Skip to content
Brown Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Brown Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$101k
Granted FY2024still arriving
9
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$207kHealth$180kPhilanthropy$134kPublic Safety & Disaster$118kEducation$108kCommunity Improvement$95kPublic Benefit$85kHuman Services$45kOther$0
02FY2024 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $10k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $91k
$10,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$2.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION$20,000
MONTECITO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$16,379
SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM$15,000
WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA$10,000
NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION$10,000
INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE$10,000
PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE$10,000
LOBERO THEATER FOUNDATION$5,000
ALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARBARA$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $115k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%FE USA: $15k → 14%FE USA: $15k → 14%ALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARB: $10k → 14%ALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARB: $5k → 14%ALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARBARA: $5k → 14%ALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARBARA: $5k → 14%DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS: $10k → 14%DREAM FOUNDATION: $10k → 14%DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS: $10k → 14%DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS: $10k → 14%DREAM FOUNDATION: $10k → 14%DREAM FOUNDATION: $5k → 14%ALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARB: $5k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$815k · 21 repeat orgs$167k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +60% since the first grant, against +28% for those funded once.

21 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2024, 13 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
14

Total granted

$815k
$167k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+60%
+28%

Still filing today

86%
43%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesHealthPhilanthropyEducationPublic Safety & DisasterOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • SB
    SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM
    8× · 2017–2024 · $92k · revenue +141%
  • PR
    Pacific Research Institute For Public Policy
    5× · 2020–2024 · $85k · revenue +36%
  • ND
    NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION
    7× · 2018–2024 · $70k · revenue +9%

Funded once

  • AE
    AANA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2019 · $50k
  • CATE SCHOOLgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $13k · revenue +28%
  • GW
    GANNA WALSKA LOTUSLANDgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $10k · revenue +224%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Santa Barbara Foundation

The mission of the santa barbara foundation (sbf) is to mobilize collective wisdom and philanthropic capital to build empathetic, inclusive and resilient communities.

Philanthropy
2
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation

The uc santa barbara foundation actively works to further the goals of the university of california, santa barbara. the foundation seeks to maintain and nurture the university's quality and distinction. on behalf of the campus, the…

Education
3
Fund for Santa Barbara Inc

Provide cash grants and free consulting to grassroots organizations in santa barbara county.

Philanthropy
4
Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation

The santa barbara zoo is dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and enhancement of the natural world and its living treasures through education, research, recreation and conservation.

Animals
5
Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation

The santa barbara public library foundation supports the long-term health and sustainability of the santa barbara public library through public-private partnerships.

Public Benefit
6
Santa Barbara Museum of Art

To integrate art into the lives of people, fostering imagination, stimulating thought, and creating personally rewarding experiences.

Arts & Culture
7
Santa Barbara Cemetery Association

Cemetery association

—
8
Santa Barbara Education Foundation

Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) provides and supports programs that enrich the academic, artistic, and personal development of all students in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Education
9
Santa Barbara Historical Museum

To inspire meaningful connections to santa barbara history.

Arts & Culture
10
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

The following three guiding principles are the foundation for all of the santa barbara museum of natural history's activities: inspiring an awe for nature and a thirst for discovery; promoting sustainability; and connecting our…

Arts & Culture
11
Marin Humane Society

Marin humane transforms lives through exceptional animal care, humane education, and advocacy. every day, marin humane inspires compassion and positive relationships between people and animals.

Animals
12
St Francis Foundation of Santa Barbara

The mission of st. francis foundation of santa barbara is to promote and support health care.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts Inc; the most unlike its peers is Food From the Heart Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

26 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 26 of the 37 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
14
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/26
Grantees still filing
22/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

FAMILY ENTERPRISE USA: $65,000 · OtherFAMILY ENTERPRISE USAAANA EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $50,000 · OtherAANA EDUCATION FOUNDATIONLOBERO THEATER FOUNDATION: $45,000 · OtherLOBERO THEATER FOUNDATIONTHE INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE: $20,000 · OtherTHE INDEPENDENT INSTITUTESANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE FOUNDATI: $15,000 · OtherSANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE FOU…GANNA WALSKA LOTUSLAND: $10,000 · OtherSMILE TRAIN INC: $10,000 · OtherFOUNDATION - SANTA BARBARA CITY COL: $10,000 · OtherNAMI MARIN Inc: $10,000 · OtherDREAM FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA: $10,000 · OtherSANTA BARBARA CENTER FOR THE PERFOR: $10,000 · OtherSANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOUN: $9,971 · Other+3 more: $15,000 · Other+3 morePacific Research Institute For Public Policy: $85,000 · PhilanthropyPacific Research Inst…WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA: $65,000 · PhilanthropyWOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA…Montecito Community Foundation: $29,379 · PhilanthropyMontecito Community F…HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 · PhilanthropyHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUN…NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION: $69,753 · HealthNATIONAL DISASTER…Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation: $60,000 · HealthSanta Barbara Cot…TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $20,000 · HealthTEDDY BEAR CANCER…ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 · HealthALZHEIMER'S DISEA…SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM: $92,000 · Arts & CultureSANTA BARBARA MAR…SANTA BARBARA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC: $20,000 · Arts & CultureSANTA BARBARA CEN…LOBERO THEATRE FOUNDATION: $15,000 · Arts & CultureLOBERO THEATRE FO…SANTA BARBARA REVELS INC: $15,000 · Arts & CultureSANTA BARBARA REV…SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION: $15,000 · Arts & CultureSANTA BARBARA SYM…DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $35,000 · Human ServicesDOMESTIC VIOLEN…FEUSA INC: $30,000 · Human ServicesFEUSA INCALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARBARA: $30,000 · Human ServicesALPHA RESOURCE …DALMATIAN DREAMS DBA DREAM FOUNDATION: $25,000 · Human ServicesDALMATIAN DREAM…FOOD FROM THE HEART INC: $20,000 · Human ServicesFOOD FROM THE H…SANTA BARBARA FIREFIGHTERS ALLIANCE: $48,145 · Public Safety & DisasterROESSLER-CHADWICK FOUNDATION: $25,000 · EducationCATE SCHOOL: $12,500 · EducationSAVORY INSTITUTEORG INC: $10,000 · Environment
Other$279,971Philanthropy$199,379Health$159,753Arts & Culture$157,000Human Services$140,000Public Safety & Disaster$48,145Education$37,500Environment$10,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetSANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM: $92,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetPacific Research Institute For Public Policy: $85,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetNATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION: $69,753 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetWOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA: $65,000 over 8y, 1.1% of budgetSanta Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation: $60,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSANTA BARBARA FIREFIGHTERS ALLIANCE: $48,145 over 5y, 38% of budgetDOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $35,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetFEUSA INC: $30,000 over 2y, 6.7% of budgetALPHA RESOURCE CENTER OF SANTA BARBARA: $30,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetMontecito Community Foundation: $29,379 over 2y, 6.3% of budgetDALMATIAN DREAMS DBA DREAM FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetROESSLER-CHADWICK FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetFOOD FROM THE HEART INC: $20,000 over 3y, 1.7% of budgetTHE INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE: $20,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetSANTA BARBARA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLOBERO THEATRE FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetSANTA BARBARA REVELS INC: $15,000 over 2y, 12% of budgetCATE SCHOOL: $12,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGANNA WALSKA LOTUSLAND: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetSMILE TRAIN INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNAMI MARIN Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 6.7% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Santa Barbara Foundat…Ann Jackson Family Fo…Hutton Foundation Dba…The Wood-Claeyssens F…Mosher FoundationOshay Family Foundati…Www FoundationCalifornia Community …Elizabeth and John Mo…The B & B FoundationBrittingham Family Fo…Schlinger Chrisman Fo…
Santa Barbara FoundationCA33.6× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Santa Barbara Foundation · Ann Jackson Family Foundation · Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation · The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation · Mosher Foundation · Oshay Family Foundation · Www Foundation · California Community Foundation · Elizabeth and John Moller Foundation · The B & B Foundation · Brittingham Family Foundation · Schlinger Chrisman Foundation Northern Trust Company Trustee

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Brown Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Brown Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Brown Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Brown Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 37 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Brown Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home