W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation
The W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its 2024 filing reports 65 grants totaling $4,806,524 to charitable organizations.
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation gave $4.8M across 65 grants in 2024 (avg $74K), mostly in New York. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,806,524
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 65
- -23.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $73,947
- +43.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $35,719,942
- -2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (12 of 65, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (54% 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 W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation
- 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: Co Wyatt 500 W Jefferson 2800, Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 589-5235
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Metropolitan Museum of Art ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
384 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 274 grants of 384 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, New York organizations received 54% of grant dollars, followed by Wyoming at 12%, Georgia at 6%, and Arizona and California at 4% each. The listed grants also included recipients in states such as Florida and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 65 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% 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 $4.4M (2023) to $7.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 65 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | General Exempt Purpose | $1,466,836 |
| Storm King Art Center New Windsor, NY | General Exempt Purpose | $500,000 |
| University of Georgia Athens, GA | General Exempt Purpose | $277,333 |
| Earth School Educational Foundation Phoenix, AZ | General Exempt Purpose | $208,000 |
| Schwarzman Animal Medical Center New York, NY | General Exempt Purpose | $200,000 |
| Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation Jackson, WY | General Exempt Purpose | $200,000 |
| University of Wyoming Cody, WY | General Exempt Purpose | $170,000 |
| Benchetler Fasani FD Mammoth Lakes, CA | General Exempt Purpose | $125,000 |
| Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Millbrook, NY | General Exempt Purpose | $100,000 |
| Grand Teton National Park Foundation Moose, WY | General Exempt Purpose | $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 | $35,719,942 | $4,094,018 | $5,080,737 | $4,806,524 | 65 | $4,836,097 | $3,922,178 | $4,204,997 |
| 2023 | $36,709,037 | $4,328,534 | $4,654,484 | $4,386,125 | 85 | $4,417,172 | $4,148,628 | $4,867,449 |
| 2022 | $37,057,691 | $3,809,459 | $5,678,553 | $5,351,345 | 82 | $5,383,931 | $3,598,416 | $5,326,869 |
| 2021 | $38,918,233 | $7,807,720 | $6,719,844 | $6,386,848 | 73 | $6,422,374 | $7,635,461 | $5,785,889 |
| 2020 | $37,856,764 | $6,269,267 | $8,124,349 | $7,817,271 | 79 | — | $5,432,849 | $5,489,712 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included arts organizations, educational and environmental organizations, conservation groups, and scientific and medical organizations.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. The Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents significant works of art across times and cultures. Storm King Art Center says it focuses on modern and contemporary art, especially large-scale sculpture in a landscape setting. Earth School Educational Foundation describes its work as environmental and educational films, including a documentary series about climate change solutions. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies says it generates scientific knowledge about ecological systems and their importance to human well-being. Grand Teton National Park Foundation says it partners with the park to steward, protect, and enhance it.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 65 grants totaling $4,806,524. Grant amounts ranged from $790 to $1,466,836, with a median of $25,000.
The largest reported grants included $1,466,836 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; $500,000 to Storm King Art Center; $277,333 to the University of Georgia; and $208,000 to Earth School Educational Foundation. Other notable grants included $200,000 each to Schwarzman Animal Medical Center and Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation, and $170,000 to the University of Wyoming. The listed grant purposes were “general exempt purpose.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alice Cary Brown as president and director, Stuart R. Brown as secretary/treasurer, and WL Lyons Brown III and A Cary Brown Epstein as directors. It also lists WL Lyons Brown Jr as a director, with a filing annotation indicating his death.
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation is led by Alice Cary Brown, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alice Cary Brown
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
A. Cary Brown Epstein
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wl Lyons Brown III
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wl Lyons Brown Jrdec'd
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart R. Brown
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Wl Lyons Brown Jr. (2020–2022) — Director
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 W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation
How much does W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation give each year?
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation gave $4.8M across 65 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.4M across 85 grants.
What is W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $73,947, across 65 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation that year got $31K on average.
Where does W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation give grants?
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New York: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wyoming (12%) and Georgia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (11 grants), Charlottesville, VA (7 grants), Jackson, WY (4 grants) and Louisville, KY (4 grants).
Does W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (65 of 65) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Metropolitan Museum of Art ($1,466,836), Storm King Art Center ($500,000) and University of Georgia ($277,333), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation?
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation reported $35.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included arts organizations, educational and environmental organizations, conservation groups, and scientific and medical organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation?
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 W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's EIN?
W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1233038. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/w-l-lyons-brown-jr-charitable-foundation-morg_5dace5a4f18a487ea45263e47bc7e2e7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611233038_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/w-l-lyons-brown-jr-charitable-foundation-morg_5dace5a4f18a487ea45263e47bc7e2e7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable 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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