Jack H Brown Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1.6 million (2024)
• Total Assets: $36.7 million (2024)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $600,000
• Number of Grants: 12 (2024)
• Median Grant: $50,000
• Geographic Focus: Southern California (San Bernardino, Riverside, Redlands areas)

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Riverside, CA

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed website, email, or phone number for grant inquiries. Contact information is not publicly available as they do not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Overview

The Jack H Brown Family Foundation was established in 2017 (received IRS 501(c)(3) ruling in September 2017) to honor the legacy of Jack H. Brown, the late Executive Chairman of Stater Bros. Markets who passed away in November 2016. Brown was a prominent Southern California business leader and philanthropist who led Stater Bros. to become the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California. The foundation has grown significantly from $5 million in assets in 2017 to $36.7 million in 2024, with annual revenue of approximately $7 million, primarily from contributions ($5 million) and investment income. The foundation distributed $1.6 million in grants in 2024 to local nonprofits focused on education, youth programs, community development, and charitable organizations in the Inland Empire region of Southern California.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal application cycles. Recent grants (2024) include:

• Museum Support: $600,000 (Museum of Redlands - Program Support)
• Youth & Community Programs: $350,000 (Seven Point Inc Sheriffs Rodeo - Program Support)
• Community Charities: $155,000 (Stater Bros Charities - Program Support)
• Additional grants: Range from $10,000 to smaller six-figure amounts

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports:

• Educational Institutions: Particularly in the San Bernardino and Riverside areas, reflecting Jack H. Brown's commitment to education
• Youth Development: Boys and Girls Clubs, youth programs, and scholarships
• Museums and Historical Preservation: Local history and cultural organizations in the Redlands area
• Community Support Organizations: Including charitable programs that serve vulnerable populations
• Veterans and Public Safety: Organizations supporting first responders and veterans, honoring Brown's legacy of supporting those who serve

Geographic Focus

Grants are concentrated in:

• San Bernardino County
• Riverside County
• Redlands area
• Communities served by Stater Bros. Markets in Southern California

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited funding requests and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (2024)

• Susan J. Atkinson - Chairman (Compensation: $50,000)
• Sean S. Varner - Secretary/Director (Compensation: $50,000)
• Phillip J. Smith - Director (Compensation: $50,000)
• Douglas A. Knudsen - Director (Compensation: $50,000)

The trustees are compensated board members who each receive $50,000 annually for their service.

Foundation Founder Legacy

Jack H. Brown (1938-2016) was a Horatio Alger Award recipient (1992) and received the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Patriot Award (2011), the highest award the society can bestow. The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino was named in his honor in 2016. Brown was known for his passionate support of education, founding the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino, creating scholarship programs, and establishing Stater Bros. Charities in 2008.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Jack H Brown Family Foundation explicitly states on its IRS filings and charity database profiles that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations they have identified and selected without a formal application process.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking appears to focus on organizations connected to:

• Stater Bros. Markets' service areas: The foundation continues Jack H. Brown's legacy of supporting communities where Stater Bros. operates (seven counties in Southern California)
• Jack H. Brown's philanthropic interests: Organizations aligned with Brown's documented priorities including education (particularly CSUSB), youth development, veterans support, and vulnerable children
• Redlands Historical Museum Association: One of the consistently supported organizations, suggesting ongoing relationships matter
• Stater Bros. Charities: The foundation supports Stater Bros. Charities, which has its own grant program with public applications for smaller grants ($500-$2,500)

Organizations seeking support might consider building relationships through:

• Stater Bros. Charities: First apply to Stater Bros. Charities' grant program, which has a public application process and supports similar causes
• Cal State San Bernardino connections: The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration may provide networking opportunities with foundation leadership
• San Bernardino/Riverside nonprofit networks: Engaging in collaborative efforts with organizations that have received foundation support

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process. Grants appear to be made on a rolling basis throughout the year at the trustees' discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can inform relationship-building strategies:

Foundation Values Based on Grant Patterns:

1. Geographic proximity: All identified grants go to organizations in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, particularly San Bernardino, Riverside, and Redlands
2. Program support focus: The foundation designates most grants as "Program Support" rather than general operating or capital grants
3. Significant impact grants: The foundation makes relatively few grants (12 in 2024) but with substantial median amounts ($50,000), suggesting preference for meaningful impact over broad distribution
4. Legacy alignment: Organizations that align with Jack H. Brown's documented philanthropic interests (education, youth development, veterans, vulnerable children) receive support
5. Community institutions: Support for established community organizations like museums, historical associations, and long-standing charities

Jack H. Brown's Documented Philanthropic Philosophy:

Brown was known for:

• Supporting education and enrichment opportunities
• Helping vulnerable and at-risk children through the Children's Fund of San Bernardino County
• Creating scholarship opportunities (Rose Brown Scholarships at CSUSB, Stater Bros. employee scholarships)
• Supporting veterans and active military personnel
• Building long-term community infrastructure rather than one-time donations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This foundation operates on a trustee-directed model and explicitly does not accept unsolicited funding requests
• Alternative pathway: Consider applying to Stater Bros. Charities instead, which has an open application process and shares similar values and geographic focus
• Geographic limitation: The foundation focuses exclusively on Southern California communities, particularly the Inland Empire region
• Relationship-based grantmaking: All grants appear to go to preselected organizations with whom trustees have existing relationships
• Substantial grant sizes: When the foundation does grant, amounts are meaningful (median $50,000, up to $600,000), suggesting they invest significantly in selected organizations
• Legacy-driven priorities: Organizations serving education, youth, veterans, and vulnerable populations in communities where Stater Bros. Markets operates align best with the foundation's mission
• Long-term perspective: With assets of $36.7 million and consistent contributions of $5 million annually, the foundation appears positioned for sustained grantmaking into the future

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Jack H Brown Family Foundation (EIN 82-1342410). Form 990-PF filings 2017-2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/821342410. Accessed January 2026.

• Grantmakers.io Profile - Jack H Brown Family Foundation. Grant recipient data and foundation profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/821342410-jack-h-brown-family-foundation/. Accessed January 2026.

• Charity Navigator Profile - Jack H Brown Family Foundation. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/821342410. Accessed January 2026.

• Cause IQ - The Jack H Brown Family Foundation. Organization profile and financial data. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-jack-h-brown-family-foundation,821342410/. Accessed January 2026.

• California State University. "Jack H. Brown - Honorary Degrees." Biography and awards. https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/alumni/Honorary-Degrees/Pages/jack-h-brown.aspx. Accessed January 2026.

• San Bernardino Sun. "Stater Bros. leader Jack Brown dies at 78." November 14, 2016. Obituary and career summary. https://www.sbsun.com/2016/11/14/stater-bros-leader-jack-brown-dies-at-78/. Accessed January 2026.

• Dignity Memorial. "Jack Brown Obituary - San Bernardino, CA." Life history and philanthropic achievements. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-bernardino-ca/jack-brown-7170480. Accessed January 2026.

• Stater Bros. Markets. "Stater Bros. Charities." Related charitable organization information. https://www.staterbros.com/stater-bros-charities/. Accessed January 2026.