The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its 2024 filing reports 95 grants totaling $2,710,992 to charitable organizations, including recipients in Kentucky, California, Iowa, Colorado, and New York.
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found at a glance
In short: The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found gave $2.7M across 95 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), top state Kentucky. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,710,992
- -14.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 95
- -15.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $28,537
- +1.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $15,489,888
- +64.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (12 of 67, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (44% 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 Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation 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 Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kentucky College of Art Design ($370K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
578 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 505 grants of 578 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Kentucky (44%), California (25%), Iowa (11%), Colorado (7%), and New York (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 95 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 67 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 135% 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 $2.2M (2020) to $3.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 95 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 |
| Kentucky College of Art Design Louisville, KY | General Support | $200,336 |
| University of Virginia Boone, IA | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $164,880 |
| Louisville Orchestra Louisville, KY | General Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $150,236 |
| University of Virginia Boone, IA | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $138,659 |
| Speed Art Museum Louisville, KY | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $115,763 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $100,601 |
| Thacher School Ojai, CA | Restricted Support - Stock Contribution (See Attached Information) | $100,209 |
| Kentucky College of Art Design Louisville, KY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Pundarika Foundation Crestone, CO | Restricted Support | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15,489,888 | $1,489,451 | $2,847,593 | $2,710,992 | 95 | $2,797,267 | $1,472,879 | $2,073,864 |
| 2023 | $9,441,429 | $2,454,301 | $3,275,486 | $3,180,000 | 113 | $3,225,417 | $2,436,557 | $2,797,924 |
| 2022 | $10,262,614 | $3,375,274 | $3,364,508 | $3,288,515 | 133 | $3,327,154 | $1,694,898 | $3,175,406 |
| 2021 | $10,251,848 | $2,413,474 | $3,197,031 | $3,098,073 | 142 | — | $2,404,411 | $3,330,376 |
| 2020 | $11,035,405 | $1,430,883 | $2,343,655 | $2,237,783 | 95 | — | $1,410,945 | $3,169,450 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found reported a distributable amount of $2.1M 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 in the available information. Its 2024 grants include support for arts and cultural organizations, parks, education, and other charitable work. These examples describe grantees’ missions, not the foundation’s own: Parks Alliance of Louisville says it works to advance equitable investment in public parks to improve community health and wellbeing; Kentucky College of Art and Design says it provides undergraduate education in the contemporary arts; and Louisville Story Program says it collaborates with historically under-supported communities to document and preserve their stories and heritage.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 95 grants totaling $2,710,992. Grants ranged from $500 to $333,453, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest reported grants were $333,453 to Parks Alliance of Louisville, $200,336 to Kentucky College of Art and Design, $150,236 to Louisville Orchestra, and $115,763 to Speed Art Museum. The filing lists purposes including general support, restricted support, and restricted support through stock contributions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Owsley Brown III as director/president and lists Brooke Brown Barzun, Augusta Brown Holland, and Christina Lee Brown as directors.
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found is led by Owsley Brown III, Director, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Owsley Brown III
Director, President & Secretary
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
Brooke Brown Barzun
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina Lee Brown
Director
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 Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found
How much does The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found give each year?
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found gave $2.7M across 95 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 113 grants.
What is The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's typical grant size?
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $28,537, across 95 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found give grants?
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's top state is Kentucky, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (25%) and Iowa (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (20 grants), San Francisco, CA (16 grants), Half Moon Bay, CA (4 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 95) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Restricted Support" (53 grants).
Who are The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's largest grantees?
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's largest 2024 grantees include Kentucky College of Art Design ($370,336 across 4 grants), Parks Alliance of Louisville ($349,953 across 4 grants) and University of Virginia ($303,539 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found?
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found reported $15.5M 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 $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants include support for arts and cultural organizations, parks, education, and other charitable work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found?
The foundation 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 Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's EIN?
The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4432014. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-owsley-brown-iii-philanthropic-found-morg_70d152b224c541e7859eaba2310b8eb2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_274432014_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-owsley-brown-iii-philanthropic-found-morg_70d152b224c541e7859eaba2310b8eb2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Found'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.
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