John Brown Cook Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing shows the foundation paid $3,100,000 in a year, with grants typically between $25,000 and $400,000, although its largest grant was $475,000 and that typical band is not a ceiling.
- Half of its 40 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, so a request of around $100,000 or below sits near the middle of its recorded giving.
- Its grants are described as general support across education, medical research, film and media, public policy and justice, health and other areas, and the filing states no geographic focus, though its grants mainly went to organisations in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas and District of Columbia.
- The filing gives no deadlines but says it accepts applications, and 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a warm introduction may help more than a cold approach.
- The information supplied sets out no eligibility rule or exclusion, so none should be assumed.
Overview
John Brown Cook Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chester, CT.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across its recorded grants, the foundation has provided general support to organisations working in individual rights and education, medical research, film and media, public policy and justice, global security, health, dialogue and teacher development. Its recipients include research institutions, advocacy and legal organisations, media and documentary groups, educational initiatives and other charitable projects. The filings describe the purpose of every listed grant as general support, rather than identifying a separate programme or a single field. The grants went to organisations in several states, but the foundation does not state a geographic preference or eligibility rule in the information supplied.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas and District of Columbia.
How to apply
An application must be obtained.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 40 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 8%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations John Brown Cook Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research · General support$450,0002025 tax year
- Foundation for Individual Rights in Education · General support$450,0002025 tax year
- Global PEHT · General support$400,0002025 tax year
- Moving Picture Institute · General support$350,0002025 tax year
- Documenting Hope · General support$250,0002025 tax year
- Accuracy in Media · General support$250,0002025 tax year
- Emergent Order Foundation · General support$150,0002025 tax year
- Constructive Dialogue Institute · General support$150,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kirby Lim — Trustee
- Wallis Graham — Trustee
- Shelley Gregory — Trustee
- Brett Phaneuf — Trustee
- Gregory M Cook — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $524,303 | $500,000 | $51,965,613 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,389,531 | $2,925,000 | $55,415,272 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,571,235 | $3,100,000 | $61,849,282 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to John Brown Cook Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (860) 526-4911
- Chester, CT
Applying to John Brown Cook Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (860) 526-4911
- Chester, CT