The Brown Foundation Inc
Historical FunderHouston, Texas · EIN 74-6036466 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$84.3M
Organizations funded222
Typical grant$50,000
Total assets$2.2B
Half of its grants to organizations were between $40,000 and $125,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | Ann Ziker The Brown Foundation Inc |
|---|---|
| Address | 2217 Welch St, Houston TX 770195617 |
| Phone | 7135236867 |
| bfi@brownfoundation.org | |
| Form and materials | Grant applicants should refer to the foundation's website for information regarding the application process. i. https://www.brownfoundation.org/ ii. https://www.brownfoundation.org/about/#history iii. https://www.brownfoundation.org/grantmakingareas/#areas iv. https://www.brownfoundation.org/apply/ |
| Deadlines | https://www.brownfoundation.org/grant-seekers/ |
| Restrictions | https://www.brownfoundation.org/grant-seekers/ |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
3% of grants went outside Texas.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust | Jenkintown, PA | Study Group and Matching Grant Programs | $11,000,000 |
| Harris Health Strategic Fund | Bellaire, TX | Investing in a Healthier Harris County | $10,000,000 |
| Precinct4Forward | Houston, TX | Burnett Bayland Park Improvements | $7,500,000 |
| YES Prep Public Schools | Houston, TX | The Power of YES | $7,000,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | 10-year plan (Phase I) | $6,000,000 |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation | Houston, TX | Houston Charter Seed Fund | $5,000,000 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science | Houston, TX | Brown Hall of Entomology ($2,850,000) and Youth Education Support ($150,000) | $3,000,000 |
| Coalition for the Homeless of HoustonHarris County | Houston, TX | Achieving Equilibrium ($1,500,000) and Operating Support ($75,000) | $1,575,000 |
| Thrive With Autism Foundation | Magnolia, TX | Campaign of Hope | $1,550,000 |
| DePelchin Children's Center | Houston, TX | Community Based Care | $1,500,000 |
| Houston Parks Board | Houston, TX | Pasadena Vince Bayou Greenway Implementation | $1,500,000 |
| Emancipation Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | Emancipation Park Capital Campaign | $1,000,000 |
| Good Reason Houston | Houston, TX | HISD Fund | $1,000,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Houston, TX | MFAH Operating Support ($900,000) and Ruth K Shartle Lecture Series ($29,500) | $929,500 |
| Children's Museum Inc | Houston, TX | Strengthening Our Core: 0-PreK Exhibit, Programs, and Partnerships; Operating Support | $875,000 |
| Houston Ballet Foundation | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $850,000 |
| Houston Grand Opera Association Inc | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $850,000 |
| Houston Symphony Society | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $850,000 |
| Menil Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $800,000 |
| The Westview School Inc | Houston, TX | Capital Campaign ($750,000) and Operating Support ($50,000) | $800,000 |
| Annunciation Orthodox School | Houston, TX | Light the Way Capital Campaign | $750,000 |
| Contemporary Arts Museum Houston | Houston, TX | Rebirth in Action: Phase 2 | $750,000 |
| Georgia O'Keeffe Museum | Santa Fe, NM | The New O'Keeffe | $750,000 |
| Teach For America Houston | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $650,000 |
| Alley Theatre | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Armand Bayou Nature Center Inc | Houston, TX | Middle Armand Bayou Protection Project (contingent) | $500,000 |
| Houston Classical Inc | Houston, TX | The Next Chapter: A Campaign for Houston Classical's Future | $500,000 |
| San Antonio Museum of Art | San Antonio, TX | Operating Support | $500,000 |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX | Wilhelmina's Grove | $500,000 |
| DePelchin Children's Center | Houston, TX | T3C Network Development | $450,000 |
| UT MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | Renewal and Expansion of The Brown Foundation Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing | $415,000 |
| Communities In Schools of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | Operating Support ($300K) and Mental Health programs ($100K) | $400,000 |
| The Imani School | Houston, TX | The Imani School Capital Expansion | $350,000 |
| New Hope Housing Inc | Houston, TX | New Hope Housing Ave C ($250,000) and 2024 Operations ($100,000) | $350,000 |
| BakerRipley | Houston, TX | BakerRipley Community Centers | $250,000 |
| Contemporary Arts Museum Houston | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $250,000 |
| EMERGE Fellowship | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $250,000 |
| FotoFest Inc | Houston, TX | FotoFest Biennial 2026: Four Decades (working title) | $250,000 |
| Friends of Pumpkin Park | Houston, TX | Opening the Door to Childrens Dreams | $250,000 |
| Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas | Dallas, TX | Trauma and Grief Center | $250,000 |
| The Santa Fe Opera | Santa Fe, TX | Apprentice Program for Theater Technicians | $250,000 |
| Sound Off Inc | San Antonio, TX | Catalyst Campaign | $250,000 |
| Theatre Under The Stars | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $225,000 |
| Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Institute for Rehabilitation & Research Foundation | Houston, TX | Mission Connect | $200,000 |
| Step Charter School | Houston, TX | West Airport Campus School Expansion | $200,000 |
| Collaborative for Children | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Houston, TX | State of the Art Cystic Fibrosis Care and Clinical Research in Texas | $150,000 |
| Da Camera Society of Texas | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Friends of the High Line Inc | New York, NY | High Line Art Programming | $150,000 |
| Houston Botanic Garden | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $150,000 |
| iEducate USA | Bellaire, TX | Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Stages | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | New York, NY | To Support Free Admissions Programs and Museum Access | $150,000 |
| The Beacon of Downtown Houston | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Chinquapin Preparatory School | Highlands, TX | Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Coastal Prairie Conservancy | Houston, TX | Land Stewardship Program | $125,000 |
| Communities In Schools of San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Da Camera Society of Texas | Houston, TX | Artistic Development Fund | $125,000 |
| Inprint Inc | Houston, TX | Operating Support | $125,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 222 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust | Jenkintown, PA | Study Group and Matching Grant Programs | $11,000,000 |
| Houston Arboretum Society | Houston, TX | Building Coastal Resiliency on Bolivar Peninsula (Contingent) | $200,000 |
| Rise School of San Antonio Inc | San Antonio, TX | RISE San Antonio Capital Renovations | $200,000 |
| Momentum Advisory Collective | Dallas, TX | Building Momentum: Shifting the Justice Model for Houston Youth with Cafe Momentum (Contingent) | $100,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $84,269,500 | 226 |
| 2023 | $117,902,276 | 838 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 7, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513119349100641
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 74-6036466
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.