The Brandenburg Family Foundation
The Brandenburg Family Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, California. It supports organizations that foster self-reliance, promote economic independence, and improve quality of life for underserved people in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Key facts about The Brandenburg Family Foundation
In short: The Brandenburg Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 88 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in California. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 77-0444869
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,121,721
- Grants made (2024)
- 88
- Average grant
- $12,747
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (13 of 87, 2024)
- Total assets
- $8,957
- Primary geography
- California (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation 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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
$9K
-44.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-29.8% YoY
Grant Count
88
-9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-22.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brandenburg Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $375 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Brandenburg Family Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 87 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its community commitment as investing in organizations that foster self-reliance, promote economic independence, and improve quality of life for underserved individuals. Its 2024 grants supported, among other purposes, poverty alleviation, college preparation, orchestral music and arts education, public safety, youth development, and community service.
Examples illustrate the range of supported organizations. The Forgotten International describes its mission as improving the welfare of impoverished and “forgotten” people in the poorest areas of the world. An individual recipient High School says it prepares students from underserved Silicon Valley communities to pursue college and become leaders. An individual recipient says it provides orchestral performances, educational services, and arts advocacy in the Greater Silicon Valley region.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 88 grants totaling $1,121,721. Grants ranged from $165 to $252,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $252,000 to The Forgotten International for poverty-alleviation programs; $100,000 each to an individual recipient High School for college-preparation programs and an individual recipient for music, education, and arts advocacy; and $80,000 to Namgyal Monastery for a program offering Western students the opportunity to study Tibetan Buddhism in a monastic setting. Other grants included $50,000 to the an individual recipient Police Foundation for public-safety programs and $25,000 each to Bellarmine College Preparatory, Cinquest, Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council, the SJSU Foundation, and YMCA of Silicon Valley.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Brandenburg Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its community investment as extending throughout Silicon Valley and beyond. In 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 10% to recipients in New York. The listed 2024 grants include support for organizations in an individual recipient and elsewhere in California, as well as Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 88 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 88 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Forgotten International ($252K). Together the top 10 received $627K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($101,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
383 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 355 grants of 383 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Forgotten International San Francisco, CA | Support programs that help alleviate poverty and the suffering associated with poverty both in the united states and worldwide, in particular, that experienced by women and children. | $252,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $100,000 |
| Symphony San Jose San Jose, CA | Support programs that provide orchestral music performances, educational services, and arts advocacy programs to the greater silicon valley region. | $100,000 |
| Namgyal Monastery Ithaca, NY | Support program that offers western students the opportunity to study authentic tibetan buddhism in a monastic setting. | $80,000 |
| San Jose Police Foundation San Jose, CA | Support programs to further enhance public safety for people in this community. | $50,000 |
| Bellarmine College Prepatory San Jose, CA | Support Programs That Helps Prepare Students for College. | $25,000 |
| Cinquest Inc San Jose, CA | Support Programs to Promote Independent Film Makers. | $25,000 |
| Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council San Jose, CA | Support programs that prepare young people to make ethical choices by instilling in them the values of the scout oath and scout law. | $25,000 |
| The SJSU Foundation San Jose, CA | Support activities for the san jose state men's golf team. | $25,000 |
| YMCA of Silicon Valley Santa Clara, CA | Support programs that strengthen our community by improving the quality of life and inspiring indviduals and families to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body. | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,957 | $1,143,841 | $1,151,067 | $1,121,721 | 88 |
| 2023 | $16,183 | $1,635,747 | $1,630,857 | $1,597,220 | 97 |
| 2022 | $11,293 | $1,225,773 | $1,227,510 | $1,175,958 | 77 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,957 | $16,183 | $11,293 |
| Revenue | $1,143,841 | $1,635,747 | $1,225,773 |
| Expenses | $1,151,067 | $1,630,857 | $1,227,510 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,121,721 | $1,597,220 | $1,175,958 |
| Distributable Amount | $375 | $446 | $216 |
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 Diane M. Brandenburg as president; William B. Baron as vice president; and Garros Ng as secretary and CFO. Directors listed are Karen Brandenburg, William L. Brandenburg, Liesa Fenton, and Melanie Snow.
The Brandenburg Family Foundation is led by Diane M. Brandenburg, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diane M. Brandenburg
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Karen Brandenburg
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Liesa Fenton
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Melanie Snow
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William L. Brandenburg
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Garros Ng
Secretary & CFO
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William B. Baron
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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: 1122 Willow St 200, San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 279-5215
Website: https://brandenburg-properties.com
Frequently asked questions about The Brandenburg Family Foundation
How much does The Brandenburg Family Foundation give each year?
The Brandenburg Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 88 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 97 grants.
What is The Brandenburg Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Brandenburg Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,747, across 88 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Brandenburg Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Brandenburg Family Foundation give grants?
The Brandenburg Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Jose, CA (34 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants), Santa Clara, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does The Brandenburg Family Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of The Brandenburg Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 88) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Brandenburg Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Brandenburg Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Forgotten International ($252,000), Symphony San Jose ($100,000) and Namgyal Monastery ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($101,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Brandenburg Family Foundation?
The Brandenburg Family Foundation reported $9K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $375 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Brandenburg Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its community commitment as investing in organizations that foster self-reliance, promote economic independence, and improve quality of life for underserved individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Brandenburg Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 ↑
What is The Brandenburg Family Foundation's EIN?
The Brandenburg Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0444869. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Brandenburg Family Foundation 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.
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