The Brown Foundation Inc
The Brown Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1951. The foundation was created by Herman and Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown, founders of Brown & Root, Inc., one of the world's largest construction and engineering firms. The foundation operates as a family-directed organization committed to flexible grantmaking that responds to Houston's evolving community needs.
Key facts about The Brown Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 74-6036466
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $84,269,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 222
- Average grant
- $379,592
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (18 of 214, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,147,001,983
- Primary geography
- Texas (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Brown Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Brown Foundation Inc's 222 itemized 2025 grants were Texas (85%) and Pennsylvania (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (179 grants), San Antonio, TX (12 grants), Bellaire, TX (4 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants). 70% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Brown Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 18 of 214 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.2M; repeat grants $324K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Brown Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Brown Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1B
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$84.3M
-28.5% YoY
Grant Count
222
-73.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$380K
+169.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brown Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $103.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to build, sustain, and enhance organizations that make Houston a stronger, more vibrant community. The foundation honors the legacy of its founders by valuing visionary leadership, entrepreneurialism, a commitment to excellence, and an orientation toward action and direct service.
The foundation's primary impact areas include:
Education: A longstanding commitment reflecting the belief that education creates pathways to future opportunity and strengthens communities. Current emphasis focuses on public education at the primary and secondary levels, with particular interest in nontraditional and innovative approaches designed to improve public education primarily within Texas.
Arts & Culture: Support for arts organizations of all sizes—from performing arts to museums, from small community-based groups to flagship institutions—recognizing that the arts contribute meaningfully to community vibrancy and vitality.
Human Services: Community service projects focused upon the needs of children and youth, especially in the Houston area.
Healthcare: Support for medical facilities and healthcare institutions.
Civic Assets: Investment in shared civic infrastructure and institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation has distributed more than $2 billion since its founding in 1951. Recent financial data indicates:
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $25 to $20,748,807
Ready to take the next step with The Brown Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily across Texas, with selective participation in distinctive grantmaking opportunities across Texas and beyond. Grant activity has been documented in Texas, New York, and New Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 222 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2025:
- Total Assets: $1,147,001,983
- Total Revenue: $145,856,621
- Total Expenses: $92,692,676
- Total Giving: $84,269,500
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $1.0 billion
- Total Revenue: $89.6 million
- Total Investments: $860.7 million
The foundation maintains substantial financial resources and demonstrates consistent annual grantmaking activity.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,147,001,983 | $1,093,838,038 | $1,004,415,123 |
| Revenue | $145,856,621 | $183,844,252 | $89,635,504 |
| Expenses | $92,692,676 | $125,930,873 | $91,981,368 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $86,473,880 | $120,032,088 | $86,885,701 |
| Net Investment Income | $142,190,460 | $180,173,159 | $85,950,026 |
| Distributable Amount | $103,624,424 | $100,212,352 | $86,500,905 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
3,687 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Brown Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include National Philanthropic Trust ($11,000,000), Harris Health Strategic Fund ($10,000,000), Precinct4Forward ($7,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | Study Group and Matching Grant Programs | $11,000,000 |
| Harris Health Strategic Fund Bellaire, TX | Investing in a Healthier Harris County | $10,000,000 |
| Precinct4Forward Houston, TX | Burnett Bayland Park Improvements | $7,500,000 |
| YES Prep Public Schools Houston, TX | The Power of YES | $7,000,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy Houston, TX | 10-year plan (Phase I) | $6,000,000 |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation Houston, TX | Houston Charter Seed Fund | $5,000,000 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | Brown Hall of Entomology ($2,850,000) and Youth Education Support ($150,000) | $3,000,000 |
| Coalition for the Homeless of HoustonHarris County Houston, TX | Achieving Equilibrium ($1,500,000) and Operating Support ($75,000) | $1,575,000 |
| Thrive With Autism Foundation Magnolia, TX | Campaign of Hope | $1,550,000 |
| DePelchin Children's Center Houston, TX | Community Based Care | $1,500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John O'Connor | Chair/Trustee | 5 | — |
| Isabel S Lummis | Pres/Trustee | 5 | — |
| Lousia S Sarofim | Sec/Trustee | 2 | — |
| Ann Ziker | ED/Asst Secretary | 50 | $423,001 |
| Jacklyn Tatge | CFO/Treasurer | 40 | $307,500 |
| Ralph Abendshein | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Holbrook F Dorn | Trustee | 2 | — |
| William N Mathis | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Maria Mathis-Kruser | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Caroline Negley | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Ryan O'Connor | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Elisa Pye | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Christopher B Sarofim | Trustee | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced new rounds of grant funding in 2025. Recent grants have supported educational initiatives, including a major grant to benefit area schoolchildren through Howard Payne University's Academy of Freedom program.
THF Announces New Round of Grant FundingSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Brown Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to build, sustain, and enhance organizations that make Houston a stronger, more vibrant community. The foundation honors the legacy of its founders by valuing visionary leadership, entrepreneurialism, a commitment to excellence, and an orientation toward action and direct service. The foundation's primary impact areas include: • **Education**: A longstanding commitment reflecting the belief that education creates pathways to future opportunity and strengthens communi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Brown Foundation Inc?
The foundation has distributed more than $2 billion since its founding in 1951. Recent financial data indicates: • **Total Assets**: $1,147,001,983 • **Total Annual Giving**: $84,269,500 • **Grant Range**: Typical awards range from $25 to $20,748,807 The foundation maintains a flexible grantmaking approach, ensuring that excellent ideas across its key focus areas may be considered. The foundation intentionally maintains a low profile, keeping the focus on the mission of grantees and the communi…
Where does The Brown Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily across Texas, with selective participation in distinctive grantmaking opportunities across Texas and beyond. Grant activity has been documented in Texas, New York, and New Mexico.
What size grants does The Brown Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, The Brown Foundation Inc awarded 222 grants totaling $84.3M — an average of about $380K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Brown Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Brown Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $103.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Brown Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Brown Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6036466. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Brown Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.