The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its 2024 filings show grants to organizations including parks, arts, education, library, civic engagement, and community organizations.
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic at a glance
In short: The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic gave $2.7M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Kentucky. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,654,206
- -11.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- -12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,397
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $8,284,658
- -8.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (10 of 48, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 427 W Muhammad Ali Blvd 801, Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 805-7200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Speed Art Museum ($505K across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
293 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 209 grants of 293 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky, 9% to North Carolina, 4% each to New York and Washington, and 1% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 48 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 136% of 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2020) to $3.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Parks Alliance of Louisville Louisville, KY | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $333,453 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Restricted Support | $250,000 |
| Speed Art Museum Louisville, KY | Restricted Support | $250,000 |
| Community Foundation of Louisville Louisville, KY | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $208,204 |
| Speed Art Museum Louisville, KY | Restricted Support | $144,078 |
| Metro United Way Louisville, KY | General Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $100,722 |
| Planned Parenthood Seattle, WA | General Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $100,484 |
| Louisville Free Public Library Foundation Louisville, KY | Restricted Support | $100,000 |
| Rebound Inc Louisville, KY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Sowing Seeds of Faith Louisville, KY | General Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,284,658 | $1,306,294 | $2,805,765 | $2,654,206 | 56 | $2,760,745 | $1,292,599 | $2,035,087 |
| 2023 | $9,072,100 | $2,295,998 | $3,158,446 | $3,012,560 | 64 | $3,114,688 | $2,281,486 | $2,753,471 |
| 2022 | $9,934,548 | $3,324,906 | $3,310,515 | $3,178,666 | 65 | $3,276,771 | $1,647,620 | $3,110,665 |
| 2021 | $9,920,157 | $2,273,741 | $3,219,489 | $3,089,964 | 46 | — | $2,263,208 | $3,268,538 |
| 2020 | $10,865,905 | $1,637,685 | $2,661,240 | $2,554,135 | 62 | — | $1,615,047 | $3,156,916 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for the Parks Alliance of Louisville, the Speed Art Museum, Duke University, the Louisville Free Public Library Foundation, and other organizations.
The Parks Alliance of Louisville describes its mission as driving equitable investment in public parks to improve community health and wellbeing. The Speed Art Museum says it invites everyone to celebrate art and offers opportunities to connect with art. Metro United Way says its mission is to improve lives and the community by engaging people to give, advocate, and volunteer. These are the grantees’ descriptions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $2,654,206. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $333,453, with a median of $22,500.
Among the largest reported grants were $333,453 to Parks Alliance of Louisville, $250,000 to Duke University, $250,000 and $144,078 to the Speed Art Museum, $208,204 to Community Foundation of Louisville, and $100,722 to Metro United Way. Other grants included $100,484 to Planned Parenthood in Seattle, $100,000 to the Louisville Free Public Library Foundation, $100,000 to Rebound Inc., and $100,000 to Sowing Seeds of Faith. Filing descriptions identify some grants as restricted support and others as general support; several are noted as stock contributions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Augusta Brown Holland as director; Brooke Brown Barzun as director and president; Owsley Brown III as director and secretary; and Matthew Barzun as director and treasurer.
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic is led by Brooke Brown Barzun, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brooke Brown Barzun
Director & President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Augusta Brown Holland
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Barzun
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Owsley Brown III
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic
How much does The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic give each year?
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic gave $2.7M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.0M across 64 grants.
What is The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's typical grant size?
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's median grant in 2024 was $22,500, and its average grant was $47,397, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic that year got $26K on average.
Where does The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic give grants?
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic gives mostly in Kentucky: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (36 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic give general operating support?
Yes: 61% of The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (34 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Restricted Support" (20 grants).
Who are The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's largest grantees?
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's largest 2024 grantees include Speed Art Museum ($505,203 across 6 grants), Parks Alliance of Louisville ($339,703 across 2 grants) and Duke University ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic?
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic reported $8.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for the Parks Alliance of Louisville, the Speed Art Museum, Duke University, the Louisville Free Public Library Foundation, and other organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic?
The foundation states that it 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 Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's EIN?
The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4432411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Kentucky
Kentucky Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc
Louisville, KY
The Community Foundation of Louisville funds nonprofits across areas including education, arts and culture, health, and community development, with a focus on Louisville and surrounding communities while also supporting work beyond the region. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,012 to $3,853,691, with a median of $22,987; it states that grant programs for local nonprofits use an open application and review process.
Assets
$766.9M
Grants
678
Total Given
$55.0M
Sociable Weaver Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
The foundation supports community, cultural, environmental, and educational organizations, primarily in Kentucky, which received 90% of its 2024 grant dollars. Its 70 grants totaled about $2.59 million, with a median grant of $7,000 and awards ranging from $983 to $998,908. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$8.7M
Grants
70
Total Given
$2.6M
The Community Foundation of Louisville Depository Inc
Louisville, KY
The Community Foundation of Louisville supports a broad range of causes, including arts, parks, education, social services, and libraries, with most 2025 grant dollars going to Kentucky organizations. Its 2025 grants had a median of $15,200 and ranged from $5,100 to over $2.3 million; the available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$24.0M
Grants
421
Total Given
$20.5M
The Gheens Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
The Gheens Foundation funds primarily public urban education, human and social services, quality of place, and the arts in metropolitan Louisville and Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in Louisiana. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $400,000, with a median of $25,000, and it accepts unsolicited requests through an online application process.
Assets
$161.4M
Grants
157
Total Given
$6.3M
LG&E and Ku Foundation Inc
Louisville, KY
The foundation funds community organizations in economic development, education, the environment, and diversity, as well as event sponsorships and tree-planting grants, primarily in communities served by LG&E and KU. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $749,000, with a median of $2,500; 96% of grant dollars went to Kentucky. It accepts community grant applications through its online portal in March and October.
Assets
$22.0M
Grants
497
Total Given
$4.3M
The Community Foundation of Louisville Corporate Depository Inc
Louisville, KY
The Community Foundation of Louisville supports 501(c)(3) organizations and charitable projects, with grants spanning human services, youth, education, health, housing, and philanthropy. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,157 to $720,515, with a median of $12,000; most funding went to Kentucky, particularly Louisville and some surrounding areas. It offers open application processes for specific programs, but the profile does not state whether it accepts general unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.3M
Grants
128
Total Given
$4.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Kentucky
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-brooke-brown-barzun-philanthropic-morg_2854d754eaa54b5db1453ed0c276c38b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_274432411_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-brooke-brown-barzun-philanthropic-morg_2854d754eaa54b5db1453ed0c276c38b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic'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 Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic down — hundreds of funders to go?