant size?
The Blackthorn Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $40,000, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Blackthorn Foundation give grants?
The Blackthorn Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (25%).
Does The Blackthorn Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The Blackthorn Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Blackthorn Foundation?
The Blackthorn Foundation reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $160K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $160K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Blackthorn Foundation's EIN?
The Blackthorn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3393745. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Blackthorn Foundation funds
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