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Brown Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Brown Foundation Inc

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.

$1.6M
Granted FY2024still arriving
21
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$403k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
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.

International$1.6MCrime & Legal$825kEducation$748kReligion$345kArts & Culture$310kCommunity Improvement$300kHealth$294kHuman Services$229kOther$0
02FY2024 · 21 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $10k
  • $10k–50k13 grants · $273k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $250k
  • $250k+3 grants · $1.1M
$25,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$11M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC$403,000
THE MARSHALL PROJECT$400,000
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAOZ-SEAL$265,000
CORNELL UNIVERSITY$100,000
HADAR INSTITUTE$100,000
Individual grant recipient$50,000
PALM BEACH OPERA INC$45,000
JDRF INTERNATIONAL$30,000
TEMPLE EMETH - REFORM CONGREGATION$30,000
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA$25,000
MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC$25,000
ERIC BROWN FOUNDATION$25,000
PFLAG - NYC$25,000
ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL SCHOOL$18,000
CATSKILL FOOD PANTRY INC$10,000
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, $255k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 31% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $25k → 8%VILLAGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES: $3k → 22%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $25k → 8%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $25k → 8%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $25k → 8%CATSKILL FOOD PANTRY INC: $15k → 11%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $25k → 8%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $25k → 8%CATSKILL FOOD PANTRY INC: $10k → 11%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $15k → 8%MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $10k → 8%PFLAG - NYC: $25k → 17%PFLAG - NYC: $25k → 17%PFLAG - NYC: $3k → 17%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.

Which US states its grants reach

NY
MA
PA
NJ
CT
CA
DC
GA
FL
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 14% of Brown Foundation Inc’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Brown Foundation Inclessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 17% directed abroad (not shown)
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.0M · 22 repeat orgs$394k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +40% since the first grant, against +16% for those funded once.

22 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2024, 8 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
13

Total granted

$4.0M
$171k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+40%
+16%

Still filing today

86%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 81% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $223k 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
EducationInternationalHuman ServicesArts & CultureHealthCommunity ImprovementOther
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

  • TM
    THE MARSHALL PROJECT INC
    4× · 2017–2024 · $825k · revenue +133%
  • IC
    INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP
    3× · 2017–2019 · $500k · revenue +49%
  • Cornell University
    4× · 2017–2024 · $325k · revenue +59%

Funded once

  • AF
    AVOTAYNU FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2020 · $50k
  • VR
    VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECTgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $25k · revenue +35%
  • TV
    THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER
    one grant, 2020 · $25k · revenue -34%
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
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
3
Manhattanville University

To educate students to be ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community.

Education
4
The Trustees of Princeton University

Research, education and general - princeton university is a private not-for-profit, non-sectarian institution of higher learning with approximately 5,700 undergraduate and 3,300 graduate students. 2,500 students graduated in the 2024-2025…

Education
5
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
6
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Committed to exceptional healthcare quality for all and actively engaged with our community, einstein drives scientific discovery and educates compassionate leaders in health and science.

Education
7
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
8
Brooklyn Law School

To provide students with the knowledge, skills, ethical values needed for a career in law.

Education
9
Northeast College of Health Sciences

Northeast college of health sciences (the college) is committed to academic excellence, leadership, and professional best practices in the health sciences.

Education
10
Stony Brook Internists University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
11
President and Fellows of Harvard College

Undergraduate, graduate, and professional education and research across a broad array of academic domains.

Education
12
The Jewish Museum

The mission of the jewish museum is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret art and jewish culture. see schedule o for more information.

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Voter Registration Project; the most unlike its peers is Eric Brown Foundation Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

32 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. 32 of the 42 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
19/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: $500,000 · InternationalINTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUPHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $350,000 · InternationalHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INCAMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAOZ-SEAL INC: $275,000 · InternationalAMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAOZ-SEAL…AFS-USA INC: $100,000 · InternationalAFS-USA INCTHE MARSHALL PROJECT INC: $825,000 · Community ImprovementTHE MARSHALL PROJECT INC1979 LEGACY CORP: $300,000 · Community Improvement1979 LEGACY CORPTEMPLE EMETH - REFORM CONGREGATION: $190,000 · OtherTEMPLE EMETH - REFOR…THE ARNOLD GOLD FOUNDATION: $170,000 · OtherTHE ARNOLD GOLD FOUN…HADAR INSTITUTE: $100,000 · OtherHADAR INSTITUTEIndividual grant recipient: $50,000 · OtherIndividual grant rec…AVOTAYNU FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · OtherAVOTAYNU FOUNDATION …ISRAEL CANCER ASSOCIATION (USA) CORP: $44,000 · OtherMARTHAS VINEYARD HEBREW CENTER: $35,000 · OtherBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $70,000 · OtherBREAKTHROUGH T1D+13 more: $158,650 · Other+13 moreCornell University: $325,000 · EducationCornell Universit…HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE TRUSTEES: $180,000 · EducationHAMPSHIRE COLLEGE…BARD COLLEGE: $150,000 · EducationBARD COLLEGENEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC: $60,000 · EducationNEW ENGLAND CONSE…+2 more: $23,000 · EducationPEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC: $403,000 · PhilanthropyPEF ISRAE…MARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $175,000 · Human ServicesNew York City Parents of Lesbians and Gay Men Inc: $52,500 · Human ServicesCATSKILL FOOD PANTRY INC: $25,000 · Human Services+1 more: $2,500 · Human ServicesTHOMAS COLE HISTORIC HOUSE: $90,000 · Arts & CulturePALM BEACH OPERA INC: $52,500 · Arts & CultureThe Metropolitan Opera Guild Inc: $25,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $5,000 · Arts & Culture
International$1,225,000Community Improvement$1,125,000Other$867,650Education$738,000Philanthropy$403,000Human Services$255,000Arts & Culture$172,500

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 budgetTHE MARSHALL PROJECT INC: $825,000 over 4y, 2.0% of budgetINTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: $500,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetPEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC: $403,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $350,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetCornell University: $325,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budget1979 LEGACY CORP: $300,000 over 3y, 27% of budgetAMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAOZ-SEAL INC: $275,000 over 2y, 7.3% of budgetHAMPSHIRE COLLEGE TRUSTEES: $180,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMARTHA'S VINEYARD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $175,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetTHE ARNOLD GOLD FOUNDATION: $170,000 over 8y, 0.9% of budgetBARD COLLEGE: $150,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAFS-USA INC: $100,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetTHOMAS COLE HISTORIC HOUSE: $90,000 over 7y, 1.1% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $70,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC: $60,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetPALM BEACH OPERA INC: $52,500 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetNew York City Parents of Lesbians and Gay Men Inc: $52,500 over 3y, 3.4% of budgetISRAEL CANCER ASSOCIATION (USA) CORP: $44,000 over 2y, 3.1% of budgetERIC BROWN FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 9.3% of budgetCATSKILL FOOD PANTRY INC: $25,000 over 2y, 20% of budgetVOTER REGISTRATION PROJECT: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Metropolitan Opera Guild Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTHE SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL OF BERGEN COUNTY: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL SCHOOL: $18,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJ STREET EDUCATION FUND INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMARTHA'S VINEYARD MUSEUM INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSKIDMORE COLLEGE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE VILLAGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHACKENSACK RIVERKEEPER INC: $1,200 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $200 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.

Jewish Communal FundCombined Jewish Phila…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…Morgan Stanley Global…National Philanthropi…The Pfizer Foundation…American Endowment Fo…Vanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…The Bank of America C…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…
Jewish Communal FundNY14.2× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Jewish Communal Fund · Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc

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 Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Brown Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 60%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Martha's Vineyard Community Services Inc: 3% of income from government
  • New England Conservatory of Music: 1% of income from government
  • Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
6get no government money at all
8report 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.

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 42 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’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