The Brown Family Foundation
The Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Luis Obispo, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 16 grants totaling $73K. Net investment income was $309K.
Key facts about The Brown Family Foundation
In short: The Brown Family Foundation gave $73K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in California. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 88-0392787
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $73,200
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $4,575
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,687,389
- Primary geography
- California (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
+15.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$73K
+9.3% YoY
Grant Count
16
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-18.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brown Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $76K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Brown Family Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 187% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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
58 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF AVILA PIER Avila Beach, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| PACIFIC WILDLIFE CARE San Luis Obispo, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE Boone, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS Pismo Beach, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| STANFORD MEDICINE Stanford, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY San Luis Obispo, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| ANCHOR BAPTIST CHURCH MINISTRIES Pisgah Forest, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION Sacramento, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| MEALS THAT CONNECT San Luis Obispo, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AMERICARES Stamford, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,687,389 | $1,459,815 | $1,305,308 |
| Revenue | $323,134 | $237,366 | $47,735 |
| Expenses | $96,059 | $84,459 | $49,749 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $73,200 | $67,000 | $40,755 |
| Net Investment Income | $309,291 | $150,186 | $40,726 |
| Distributable Amount | $76,335 | $67,041 | $66,543 |
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
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Brown Family Foundation is led by Douglas H. Brown II, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Douglas H. Brown II
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Brown
Secy-Treas
On filings since 2020
0.1 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 Brown Family Foundation
How much does The Brown Family Foundation give each year?
The Brown Family Foundation gave $73K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $67K across 12 grants.
What is The Brown Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Brown Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,575, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Brown Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Brown Family Foundation give grants?
The Brown Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Luis Obispo, CA (3 grants), Pismo Beach, CA (2 grants) and Sacramento, CA (2 grants).
Does The Brown Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Brown Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Brown Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Brown Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Friends of Avila Pier ($15,000), Pacific Wildlife Care ($10,000) and Samaritan's Purse ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Brown Family Foundation?
The Brown Family Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $73K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $76K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Brown Family Foundation?
The Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Luis Obispo, CA. It holds $1.7M in total assets as of 2024.
What is The Brown Family Foundation's EIN?
The Brown Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0392787. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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