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Brothers Brook Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.7M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.3M

Brothers Brook Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.7 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (Invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (No public application process)
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $325,000
  • Geographic Focus: Connecticut, New York, and select national organizations

Contact Details

  • Website: www.brothersbrook.org
  • Inquiry Form: Available on website (requires name and email)
  • Phone: Not publicly available
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Note: Foundation explicitly states they are "unable to respond to unsolicited grant applications"

Overview

The Brothers Brook Foundation is a private grant-making foundation established in 2014 with approximately $91 million in assets. Founded and led by Jeffery H. Boyd, former CEO and Chairman of Booking Holdings (formerly Priceline), the foundation distributes approximately $3.7 million annually to 50-60 carefully selected organizations. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, the foundation focuses on fighting poverty, promoting economic mobility, supporting treatments for chronic diseases, preserving open space, protecting the environment, and conducting non-partisan policy research. The foundation operates exclusively through an invitation-only model, proactively identifying and selecting organizations to fund rather than accepting applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate specific grant programs but distributes funding across these categories:

  • Education and Poverty Alleviation: $50,000 - $275,000 (primary focus)
  • Non-Partisan Policy Research: $50,000 - $325,000
  • Healthcare/Chronic Disease Treatment: $50,000 - $150,000
  • Environmental Conservation: Variable amounts
  • Quality of Life in Local Communities: Variable amounts

Priority Areas

  • Fighting poverty through education and social services
  • Promoting economic mobility
  • Supporting research and treatment for chronic diseases
  • Preserving open space and protecting the environment
  • Non-partisan public policy research
  • Improving quality of life in local communities

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, analysis of grant history shows limited or no funding for:

  • Arts and culture organizations
  • International projects
  • Religious organizations
  • Individual assistance
  • Capital campaigns (limited evidence)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all unpaid):

  • Jeffery H. Boyd - President and Director (Founder, former CEO of Booking Holdings)
  • Teresa Boyd - Vice President and Secretary
  • Jeffery H. Boyd Jr. - Treasurer and Director

Staff:

  • Maureen Fergus Sheehan - Executive Director

The foundation is led by Jeffery H. Boyd, who transformed Priceline into one of the world's largest online travel companies during his tenure as CEO (2002-2013) and Chairman (2014-2020). He currently manages Brothers Brook, LLC, a private strategic investment firm.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Brothers Brook Foundation explicitly states on their website that they are "unable to respond to unsolicited grant applications." According to their IRS filings, they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations." All funding decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors, who proactively identify and invite organizations to receive support.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on analysis of grant recipients, organizations that align with the following characteristics may be more likely to be identified by the foundation:

  • Located in Connecticut (particularly Stamford and Greenwich areas) or New York
  • Established institutions with proven track records in the foundation's priority areas
  • Organizations where board members may have existing relationships or connections
  • Major national research institutions in policy or healthcare (e.g., Brookings Institution, Memorial Sloan Kettering)

The foundation maintains a minimal public presence but does provide an inquiry form on their website, though they explicitly state they cannot respond to unsolicited requests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation only funds pre-selected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Application Success Factors

Since the Brothers Brook Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, analysis of funded organizations reveals patterns that may help organizations understand the foundation's preferences:

Characteristics of Funded Organizations:

  • Strong alignment with stated mission areas, particularly education and poverty alleviation
  • Geographic proximity to Connecticut or established presence in New York
  • Demonstrated track record of impact in their field
  • Established institutions rather than startup nonprofits
  • Organizations serving local communities where the Boyd family has connections

Recent Grant Recipients Include:

  • Waterside School Inc. (Stamford, CT) - $250,000-$275,000 for education
  • Brookings Institution - $225,000-$325,000 for policy research
  • Family Centers Inc. (Greenwich, CT) - $170,000-$195,000 for education
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - $150,000 for chronic disease research
  • New England College - $160,000-$260,000 for education

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this foundation only funds pre-selected organizations chosen at board discretion
  • $3.7 million distributed annually to approximately 50-60 organizations
  • Median grant size of $50,000 with larger grants ($150K-$275K) for select established institutions
  • Strong geographic preference for Connecticut and New York organizations, though national institutions are also funded
  • Education and poverty alleviation receive the largest share of funding based on recent grant history
  • Building relationships through other channels may be necessary since direct applications are not accepted
  • Foundation maintains minimal public presence with limited contact information available

References

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