Funding search · EIN 746036466 · Houston, TX

The Brown Foundation

Name: The Brown Foundation grants, 2022–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

1,913
grants reported: $286.8M
total given: 2022–2024
filing years: $20,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2022–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

matching gift campaign honor capital houston memory research

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Houston arts institutions: museums, opera, ballet, symphony, theater operating support
K-12 education in Houston: charter networks, HISD reform, teacher pipelines
Parks, greenways, conservancies and land conservation in Harris County
Health and human services for Harris County: homelessness, clinics, children's services
Capital campaigns and building projects for Houston nonprofits

Typical grant

Median grant is $20,000 and the middle half runs $5,000 to $50,000, so most of the 1,913 grants are modest. The money concentrates at the top: a handful of eight-figure and seven-figure checks go to capital campaigns, park build-outs, county health initiatives and charter school expansion. Arts anchors like MFAH, Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet receive operating support at $850,000 to $930,000 year after year, and repeat giving to the same institutions is the norm.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“Operating Support”
“Capital Campaign”
“Free Admission”
“Implementation”
“Expansion”

Positioning adjacent work

Tie adjacent work to a named Houston institution already funded; the foundation renews existing relationships far more than it opens new ones.
Ask $25,000 to $150,000 for a first request unless you carry a capital campaign with a Houston footprint.
Frame health work as Harris County population health, echoing 'Investing in a Healthier Harris County' and the Harris Health commitment.
Name a specific site, exhibit, or program phase rather than general research; they fund things with a physical or geographic anchor.

Worth knowing: This is a Houston foundation: 1,527 of 1,913 grants went to Texas recipients and most of those to Harris County. The out-of-state giving (New York, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Arkansas) tracks trustee interests and family ties rather than open competition, so an unconnected applicant outside Greater Houston has thin odds.

9 grants matching “nancy” · $5.7M

$100,000
Ann Richards School Foundation · Austin, TX · 2024
Operating Support in Memory of Nancy Pittman
$20,000
Lensic Performing Arts Center Corporation · Santa Fe, NM · 2023
Matching gift-Lensic Endowment in honor of Nancy Zeckendorf (2-1)
$10,000
Lensic Performing Arts Center Corporation · Santa Fe, NM · 2023
Matching gift-Lensic Endowment in honor of Nancy Zeckendorf
$4.6M
San Antonio Area Foundation · San Antonio, TX · 2022
To be directed for charitable contributions in memory of Nancy B. Negley
$500,000
San Antonio Area Foundation · San Antonio, TX · 2022
To be directed for charitable contributions in memory of Nancy B. Negley
$400,000
Smithsonian Institution · Washington, DC · 2022
Smithsonian American Art Museum Renwick Gallery operating support in memory of Nancy B. Negley
$20,000
San Antonio Museum of Art · San Antonio, TX · 2022
General Operating Support in Loving memory of Nancy Brown Negley
$6,000
Houston Botanic Garden · Houston, TX · 2022
for Magnolia Trees in memory of Fayez Sarofim & Nancy Negley
$5,000
The Marfa Studio of Arts · Marfa, TX · 2022
General Operating Support in memory of Nancy Negley

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Houston Parks Board11 grants · $31.8M
Baylor College of Medicine10 grants · $25.1M
National Philanthropic Trust2 grants · $22.0M
Buffalo Bayou Partnership10 grants · $15.2M
St John'S School15 grants · $10.3M
Harris Health Strategic Fund1 grant · $10.0M
Memorial Park Conservancy4 grants · $7.5M
Precinct4forward1 grant · $7.5M
Yes Prep Public Schools8 grants · $7.3M
Hermann Park Conservancy3 grants · $6.0M

Giving over time

$84.8M

2022

$117.8M

2023

$84.3M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 1,913 grants.

$20.7M
Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2023
An interconnected network of parks, trails, and greenspace for a more resilient and equitable Houston
$14.6M
Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2022
Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan (contingent)
$13.4M
Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, TX · 2023
Imagining Tomorrow's Medicine Today
$11.6M
Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, TX · 2023
Imagining Tomorrow's Medicine Today
$11.0M
National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2024
Study Group and Matching Grant Programs
$11.0M
National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2023
Study Group and Matching Grant Programs
$10.0M
Harris Health Strategic Fund · Bellaire, TX · 2024
Investing in a Healthier Harris County
$8.5M
St John'S School · Houston, TX · 2023
St. John's Campaign for a new Lower School
$7.5M
Precinct4forward · Houston, TX · 2024
Burnett Bayland Park Improvements
$7.5M
Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2023
The Memorial Park Conservancy Capital Campaign
$7.1M
Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2022
Transforming regional parks: Hill at Sims
$7.0M
Yes Prep Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2024
The Power of YES
$6.0M
Hermann Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024
10-year plan (Phase I)
$5.0M
Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
Houston Charter Seed Fund
$5.0M
Foundation for Jones Hall · Houston, TX · 2022
Overture to the Future - A Capital Campaign for Jones Hall
$4.7M
The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center · Houston, TX · 2022
Northeast Project
$4.6M
San Antonio Area Foundation · San Antonio, TX · 2022
To be directed for charitable contributions in memory of Nancy B. Negley
$4.0M
Camp for All Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
Camp For All Blazing New Trails Capital Campaign ($4,200,000) and Operating Support ($30,000)
$3.0M
Houston Museum of Natural Science · Houston, TX · 2024
Brown Hall of Entomology ($2,850,000) and Youth Education Support ($150,000)
$3.0M
Orange Show Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
OSCVA Capital Campaign: Building the Artist in Everyone
$2.5M
Harmony Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2023
Houston Capital Campaign Phase II
$1.8M
Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2023
An interconnected network of parks, trails, and greenspace for a more resilient and equitable Houston
$1.6M
Coalition for the Homeless of Houstonharris County · Houston, TX · 2024
Achieving Equilibrium ($1,500,000) and Operating Support ($75,000)
$1.6M
Thrive With Autism Foundation · Magnolia, TX · 2024
Campaign of Hope
$1.5M
Depelchin Children'S Center · Houston, TX · 2024
Community Based Care
$1.5M
Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2024
Pasadena Vince Bayou Greenway Implementation
$1.5M
Memorial Assistance Ministries · Houston, TX · 2023
Growing Our Impact... Together!
$1.5M
Alliance for Choice in Education · Houston, TX · 2022
K-12 Learning Differences Scholarships
$1.5M
St John'S School · Houston, TX · 2023
St. John's Campaign for a new Lower School
$1.3M
Center for African American Military History · Houston, TX · 2022
Ready and Forward Campaign
$1.3M
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
Property Acquisition for CAMH Expansion ($1,000,000) and Operating Support ($250,000)
$1.1M
Menil Foundation · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support and support of the restoration of the Menil House property
$1.0M
Emancipation Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024
Emancipation Park Capital Campaign
$1.0M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
HISD Fund
$1.0M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
HISD Fund
$1.0M
The Chinati Foundation · Marfa, TX · 2023
Art as Intended: The Chinati Foundation Capital Campaign
$1.0M
University of St Thomas · Houston, TX · 2023
For the Greater Glory: A Campaign for the University of St. Thomas
$1.0M
Spark · Houston, TX · 2022
Park Desert Initiative Phase 3
$1.0M
Thrive With Autism Foundation · Magnolia, TX · 2022
School Land Acquisition contingent upon authorization to operate a charter school
$929,500
Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
MFAH Operating Support ($900,000) and Ruth K Shartle Lecture Series ($29,500)
$929,500
Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support ($900,000); Shartle Lecture Series ($29,500)
$929,500
Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
General Operating Support ($900,000) and Shartle Lecture Series ($29,500)
$900,000
The Brookwood Community · Brookshire, TX · 2023
Brookwood and Beyond Capital Campaign (PH IX)
$875,000
Children'S Museum · Houston, TX · 2024
Strengthening Our Core: 0-PreK Exhibit, Programs, and Partnerships; Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Ballet Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Grand Opera Association · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Symphony Society · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Ballet Foundation · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Grand Opera Association · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Symphony Society · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Ballet Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Grand Opera Association · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$850,000
Houston Symphony Society · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$800,000
Menil Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$800,000
The Westview School · Houston, TX · 2024
Capital Campaign ($750,000) and Operating Support ($50,000)
$800,000
Menil Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$750,000
Annunciation Orthodox School · Houston, TX · 2024
Light the Way Capital Campaign
$750,000
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Rebirth in Action: Phase 2
$750,000
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum · Santa Fe, NM · 2024
The New O'Keeffe
$650,000
Teach for America Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$650,000
Teach for America Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$650,000
Depelchin Children'S Center · Houston, TX · 2022
Together and SAFE ($600,000) and Operating Support ($50,000)
$650,000
Teach for America Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$600,000
New Hope Housing · Houston, TX · 2023
New Hopes Affordable Housing Pipeline ($500,000) and 2023 Operations ($100,000)
$600,000
Uvalde Cisd Moving Forward Foundation · Uvalde, TX · 2023
Uvalde Moving Forward
$500,000
Alley Theatre · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$500,000
Armand Bayou Nature Center · Houston, TX · 2024
Middle Armand Bayou Protection Project (contingent)
$500,000
Houston Classical · Houston, TX · 2024
The Next Chapter: A Campaign for Houston Classical's Future
$500,000
San Antonio Museum of Art · San Antonio, TX · 2024
Operating Support
$500,000
University of Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Wilhelmina's Grove
$500,000
Alley Theatre · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$500,000
Galveston Bay Foundation · Kemah, TX · 2023
East Bay Living Shoreline
$500,000
San Antonio Museum of Art · San Antonio, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$500,000
Alley Theatre · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$500,000
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support ($250,000) and Strategic Planning Support ($250,000)
$500,000
Galveston Bay Foundation · Kemah, TX · 2022
Charting the Course for Galveston Bay - A capital campaign for Galveston Bay Foundation
$500,000
San Antonio Area Foundation · San Antonio, TX · 2022
To be directed for charitable contributions in memory of Nancy B. Negley
$500,000
San Antonio Museum of Art · San Antonio, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$500,000
Texas Charter Schools Association · Austin, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$450,000
Depelchin Children'S Center · Houston, TX · 2024
T3C Network Development
$415,000
Ut Md Anderson Cancer Center · Houston, TX · 2024
Renewal and Expansion of The Brown Foundation Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing
$405,256
Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2022
Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan (contingent)
$403,922
Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2022
Transforming regional parks: Hill at Sims
$400,000
Communities in Schools of Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Operating Support ($300K) and Mental Health programs ($100K)
$400,000
Houston Baptist University · Houston, TX · 2022
The Sherry and Jim Smith STEM and Nursing Building campaign
$400,000
Smithsonian Institution · Washington, DC · 2022
Smithsonian American Art Museum Renwick Gallery operating support in memory of Nancy B. Negley
$355,000
Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums of Ohio · Cleveland, OH · 2023
Restoration of the Apostolic Fire Station found within the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican
$350,000
New Hope Housing · Houston, TX · 2024
New Hope Housing Ave C ($250,000) and 2024 Operations ($100,000)
$350,000
The Imani School · Houston, TX · 2024
The Imani School Capital Expansion
$350,000
New Hope Housing · Houston, TX · 2022
New Hope Housing Ennis and Organization Operations
$350,000
Southern Arkansas University Tech · Camden, AR · 2022
Disadvantaged Student Support
$350,000
The Menninger Clinic Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
Center for Addiction Medicine and Recovery
$310,000
Wesley Community Center · Houston, TX · 2022
Wesley's Workforce and Adult Education Expansion ($250,000) and Operating Support ($60,000)
$300,000
Communities in Schools of Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
Operating Support
$300,000
Houston Symphony Society · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$300,000
Bikehouston · Houston, TX · 2022
The Orbit
$300,000
Chambers County Children'S Museum · Mont Belvieu, TX · 2022
Capital Building Campaign
$300,000
Communities in Schools of Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Operating Support
$300,000
Houston Symphony Society · Houston, TX · 2022
General Operating Support
$300,000
Small Steps Nurturing Center · Houston, TX · 2022
Fifth Ward Campus Expansion

View all 1,913 grants →

Who else funds this kind of work

Same state

Greater Houston Community Foundation5,612 grants · $873.8M
The Big 12 Conference50 grants · $1.91B
Texas Essential Healthcare Partnerships297 grants · $972.3M

Similar purposes

The Ford Foundation10,731 grants · $2.35B
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation13,555 grants · $2.27B
Lilly Endowment7,478 grants · $8.93B

Similar grant size

Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral16,278 grants · $1.08B
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund19,135 grants · $6.79B
Paypal Charitable Giving Fund32,081 grants · $1.40B

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.