Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation
The Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation is a private foundation based in Tucson, Arizona. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including the University of Arizona Foundation, civic engagement organizations, and education and literacy organizations.
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation at a glance
In short: Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation gave $2.8M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $173K), mostly in Arizona. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,767,098
- +48.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $172,944
- -7.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,750
- Total assets
- $45,601,566
- +0.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (7 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (95% 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 Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its guidelines state that recipients must be legally incorporated and recognized by the IRS as 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1990 N Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715
Phone: (520) 298-2828
Website: https://brownfoundations.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Arizona Foundation ($2.1M). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 53 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest share of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona (95%); the reported shares for Colorado, Washington, and California were 4%, 1%, and 1%, respectively. The recipient-state percentages are reported as provided.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 16 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $279K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 125% 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 $1.9M (2023) to $2.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona Foundation Tucson, AZ | Support | $2,144,598 |
| Center for the Future of Arizona Phoenix, AZ | Support | $150,000 |
| Arizona Town Hall Phoenix, AZ | Support | $150,000 |
| Unite America Institute Denver, CO | Support | $100,000 |
| Educational Enrichment Foundation Tucson, AZ | Support | $55,000 |
| Community Foundation of Southern AZ Tucson, AZ | Support | $25,000 |
| Literacy Connects Tucson, AZ | Support | $25,000 |
| Swedish Medical Center Foundation Seattle, WA | Support | $25,000 |
| Pima Jted Foundation Tucson, AZ | Support | $22,500 |
| Sunnyside Foundation Tucson, AZ | Support | $20,000 |
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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 | $45,601,566 | $1,578,850 | $3,477,964 | $2,767,098 | 16 | $2,767,098 | $2,559,938 | $2,211,859 |
| 2023 | $45,444,832 | $966,772 | $2,382,642 | $1,865,000 | 10 | $1,865,000 | $1,175,822 | $2,158,301 |
| 2022 | $44,060,144 | $-462,422 | $2,679,706 | $2,483,274 | 8 | $2,483,274 | $1,394,788 | $2,217,189 |
| 2021 | $49,291,664 | $1,723,742 | $2,814,639 | $2,540,000 | 7 | $2,540,000 | $3,898,159 | $2,433,950 |
| 2020 | $48,165,569 | $581,860 | $2,502,936 | $2,265,000 | 12 | — | $3,363,692 | $2,047,121 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M 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
The foundations say their principles are inspired by Thomas R. Brown and Burr-Brown Corporation. Their stated goals include helping Arizonans become more self-determined and productive and enjoy a higher quality of life. The foundation’s 2024 grants show support for higher education, civic and community organizations, and education and literacy programs.
Among its 2024 grantees, the University of Arizona Foundation says it supports and enhances the University of Arizona through the development and management of private support. Arizona Town Hall describes its work as educating and engaging communities to address challenging issues through informed discussion. Literacy Connects says it connects people of all ages to opportunities through literacy and creative expression. The Educational Enrichment Foundation says it provides resources to enrich student learning in the Tucson Unified School District.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants totaling $2,767,098 in 2024. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $2,144,598, with a median of $23,750. Its largest reported grants were $2,144,598 to the University of Arizona Foundation, $150,000 each to Center for the Future of Arizona and Arizona Town Hall, and $100,000 to Unite America Institute.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary B. Bernal as CEO/Secretary and Sarah B. Smallhouse as President/Treasurer. The foundations’ website identifies Sarah Smallhouse as president and says she oversees the grant portfolios of the family foundations.
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation is led by Mary B. Bernal, CEO & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary B. Bernal
CEO & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah B. Smallhouse
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 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 Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation
How much does Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation give each year?
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation gave $2.8M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 10 grants.
What is Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's typical grant size?
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $23,750, and its average grant was $172,944, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation give grants?
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (9 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (2 grants).
Does Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (16 grants).
Who are Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's largest grantees?
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Arizona Foundation ($2,144,598), Center for the Future of Arizona ($150,000) and Arizona Town Hall ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation?
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation reported $45.6M 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 $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation fund?
The foundations say their principles are inspired by Thomas R. Brown and Burr-Brown Corporation. Their stated goals include helping Arizonans become more self-determined and productive and enjoy a higher quality of life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's EIN?
Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0899701. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Thomas R Brown Family Private 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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-r-brown-family-private-foundation-morg_9b08b51b0db64c6cb55355237c522dbb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_550899701_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-r-brown-family-private-foundation-morg_9b08b51b0db64c6cb55355237c522dbb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Thomas R Brown Family Private Foundation'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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