Monroe-Brown Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation names higher education and skills development as its themes, so your work fits best if it sits clearly within one of them.
- It does not accept unsolicited requests and says it makes its charitable contributions to preselected organisations, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered; a connection that introduces you is the realistic route.
- Its typical grants fall between $3,000 and $500,000, with a median of $50,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, so a modest request is more realistic than a large one.
- In its latest filing, 46% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, so it appears relationship-led, though an organisation new to it is not thereby excluded.
- No timing for approaches is given, so ask the foundation before planning around any deadline.
Overview
Monroe-Brown Foundation is a US private foundation based in Kalamazoo, MI.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation describes its purpose as providing opportunities for education and skills development, and says it aims to better lives and strengthen the community. It connects its work with young scholars and future professionals and with helping Kalamazoo thrive. Its organisational grants have gone to universities and colleges, community foundations and other community organisations. Recorded grant purposes include scholarships, entrepreneurship programmes and general support, alongside support for facilities. The filed application information indicates that charitable contributions are made to preselected organisations rather than through unsolicited requests. The evidence does not establish open organisational applications or broad eligibility rules.
Themes
- Higher education
- Skills development
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Michigan, South Carolina, Nebraska and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 46% 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 39 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 47% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 46% of grant dollars went to organisations Monroe-Brown Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 41% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 17 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $72,667 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Kalamazoo Community Foundation · General$500,0002025 tax year
- University of Michigan · Athletics locker room fund$500,0002025 tax year
- Community Foundation of Greenville · General$500,0002025 tax year
- DAFgiving360 · General$500,0002025 tax year
- Vanguard Charitable · General$500,0002025 tax year
- University of Michigan · Vc fund$250,0002025 tax year
- United Way of South Central Michigan · General$145,0002025 tax year
- University of Michigan · Alzheimers fund$100,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Stephen Todd — Trustee
- Eric M Todd — Trustee
- Catherine E Brown Webb — Trustee
- Andrew Brown — Trustee
- Frederick O Brown — President, Trustee
- Jane B Todd — Treasurer, Trustee
- A J Todd IV — Vice President, Trustee
- Robert M Brown Jr — Secretary, Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $775,704 | $412,667 | $34,303,098 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,457,107 | $2,077,805 | $37,499,485 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,713,287 | $3,312,856 | $37,710,112 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Monroe-Brown Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@monroebrown.org
- Kalamazoo, MI
- monroebrown.org
Applying to Monroe-Brown Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@monroebrown.org
- Kalamazoo, MI
- monroebrown.org