W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,836,097 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $790 - $1,500,000
• Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on New York, Virginia, Colorado, and Kentucky

Contact Details

Address: 500 W. Jefferson St., Suite 2800, Louisville, KY 40202-2813 Phone: (502) 589-5235 Website: None Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The W. L. Lyons Brown Jr. Charitable Foundation, established in 1993, is a private family foundation with assets of approximately $36.7 million and annual giving of $4.8 million. Named after the late William Lee Lyons Brown Jr., former CEO of Brown-Forman Corporation and heir to the bourbon dynasty, the foundation carries forward his legacy of supporting arts, education, and conservation. Brown, who passed away in 2024, was also a former U.S. Ambassador to Austria and a major philanthropic figure in Louisville and beyond. The foundation operates without public visibility, making all grant decisions through its board of family members who serve without compensation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes approximately 65-85 grants annually through trustee discretion:

• Large institutional grants: $200,000 - $1,500,000 (major museums, universities)
• Mid-range grants: $25,000 - $200,000 (regional organizations)
• Small grants: $790 - $25,000 (local initiatives)

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant patterns:

• Arts & Culture: Major museums, art centers, performing arts
• Education: Universities, educational foundations, schools
• Conservation & Environment: Wildlife preservation, environmental education
• Animal Welfare: Veterinary medical centers, animal care
• Human Services: Community organizations, search and rescue

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but based on grant patterns, unlikely to fund:

• Individual requests
• Political organizations
• Religious activities
• International projects outside the U.S.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serve without compensation):

• Alice Cary Brown - President and Director
• Stuart R. Brown - Secretary/Treasurer
• W.L. Lyons Brown III - Director
• A. Cary Brown Epstein - Director

The foundation maintains minimal staffing, operating primarily through board oversight and legal representation through Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP in Louisville.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states on its IRS filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and doesn't accept unsolicited applications for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the board to organizations they identify and select.

Getting on Their Radar

Since there is no public application process, organizations must be identified through:

• Board member connections and networks
• Louisville philanthropic community relationships
• Existing relationships with Brown-Forman corporate circles
• Demonstrated excellence in funded priority areas

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at the board's discretion throughout the year, with no public timeline or notification process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - grants are by invitation only.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation, success factors are inferred from grant patterns:

• Geographic alignment: Strong presence in New York, Virginia, Colorado, or Kentucky
• Institutional reputation: Most recipients are well-established organizations
• Scale of impact: Preference for organizations with broad reach
• Board connections: Relationships within Louisville business and philanthropic circles
• Mission alignment: Clear fit with arts, education, or conservation priorities
• Professional management: Recipients are typically sophisticated nonprofits with strong governance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based funder with no public application process - focus on building connections through Louisville networks • The foundation supports established institutions over grassroots organizations • Grant sizes vary dramatically ($790 to $1.5M) based on organization type and relationship • Arts and cultural institutions receive the largest grants, particularly in New York • Educational institutions, especially universities, are consistent recipients • The foundation maintains strong ties to Louisville despite national giving • Legal inquiries should be directed to their law firm, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation (accessed February 17, 2026): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/611233038
• Grantmakers.io Profile - W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation Inc. (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v1/611233038-w-l-lyons-brown-jr-charitable-foundation-inc/
• Louisville Boulevard - "W. L. Lyons Brown Foundation" (accessed February 17, 2026): https://louisvilleboulevard.com/w-l-lyons-brown-foundation/
• Instrumentl 990 Report - W L Lyons Brown Jr Charitable Foundation (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/w-l-lyons-brown-jr-charitable-foundation-inc
• Candid Foundation Directory - The W. L. Lyons Brown Jr. Charitable Foundation (accessed February 17, 2026): https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=BROW223