The Brass Family Foundation
The Brass Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lennox, South Dakota. Its 2025 filing reports 10 grants totaling $120,000, with all listed grants designated for general assistance.
The Brass Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Brass Family Foundation gave $120K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in South Dakota. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $120,000
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,000
- -13.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,223,749
- -1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Brass Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Lorin Brass for the application form and materials. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Lorin L Brass
Mailing address: 46652 278Th Street, Lennox, SD 57039
Phone: (605) 759-5547
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Brass Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was SD Mines Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement (CARA) ($40K). Together the top 10 received $120K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 41 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of the foundation’s grant dollars went to recipients in South Dakota and 5% to a recipient in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Brass Family Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 $100K (2023) to $130K (2022). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $120K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SD Mines Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement (CARA) Rapid City, SD | General Assistance | $40,000 |
| Abbey of the Hills Marvin, SD | General Assistance | $15,000 |
| South Dakota Humanities Council Brookings, SD | General Assistance | $13,000 |
| Diocese of Rapid City Rapid City, SD | General Assistance | $12,000 |
| First Tee of South Dakota Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $10,000 |
| St Carlo Acustis Center Rapid City, SD | General Assistance | $10,000 |
| NAMI SD Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $6,500 |
| Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls LIttle Falls, MN | General Assistance | $6,000 |
| Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Crazy Horse, SD | General Assistance | $5,000 |
| Team Buche Cures Underdog Foundation Sioux Falls, SD | General Assistance | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Brass Family Foundation?
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 | $2,223,749 | $109,094 | $148,877 | $120,000 | 10 | $121,784 | $84,852 | $116,333 |
| 2024 | $2,263,513 | $289,504 | $152,314 | $125,000 | 9 | $127,376 | $265,444 | $111,382 |
| 2023 | $2,128,230 | $69,106 | $124,686 | $100,000 | 6 | $101,644 | $58,659 | $109,324 |
| 2022 | $2,185,498 | $-4,648 | $155,670 | $130,000 | 7 | $131,385 | $53,104 | $116,706 |
| 2021 | $2,349,668 | $128,555 | $150,234 | $124,500 | 9 | $127,056 | $105,377 | $127,961 |
| 2020 | $2,371,492 | $113,868 | $134,491 | $106,000 | 7 | — | $91,756 | $121,186 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brass Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $116K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including higher education, humanities, religious and community services, youth programs, and health-related causes.
Among its grantees, the South Dakota Humanities Council says it supports public programming in history, literature, archaeology, and other humanities disciplines. The Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation describes its mission as protecting and preserving the cultures, traditions, and living heritage of North American Indians.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $120,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $40,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Its largest awards included $40,000 to SD Mines Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement (CARA), $15,000 to Abbey of the Hills, $13,000 to the South Dakota Humanities Council, and $12,000 to the Diocese of Rapid City. Each was listed for general assistance.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to contact Lorin Brass for application forms and materials, and states that there are no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lorin L Brass as president; Adam Brand as vice president; Jennifer L Brand as secretary; Mary H Brass as treasurer; and Brian D Shephard, Mary G Brass, and Katherine M Shephard as trustees.
The Brass Family Foundation is led by Lorin L Brass, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lorin L Brass
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian D Shephard
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine M Shephard
Trustee
Officer → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary G Brass
Treasurer & Trustee
Treasurer & Secretary → Treasurer & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Brand
Vice President
Officer → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer L Brand
Secretary
Officer → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 Brass Family Foundation
How much does The Brass Family Foundation give each year?
The Brass Family Foundation gave $120K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $125K across 9 grants.
What is The Brass Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Brass Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Brass Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Brass Family Foundation give grants?
The Brass Family Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rapid City, SD (3 grants) and Sioux Falls, SD (3 grants).
Does The Brass Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Brass Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Brass Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Brass Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include SD Mines Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement (CARA) ($40,000), Abbey of the Hills ($15,000) and South Dakota Humanities Council ($13,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Brass Family Foundation?
The Brass Family Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $122K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $116K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Brass Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including higher education, humanities, religious and community services, youth programs, and health-related causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Brass Family Foundation?
Contact Lorin Brass for the application form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Brass Family Foundation's EIN?
The Brass Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8084679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Brass Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
South Dakota Community Foundation
Pierre, SD
The South Dakota Community Foundation funds nonprofits and charitable projects in areas including education, health, human services, culture, and economic development, primarily benefiting South Dakota communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $18,562, while 2026 Beyond Idea Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000 per year. Eligible nonprofits can apply for South Dakota Fund and Beyond Idea Grants through its online portal.
Assets
$939.2M
Grants
390
Total Given
$39.7M
Larson Foundation
Sioux Falls, SD
The Larson Foundation supports eligible charitable organizations, educational institutions, and government units working to improve quality of life, with recent grants spanning housing, youth programs, education, and family services. It gives primarily in South Dakota, with a typical grant around $30,000 (2025 median; awards ranged from $4,500 to $260,000). Applicants must complete a grant request form, so it accepts requests; deadlines are March 1 and September 1, subject to change.
Assets
$23.1M
Grants
29
Total Given
$1.4M
Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund Inc
Sylvania, OH
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$150K
LFH Foundation Family Trust
Delray Beach, FL
The foundation supports preselected charitable organizations across education, human services, health research, and historical preservation; its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $16,500. Most 2024 funding went to New York, followed by New Jersey, Florida, California, and Massachusetts. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$26.7M
Grants
38
Total Given
$1.7M
Peter G Wagner Charitable Foundation
Champaign, IL
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$188K
Donovan Family Foundation
Jackson, WY
The Jackson, Wyoming-based foundation made 15 grants totaling $132,500 in 2023, with gifts ranging from $500 to $75,000 and a median of $5,000. Most grant dollars went to Wyoming recipients, though grants also went to organizations in several other states; the foundation said it funded only preselected charities and did not accept unsolicited requests. It appears to have wound down, so its past giving does not indicate current grant availability.
Assets
—
Grants
15
Total Given
$133K
More similar funders
More Funders in South Dakota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Brass Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-brass-family-foundation-morg_9463fcd4cfe14252aa826be626204dc3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208084679_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Brass Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-brass-family-foundation-morg_9463fcd4cfe14252aa826be626204dc3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Brass Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Brass Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?