Owsley Brown II Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation paid no grants in its latest filing, and its giving has fallen each year, from $5,307,053 to $425,000 to $0, so funding is uncertain right now.
- It makes contributions only to preselected organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered; the route in is an invitation or an existing connection.
- No geographic focus is stated, though most of its grants have gone to Kentucky and Iowa, and it has funded universities, arts, religious bodies, conservation and community services, mainly through programme or operating support.
- If you are invited, about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $3,000 and $250,000, and half of its grants to organisations in the earlier filings were about $38,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size.
- Given the recent fall to nothing and the closed process, treat it as relationship-led and do not build your plans around it.
Overview
Owsley Brown II Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Louisville, KY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) 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
The grant record shows support for a mix of charitable organisations. Recipients include universities and educational institutions, arts and cultural organisations, religious and interfaith bodies, and organisations working in conservation, neighbourhood development, health and community services. The stated purposes are chiefly programme support or operating support, with occasional capital, restricted and general support. Grants in the record went to organisations in several states, with the large majority going to Kentucky recipients. The filings do not state an applicant profile or broader funding strategy, and the examples in the grant rows should not be read as a complete list of the foundation’s priorities.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Kentucky and Iowa.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 79 grants to organisations were about $38,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Louisville Foundation · Restricted support$250,0002023 tax year
- Kentucky College Of Art Design · General support$175,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Osha Cowley-Shireman — Executive Director
- Augusta Brown Holland — Director
- Brooke Brown Barzun — Secretary / Treasurer / Director
- Owsley Brown III — Director
- Christina Lee Brown — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,573,800 | $5,307,053 | $93,752,460 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $821,856 | $425,000 | $96,406,419 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $621,156 | $0 | $91,702,985 | 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 Owsley Brown II Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Louisville, KY
Applying to Owsley Brown II Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Louisville, KY