Himan Brown Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This Trust funds nonprofits working in performing arts and storytelling, education and youth development, community, families and seniors, Jewish culture and traditions, and nonprofit capacity building, with a stated geographic priority of Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast; check your work fits one of these themes before considering an approach.
- It makes contributions only to preselected organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so you should not apply unless the Trust approaches you.
- A realistic request would be modest: about eight in ten of its grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $350,000, with a median grant of $50,000, though its largest grant was $1,600,000.
- The pattern of giving is strongly relationship-led rather than open to new applicants, since 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings.
- Given the invitation-only process, grant writers at organisations without an existing relationship should not spend time preparing an unsolicited proposal.
Overview
Himan Brown Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Trust makes grants to qualified nonprofits whose work meets its philanthropic goals across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Its stated goals span performing arts and storytelling, education and youth development, community, families and seniors, Jewish culture and traditions, and general nonprofit support through capacity building. It describes philanthropic partnerships with nonprofit organisations as central to its charitable work, including collaborative community-building and storytelling programmes. Its account also describes investment in families and education, safe spaces and learning opportunities for children, and scholarships and fellowships coordinated with academic institutions for academically talented people with financial need. The Trust values community engagement, mutual understanding and meaningful volunteer contributions.
Themes
- Performing arts and storytelling
- Education and youth development
- Community, families and seniors
- Jewish culture and traditions
- Nonprofit capacity building
Geographic Focus
Priority: Northeast; Mid-Atlantic; Southeast.
How to apply
The Trust makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 133 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It makes grants to qualified nonprofits that meet its philanthropic goals.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 23% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Himan Brown Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 18% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 37 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- 92nd Street Y · Educational$1,600,0002024 tax year
- Hillel at Cornell · Educational$545,0002024 tax year
- Key Biscayne Community Foundation · General$400,0002024 tax year
- United Jewish Appeal-Federation Of Jewish Philanthropies Of Ny Inc · General$350,0002024 tax year
- Repair the World · General$300,0002024 tax year
- Anti-Defamation League · General$250,0002024 tax year
- God's Love We Deliver · General$200,0002024 tax year
- After-School All-Stars · Educational$185,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Richard L Kay — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,075,407 | $5,862,198 | $94,484,547 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,577,862 | $5,917,460 | $99,455,956 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $14,840,279 | $5,223,300 | $90,482,365 | Filing for 2024 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Himan Brown Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
- himanbrowntrust.org
Applying to Himan Brown Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
- himanbrowntrust.org