The Brandenburg Family Foundation
The Brandenburg Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Jose, California, dedicated to creating and sustaining a vibrant and healthy community where Silicon Valley residents have equal opportunity to live, work, and be enriched. The Foundation invests in strong community-based nonprofit organizations that promote self-reliance and economic independence and contribute to the quality of life for economically, physically, and emotionally challenged individuals.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's stated purpose is to support community services, art and cultural programs, education, youth services, health, and Christian organizations. Primary funding interests include:
- Community development and services
- Social and human services
- Education
- Youth services
- Health
- Art and cultural programs
- Religious organizations
- Environmental education
- Community and school gardens
- Renewable energy
- Disaster preparedness and relief
- Human rights and social justice
Grantmaking
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Applicants must submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to the foundation. There are no stated application deadlines.
Grant Range
$5,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 60% of grants remain in California. The Foundation also provides significant support to organizations in New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Maine. Primary focus is on Silicon Valley and areas where the Brandenburg family operates.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total assets: $16,183
- Total annual giving: $1,597,220
Distribution of Giving:
- Social and Human Services: approximately 37%
- Religion: approximately 18%
- Education: approximately 13%
| 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 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $375 | $446 | $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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cristo Rey San Jose High School ($100,000), Namgyal Monastery ($80,000), San Jose Police Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALMADEN VALLEY WOMENS' CLUB SAN JOSE, CA | SUPPORT THE MISSION TO STIMULATE, BY THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF EACH MEMBER, INTEREST IN THE SOCIAL, CIVIC, AND CULTURAL IMPROVEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. | $5,000 |
| ALWAYS DREAM FOUNDATION DANVILLE, CA | SUPPORT THE MISSION TO ENSURE CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS IN THE HOME ENVIROMENT AND EXTENSIVE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT. | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ATLANTA, GA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT SUPPORT, TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT AND DETECT. | $1,000 |
| ARTHOUSE STUDIO INC SAN JOSE, CA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT SERVICES SCHOOLS IN THE CALIFORNIA BAY AREA AND BEYOND. | $20,000 |
| BELLARMINE COLLEGE PREPATORY SAN JOSE, CA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT HELPS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE. | $25,000 |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY KANAB, UT | SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT HELPS ANIMALS. | $2,500 |
| BOBBY NICHOLS - FIDDLESTICKS CHARITY FOUNDATION FT MYERS, FL | SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR ABUSED AND AT RISK CHILDREN. | $1,000 |
| CANCER CAREPOINT INC ATLANTA, GA | SUPPORT CANCER PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS IN SILICON VALLEY. | $10,000 |
| CINQUEST INC SAN JOSE, CA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT FILM MAKERS. | $25,000 |
| CRISTO REY SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL SAN JOSE, CA | SUPPORT PROGRAMS WHICH EMPOWER STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN SAN JOSE TO BE PREPARED TO COMPLETE COLLEGE. | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Diane M Brandenburg – President
- Lee H. Brandenburg – Donor
- William L Brandenburg – Director
- Karen Brandenburg – Director
- Garros Ng – Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
- Liesa Fenton – Director
- Melanie Snow – Director
- William B Baron – Vice President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANE M BRANDENBURG | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| WILLIAM B BARON | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| GARROS NG | SECRETARY & CFO | — | — |
| KAREN BRANDENBURG | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| WILLIAM L BRANDENBURG | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LIESA FENTON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MELANIE SNOW | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Brandenburg Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation's stated purpose is to support community services, art and cultural programs, education, youth services, health, and Christian organizations. Primary funding interests include: • Community development and services • Social and human services • Education • Youth services • Health • Art and cultural programs • Religious organizations • Environmental education • Community and school gardens • Renewable energy • Disaster preparedness and relief • Human rights and social justice
How do I apply for a grant from The Brandenburg Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.6 million • Number of grants: 74 grants annually (2023 data) • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $578,000 **Application Process:** The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Applicants must submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to the foundation. There are no stated application deadlines. **Recent Grant Examples:** • $578,000 to Namgyal Monastery • $187,000 to Forgotten International • $76,000 to Silicon Valley Mont…
Where does The Brandenburg Family Foundation make grants?
Approximately 60% of grants remain in California. The Foundation also provides significant support to organizations in New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Maine. Primary focus is on Silicon Valley and areas where the Brandenburg family operates.
What size grants does The Brandenburg Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Brandenburg Family Foundation awarded 88 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Brandenburg Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Brandenburg Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $375 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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