The Brown Foundation
The Brown Foundation is a private foundation based in Camden, New Jersey. Its 2025 filing reports three grants totaling $500,600. The foundation’s website describes a mission of alleviating human suffering and lists education, research, shelter and food security, and other programs.
The Brown Foundation at a glance
In short: The Brown Foundation gave $501K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $167K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $500,600
- -24.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -57.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $166,867
- +76.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $9,663,814
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Brown Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
The website says organizations may submit a Letter of Interest following its instructions, but an invitation is required to submit a grant application for consideration, subject to the stated specialized-program…
The website says organizations may submit a Letter of Interest following its instructions, but an invitation is required to submit a grant application for consideration, subject to the stated specialized-program exceptions. It says it does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1606, Camden, NJ 08101
Phone: (856) 470-1541
Website: https://thebrownfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Brown Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cooper Foundation ($500K). Together the top 3 received $501K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 34 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey and less than 1% to recipients in Florida. Separately, the website says the plurality of its annual giving budget is allocated to the Jefferson Parish metropolitan statistical area and parts of the Louisiana coastline, while also supporting projects elsewhere in the United States, particularly in medical research and basic science. The materials do not establish whether the website’s geographic description applies to the Camden foundation in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Brown Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 71% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $501K (2025) to $662K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $501K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Foundation Camden, NJ | Charitable | $500,000 |
| Longport Scholarship Fund Longport, NJ | Charitable | $500 |
| American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens Titusville, FL | Charitable | $100 |
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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 | $9,663,814 | $106,062 | $513,315 | $500,600 | 3 | $500,600 | $343,448 | $702,402 |
| 2024 | $10,062,559 | $1,073,681 | $693,018 | $662,075 | 7 | $664,760 | $1,058,597 | $597,676 |
| 2023 | $9,505,566 | $1,520,620 | $660,246 | $610,767 | 7 | $610,775 | $1,510,654 | $550,931 |
| 2022 | $8,233,669 | $1,782,135 | $567,188 | $559,190 | 9 | $559,190 | $1,782,093 | $619,122 |
| 2021 | $6,893,920 | $446,846 | $659,212 | $656,900 | 8 | — | $446,809 | $568,160 |
| 2020 | $6,587,592 | $459,538 | $644,153 | $633,348 | 9 | — | $459,515 | $635,993 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brown Foundation reported a distributable amount of $702K 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
The website states the mission as “Alleviate Human Suffering.” It describes support for education initiatives, including K–12 STEM and service learning, as well as fundamental research, shelter and food security, summer camps, and excellence awards. It also describes operating a foundation center and tree nursery in Jefferson Parish.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported three grants totaling $500,600. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $500. Its largest reported grant was $500,000 to Cooper Foundation in Camden, New Jersey; the other listed recipients were Longport Scholarship Fund ($500) and American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens ($100).
The website says it does not accept unsolicited applications or requests. It invites eligible organizations to submit a Letter of Interest under its stated protocols, but says that an application must be directly invited by the foundation to be considered. It does not accept applications from individuals. Some program application packets are restricted to approved applicants. The website identifies exceptions for certain specialized K–12 programs, including Summer Camp and SupportSTEM. SupportSTEM applicants must be a K–12 school, college or university, or qualifying nonprofit in good standing with the IRS and operating for at least three years in Louisiana or Mississippi; budgets must directly benefit K–12 STEM education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Irwin J. Brown, Sidney R. Brown, Jeffrey S. Brown, and Anne E. Koons as trustees.
The Brown Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne E. Koons
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Irwin J. Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeffrey S. Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sidney R. Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Shirley G. Brown (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Bernard A. Brown (2020–2021) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased
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 Brown Foundation
How much does The Brown Foundation give each year?
The Brown Foundation gave $501K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $662K across 7 grants.
What is The Brown Foundation's typical grant size?
The Brown Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $166,867, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Brown Foundation give grants?
The Brown Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Brown Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Brown Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (3 grants).
How large is The Brown Foundation?
The Brown Foundation reported $9.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $501K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $702K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Brown Foundation fund?
The website states the mission as “Alleviate Human Suffering.” It describes support for education initiatives, including K–12 STEM and service learning, as well as fundamental research, shelter and food security, summer camps, and excellence awards. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Brown Foundation?
The website says organizations may submit a Letter of Interest following its instructions, but an invitation is required to submit a grant application for consideration, subject to the stated specialized-program… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Brown Foundation's EIN?
The Brown Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6083927. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Brown Foundation 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 2020–2025
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