Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a small charity should not send an unprompted proposal.
- Its stated emphasis is education and expanding opportunities for people without the financial means to take part, so work that clearly fits that emphasis is the closest match.
- Typical grants fall between $25,000 and $150,000, with a median of $75,000, so a request in that region is realistic, although the largest grant was $300,000 and this band is not a ceiling.
- Nearly all of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had already funded, so an existing relationship or introduction is likely to matter more than a cold approach.
- The filing shows grants mainly in California and New York, but no geographic focus is stated, so do not assume the foundation is closed to organisations elsewhere.
Overview
Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Beverly Hills, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (rand.org, bricartsmedia.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its focus as predominantly on education and on expanding opportunities for people who would not otherwise have the financial means to take part in areas of interest to RAND. It states that its goal is to continue supporting graduate education and opening opportunities to people. Its recorded grants have also gone to educational institutions, research organisations, public radio, libraries, and arts and cultural organisations. This shows support across several kinds of public-benefit organisation, while the foundation’s stated emphasis remains education and opportunity. The sources reviewed do not set out a complete list of its funding fields or eligibility conditions.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% 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 44 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It focuses predominantly on education and expanding opportunities for people who lack the financial means to take part in areas of interest to RAND. (as reported in other published sources)
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 16% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Harold and Colene Brown Family 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 13 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $75,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- RAND Corporation · Charitable contributioncharitable contribution$200,0002024 tax year
- California Institute of Technology · Charitable contribution$150,0002024 tax year
- QuestBridge · Charitable contribution$150,0002024 tax year
- Southern California Public Radio · Charitable contribution$122,3852024 tax year
- Arlington Garden of Pasadena · Charitable contribution$100,0002024 tax year
- Occidential College · Charitable contribution$100,0002024 tax year
- Ny Public Radio · Charitable contribution$75,0002024 tax year
- Polytechnic School · Charitable contribution$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Ellen Brown — Trustee
- Deborah Brown — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,689,329 | $1,475,360 | $25,579,929 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,551,297 | $1,343,820 | $27,852,401 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,420,438 | $1,172,385 | $29,279,805 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Beverly Hills, CA
Applying to Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Beverly Hills, CA