The Brackthorn Foundation
The Brackthorn Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $151K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 17 grants totaling $21K. Net investment income was $5K.
The Brackthorn Foundation at a glance
In short: The Brackthorn Foundation gave $21K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,050
- +144.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +112.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,238
- +15.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $151,016
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who The Brackthorn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Poetry Society of Amerca ($6K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 45 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Brackthorn Foundation gives
- 24% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 56% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 264% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2023) to $21K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Poetry Society of Amerca New York, NY | Charitable | $5,500 |
| Institiute for Justice Arlington, VA | Charitable | $4,000 |
| PROMISE2KIDS San Diego, CA | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Paws Chicago Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,500 |
| Native Arts & Cultures Foundation Portland, OR | Charitable | $1,500 |
| Lookingglass Theatre Company Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,500 |
| University of Illinois Foundation Champaign, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Northwestern Pritzker Law Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Woodland Pattern Book Center Milwaukee, WI | Charitable | $500 |
| Syracuse University Syracuse, NY | Charitable | $500 |
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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 | $151,016 | $7,536 | $22,601 | $21,050 | 17 | $21,050 | $5,450 | $7,964 |
| 2024 | $166,081 | $5,991 | $13,574 | $8,600 | 8 | $10,300 | $6,008 | $7,442 |
| 2023 | $173,664 | $4,227 | $7,173 | $3,500 | 3 | $6,300 | $4,403 | $7,515 |
| 2022 | $176,610 | $-846 | $14,886 | $13,500 | 7 | $14,000 | $4,070 | $8,255 |
| 2021 | $192,447 | $8,592 | $11,479 | $10,450 | 10 | $10,450 | $7,563 | $9,086 |
| 2020 | $195,396 | $5,087 | $6,200 | $5,300 | 6 | — | $4,452 | $8,965 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brackthorn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Brackthorn Foundation is led by Scott Brainerd, President & D since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Brainerd
President & D
President & Director → President & D, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elise Paschen
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stuart W. Brainerd
Secretary Treasurer
Secretary Treasurer & Director → Secretary Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Brackthorn Foundation
How much does The Brackthorn Foundation give each year?
The Brackthorn Foundation gave $21K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9K across 8 grants.
What is The Brackthorn Foundation's typical grant size?
The Brackthorn Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,238, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Brackthorn Foundation give grants?
The Brackthorn Foundation's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (26%) and Virginia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Oak Park, IL (2 grants).
Does The Brackthorn Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on The Brackthorn Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (17 grants).
Who are The Brackthorn Foundation's largest grantees?
The Brackthorn Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Poetry Society of Amerca ($5,500), Institiute for Justice ($4,000) and PROMISE2KIDS ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Brackthorn Foundation?
The Brackthorn Foundation reported $151K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Brackthorn Foundation's EIN?
The Brackthorn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3668992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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