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Rosalie And Harold Brown Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$4.0M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3-4 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $800,000
  • Geographic Focus: California, Washington, Nevada, New York, Idaho, International (Israel)

Contact Details

No public contact information available. Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Rosalie And Harold Brown Charitable Trust is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2020 with assets of $83.8 million. The foundation honors the legacy of Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown through strategic philanthropy focused on cancer research, higher education, and services for the blind. With annual giving of approximately $3-4 million, the trust makes grants ranging from $15,000 to $800,000 to preselected organizations. The foundation is managed by three co-trustees who serve without compensation: Leon C. Janks, Ronald Mandell, and Timothy Murray (grandson of the founders and Professor at Washington State University).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have specific grant programs but makes discretionary grants to preselected organizations in the following ranges:

  • Major Grants: $250,000 - $800,000 (cancer research, university support)
  • Mid-level Grants: $50,000 - $250,000 (medical research, education)
  • Smaller Grants: $15,000 - $50,000 (community organizations)

Priority Areas

  • Cancer Research: USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, with focus on cancers affecting communities with ethnic and racial disparities
  • Higher Education: USC Gould School of Law, Washington State University, with emphasis on scholarships and diversity initiatives
  • Services for the Blind: Las Vegas Blind Center, The Blind Center of Nevada
  • International/Jewish Causes: American Friends of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv University
  • Food Security: Food banks and hunger relief
  • Disaster Relief: Wildfire relief efforts

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only funds preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees (serving without compensation):

  • Leon C. Janks: Lifelong colleague and friend of Harold Brown Jr.
  • Ronald Mandell: Lifelong colleague and friend of Harold Brown Jr.
  • Timothy Murray: Professor of Plant Pathology at Washington State University; grandson of Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown

The foundation was created by Harold Brown Jr., a USC graduate and Southern California businessman who founded HARBRO, Inc., a general contractor specializing in restoration of properties damaged by natural disasters.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are awarded at trustee discretion to organizations they have already identified.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation maintains relationships with established institutions where the founders and trustees have personal connections, particularly:

  • USC institutions where Harold Brown Jr. is an alumnus
  • Washington State University where Timothy Murray serves as professor
  • Organizations in Long Beach and Southern California where the foundation is based
  • Institutions focused on the foundation's core mission areas

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only funding.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive funding typically:

  • Have established relationships with the trustees or Harold Brown Jr.
  • Align closely with the foundation's core mission areas (cancer research, higher education, services for the blind)
  • Are established institutions with proven track records
  • Have received previous support from the foundation or the related Rosalie And Harold Rae Brown Foundation
  • Are located in the foundation's geographic focus areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - all funding is by invitation only
  • Focus areas are very specific: cancer research (especially disparities), higher education diversity, and services for the blind
  • The foundation has strong ties to USC, Washington State University, and organizations in Southern California
  • Annual giving of $3-4 million is distributed among approximately 40-50 grants per year
  • Grants range from $15,000 to $800,000, with a median grant of approximately $25,000
  • The foundation appears to maintain long-term relationships with recipient organizations, providing recurring support

References

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