The Robert H Brethen Foundation
The Robert H Brethen Foundation is a private foundation based in Lenoir City, Tennessee. Its 2024 grants supported organizations and purposes including healthcare programs, cancer research, community support, recreation, wildlife, animals, and children.
The Robert H Brethen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robert H Brethen Foundation gave $707K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $101K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $706,632
- +194.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $100,947
- +320.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $12,732,681
- +17.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to The Robert H Brethen Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2023 filing says there is no required form or format. An application should provide enough information for the trustee to assess the need and proposed use of the funds and determine whether the stated restrictions will be met. Contact David M Brethen. Awards are available to qualifying government entities for exclusively public purposes or to qualifying organizations operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literacy, or educational purposes. The filing also states that at least 65% of distributed funds shall be for use within the Greater Dayton, Ohio area.
- Review Cycle
- The 2023 filing states there are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2023 filing states there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: David M Brethen
Mailing address: 1359 Zepher Drive, Lenoir City, TN 37772-1476
Phone: (937) 287-6906
Email: dmbrethen@celstargroup.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert H Brethen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Miami Valley Hospital Foundation ($496K). Together the top 7 received $707K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 68 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to recipients in Tennessee (69% of grant dollars), Ohio (27%), and Florida (4%). Its 2023 filing states that at least 65% of distributed funds shall be for use within the Greater Dayton, Ohio area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Robert H Brethen Foundation gives
- Giving grew 383% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $146K (2022) to $707K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $707K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Valley Hospital Foundation Dayton, OH | Raise Community Support for Cutting-Edge Programs. | $495,632 |
| Fort Sanders Foundation Knoxville, TN | Donation to Support Healthcare Programs | $100,000 |
| Pelotonia Columbus, OH | Donation for Cancer Research | $40,000 |
| Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial Association Dayton, OH | Support families and coworkers of fallen or injured officers | $30,000 |
| Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing Minneapolis, MN | Donation to Support Community | $25,000 |
| Lenoir City Lenoir City, TN | Donation for Recreation Programs | $15,000 |
| National Fire Safety Council Michigan Center, MI | Provide local fire departments with life safety and educational materials | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,732,681 | $1,116,773 | $815,770 | $706,632 | 7 | $706,632 | $1,008,885 | $555,784 |
| 2024 | $10,818,508 | $572,256 | $356,689 | $240,000 | 10 | $240,000 | $137,410 | $499,427 |
| 2023 | $8,228,758 | $1,036,286 | $734,683 | $625,560 | 18 | $625,560 | $190,654 | $430,273 |
| 2022 | $7,353,272 | $614,316 | $235,628 | $146,200 | 19 | $146,200 | $93,015 | $379,964 |
| 2021 | $8,348,741 | $681,835 | $330,596 | $249,000 | 14 | — | $134,146 | $387,674 |
| 2019 | $5,933,524 | $495,560 | $276,754 | $201,500 | 21 | — | $170,892 | $269,724 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert H Brethen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $556K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of purposes. For example, Pelotonia describes its mission as engaging, inspiring, and challenging a community committed to accelerating innovative cancer research. The Dayton Foundation says it operates for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes. The Tennessee Wildlife Federation describes its work as conservation, sound management, and wise use of Tennessee’s wildlife and outdoors, including education and natural-resource conservation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $240,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $12,500. Notable grants included $100,000 to Fort Sanders Foundation for healthcare programs, $30,000 to Pelotonia for cancer research, $25,000 to The Dayton Foundation to support the Dayton community, and $25,000 to The Brethen Foundation to support the Lenoir City community. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 7 grants totaling $706,632.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David M Brethen as Secretary/Trustee and Karen B Johns as Trustee.
The Robert H Brethen Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David M. Brethen
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$8K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Karen B. Johns
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert H. Brethen (2019–2022) — President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $8K, to David M Brethen (Secy/Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Robert H Brethen Foundation
How much does The Robert H Brethen Foundation give each year?
The Robert H Brethen Foundation gave $707K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $240K across 10 grants.
What is The Robert H Brethen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robert H Brethen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $100,947, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Robert H Brethen Foundation give grants?
The Robert H Brethen Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dayton, OH (2 grants).
Does The Robert H Brethen Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Robert H Brethen Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Robert H Brethen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robert H Brethen Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Miami Valley Hospital Foundation ($495,632), Fort Sanders Foundation ($100,000) and Pelotonia ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert H Brethen Foundation?
The Robert H Brethen Foundation reported $12.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $707K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $556K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Robert H Brethen Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of purposes. For example, Pelotonia describes its mission as engaging, inspiring, and challenging a community committed to accelerating innovative cancer research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert H Brethen Foundation?
The foundation’s 2023 filing says there is no required form or format. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robert H Brethen Foundation's EIN?
The Robert H Brethen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1213173. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 9, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 14, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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