The Brown Foundation, Inc.

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $117,902,276 (2024)
Total Assets: Over $1 billion
Grant Range: $1,000 - $20,700,000
Median Grant: $15,000 - $50,000
Number of Grants: 836 grants (2024)
Decision Time: Minimum 3 months from pre-application to award
Geographic Focus: Greater Houston area (89% of grants)
Fiscal Year: July 1 - June 30

Contact Details

Website: https://www.brownfoundation.org/

Phone: (713) 523-6867

Address: Houston, TX

Overview

Founded in 1951 by Herman and Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown after building Brown & Root into a successful enterprise, The Brown Foundation, Inc. stands as one of Texas's most significant philanthropic institutions. Over its nearly 75-year history, the Foundation has distributed more than $2 billion in grants across Texas, with the vast majority focused on building and sustaining institutions that make Houston a world-class city. With assets exceeding $1 billion and annual grantmaking of approximately $118 million, the Foundation maintains a deliberately low public profile, preferring to elevate grantee accomplishments rather than seek recognition for itself. The Foundation's strategic approach centers on four pillars established by its founders: supporting education, uplifting communities through arts, strengthening human services, and enriching civic assets. The Foundation describes itself as community-driven, believing that organizations closest to communities are best positioned to drive change. They support approximately 250 diverse nonprofit organizations annually and emphasize transparency and responsiveness in their grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas by Historical Allocation

Education (35% of lifetime grants) The Foundation has a longstanding commitment to education extending from early childhood to higher education, with concentrated focus on Houston public education models. In 2024, education received $19.12 million (20% of annual grants). The Foundation supports:

High-performing school models and innovative educational programs
Post-secondary access and success initiatives
Teacher and leadership pipeline development
Public education programs almost exclusively in the Greater Houston region

Arts & Culture (32% of lifetime grants) Supporting organizations of all sizes that enhance community vibrancy and cultural vitality. The Foundation supports:

Performing arts institutions (theater, dance, music)
Visual arts, museums, and public art installations
Community-based artistic initiatives
Literary arts programming
Organizations expanding access to artistic expression Example: Ars Lyrica Houston received $15,000 in 2024

Healthcare (12% of lifetime grants) In 2024, healthcare received $26.2 million (27% of annual grants), representing a major funding priority. Supported activities include:

Primary care services and community-based clinics
Mental health and behavioral health services
Hospital systems and medical research institutions Example: Baylor College of Medicine received multiple grants totaling over $25 million in 2024

Civic Assets (12% of lifetime grants) Supporting "places where communities gather, families spend time, and greenspace is abundant." The Foundation supports:

Parks and green spaces
Public gathering spaces and civic institutions
Nature conservancies and conservation efforts
Urban greenspace development Example: Houston Parks Board received $20.7 million in 2024 for an interconnected network of parks, trails, and greenspace

Human Services (9% of lifetime grants) In 2024, human services received $8.08 million (8% of annual grants). The Foundation supports organizations addressing critical social needs:

Food insecurity and housing assistance
Child welfare services
Domestic violence support and services to individuals experiencing homelessness
Substance recovery programs
Community development initiatives

Grant Types Considered

General operating support
Program support
Capital projects and campaigns

What They Don't Fund

Endowments or endowment campaigns
Debt retirement
Event sponsorships, galas, or similar activities
Organizations that are 509(a)(3) entities, Type III entities, or Private Operating Foundations

Grant Size Patterns

Recent grants range from $1,000 to $20.7 million, with a median grant of $15,000. According to the Foundation, "many factors influence the size of grant awards, including the scale of the organization and its budget; the age and maturity of the organization; prior relationship with the organization; program area; and more." In 2024, 78% of funding was directed to capital projects, and 95% of recipients had been operating for 5+ years.

Governance and Leadership

The Brown Foundation is managed by a board of ten trustees, nine of whom are related by blood, adoption, or marriage to one of the four original donors. All trustees serve without compensation.

Board Leadership:

William N. Mathis - Chair
Isabel Stude Lummis - President

Executive Leadership:

Isabel Stude Lummis, President: A native Houstonian with extensive board experience. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Menil Foundation and the Houston Symphony, and as a member of the Latin American Arts Committee at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Dr. Ann Ziker, Executive Director: Oversees the overall management of the foundation and works closely with the Board of Trustees to set the foundation's strategy. Previously held senior positions at YES Prep Public Schools and McKinsey & Company.

Ryan Smith, Chief Grants Officer: Works to ensure grantmaking is impactful and efficient. Background includes teaching, education nonprofits, and museum leadership.

The Foundation emphasizes humility as a core organizational value, intentionally refraining from self-promotion to allow grantees to receive recognition for their work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Brown Foundation accepts applications through four annual pre-application cycles. Full proposals are by invitation only.

Pre-Application Cycles:

Cycle 1: May 1-31
Cycle 2: July 1-31
Cycle 3: October 1-31
Cycle 4: January 1-31

Six-Step Process:

Submit Pre-Application: Complete a brief pre-application form that helps the Foundation evaluate your organization's eligibility and fit with their mission, geographic focus, and priorities. If you submit outside of cycle dates, your application will remain pending until the next cycle opens.
Pre-Application Review: The Foundation reviews pre-applications and provides an update approximately 30 days after the cycle close date. For example, if you apply by July 31, expect an update by the end of August indicating whether your pre-application has been approved, declined, or is still under consideration. After review, the Foundation may arrange a meeting to learn more.
Pre-Approval Notification: If your pre-application is approved, you'll be invited to submit a full proposal. If declined, the Foundation typically cannot offer individual feedback due to application volume, though they commit to sharing specific feedback proactively if they have insights that might help your organization in the future.
Full Proposal Submission: Invited applicants will be notified of the final deadline and will have approximately one month to submit a full proposal through the Foundation's online Grantee Community portal.
Proposal Review: Once the Foundation receives your full proposal, they begin their review process. During review, the team may request follow-up conversations, site visits, or supplemental data to learn more about your organization, its mission, and its impact.
Final Decision and Grant Agreement: If awarded a grant, you will receive a grant agreement via DocuSign for review and signature. Once the signed agreement is received, payment is processed, typically within 30 days.

Total Timeline: From start to finish, the application process takes a minimum of three months.

Decision Timeline

Pre-application review: Approximately 30 days after cycle closes
Full proposal window: Approximately one month if invited
Minimum total process: 3 months from pre-application to award
Payment processing: Typically within 30 days of signed grant agreement

Reapplication Policy

Organizations whose pre-applications have been declined may only apply once during the Foundation's fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Most proposals are declined due to lack of alignment with priorities or core geography. The Foundation maintains this policy while operating four annual cycles for reviewing grant requests.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical: The Foundation "focuses primarily on the greater Houston area" and unsolicited requests from beyond Greater Houston are rarely approved. This is the most important eligibility factor - 89% of 2024 grantees were located in Greater Houston.

Organizational Maturity Matters: The Foundation states that "the majority of organizations they invest in are in the growth or maturity stage of the non-profit lifecycle, having emerged from the start-up stage with an evidence-based set of results and community demand to expand their services and impact." In 2024, 95% of recipients had been operating for 5+ years. The Foundation awards grants to organizations with "demonstrated ability to accomplish ambitious goals" aligned to their mission.

Review Past Grants to Calibrate Your Request: The Foundation specifically recommends that applicants review their past grants database to identify an appropriate request level. Grant sizes vary dramatically based on organizational scale, budget, organizational age and maturity, prior relationship with the Foundation, and program area.

Understand Their Priority Balance: While education and arts represent their largest historical focus (35% and 32% respectively), 2024 funding patterns show healthcare (27%) and civic assets (significant capital projects) received substantial portions. Capital projects dominated 2024 at 78% of funding, suggesting the Foundation is currently prioritizing infrastructure investments.

Demonstrate Excellence and Ambition: The Foundation describes its grantmaking as focused on "ambitious goals, excellence, and exceptional impact." They value organizations that are not just competent but exceptional in their field.

Alignment Trumps Everything: The Foundation emphasizes that most proposals are declined "simply due to lack of alignment with priorities or core geography." Before applying, carefully assess whether your organization truly fits their stated priorities and geographic focus.

Flexibility Exists for Exceptional Ideas: While the Foundation has clear priority areas, they "maintain flexibility to consider excellent ideas beyond stated priorities," suggesting that truly innovative or exceptional proposals outside typical focus areas may receive consideration.

One Chance Per Year: Since declined applicants can only reapply once per fiscal year, it's critical to submit a strong, well-aligned pre-application on your first attempt rather than testing the waters.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic focus is non-negotiable: If you're not serving Greater Houston, success is highly unlikely - focus your efforts elsewhere
Organizational maturity is expected: The Foundation strongly prefers organizations past the start-up stage with evidence-based results and established track records (95% of grantees have 5+ years of operation)
Research past grants before applying: Use their grants database to understand typical funding levels for organizations similar to yours in size, maturity, and program area
Capital projects are having a moment: With 78% of 2024 funding directed to capital projects and major grants to Houston Parks Board and Baylor College of Medicine, the Foundation appears particularly interested in infrastructure investments currently
The pre-application is your gateway: Since full proposals are by invitation only and declined applicants can only reapply once per fiscal year, invest significant effort in crafting a compelling pre-application that demonstrates clear alignment
Patience is required: The minimum three-month timeline from pre-application to award means you should plan well ahead of funding needs
Demonstrate excellence, not just competence: The Foundation's emphasis on "ambitious goals, excellence, and exceptional impact" suggests they're looking for standout organizations, not just solid performers

References

The Brown Foundation, Inc. Official Website - Homepage. https://www.brownfoundation.org/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
The Brown Foundation, Inc. - Grant Seekers Page. https://www.brownfoundation.org/grant-seekers/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
The Brown Foundation, Inc. - About Page. https://www.brownfoundation.org/about/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
The Brown Foundation, Inc. - Grants & Impact Page. https://www.brownfoundation.org/grantmakingareas/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
The Brown Foundation, Inc. - Apply Page. https://www.brownfoundation.org/apply/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
Brown Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 990 Report | Instrumentl. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/brown-foundation-inc-e7d09c1e-27dc-4d93-ac93-13e8daeabbd7 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
Brown Foundation | Inside Philanthropy. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-b/brown-foundation (Accessed December 17, 2025)
The Brown Foundation: Supporting Arts and Education in Texas | Texas State Historical Association. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/brown-foundation (Accessed December 17, 2025)
The Brown Foundation Inc | GrantExec. https://grantexec.com/foundations/746036466 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
Brown Foundation - InfluenceWatch. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/brown-foundation/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)