The Browning Kimball Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 94-2766079 · since 1981fmiokc.com/clients/browning-kimball·Montana·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$964k
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$5,000 to $40,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$20,000
Typical grant (median)
30 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The foundation's stated priority is Montana, and its themes are sustainable agriculture and youth and families, so a Montana-based charity whose work fits those themes is the clearest match, and the filing says preference goes to nonprofits located in Montana.
  • Only organisations with a 501(c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service are eligible, so applicants without one should not apply.
  • About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $5,000 and $40,000, with a median of $20,000, so a request in that region is realistic, though its largest grant was about $335,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
  • Organisations start with a letter of inquiry by March, which the foundation uses to prioritise grants, and then submit the web-based application by July.
  • Because 71% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, existing relationships appear to count for a great deal, although the filing does not say how competitive the process is, and the foundation encourages grantees not to rely on one funder and may limit grants to four successive years.

Overview

The Browning Kimball Foundation is a US private foundation based in Oklahoma City, OK.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Browning Kimball Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Montana by promoting sustainable agriculture and fostering the well-being of youth and families. It reaches out to charitable organisations that improve the quality of living for people and communities throughout Montana. Its stated preferences include Montana nonprofits, youth and families, and sustainable agriculture. Applicants must have IRS 501(c)(3) designation. Its directors are sensitive to the needs of communities, large and small, and look for mission statements that enhance living conditions for people with all levels of abilities. A letter of inquiry helps prioritise grants the family has a serious desire to fund, followed by a web-based grant application.

Themes

  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Youth and families

Geographic Focus

Priority: Montana.

What They Don't Fund

  • Applicants without a 501(c)(3) designation by the Internal Revenue Service

How to apply

Organisations start with a letter of inquiry, which the foundation uses to prioritise grants the family has a serious desire to fund, then submit the grant application online.

Deadlines:

  • Letters of inquiry are due in March.
  • Grant applications are due in July.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 71% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 120 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Preference is given to nonprofit organisations located in Montana.
  • The directors look for mission statements that enhance living conditions for people with all levels of abilities and are sensitive to communities large and small.
  • Grantees are encouraged to maintain a large funding base and not become reliant on one funder.
  • The Board may limit grants to four successive years.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Montana91%
Washington2%
Oklahoma2%
Arizona2%
Pennsylvania<1%
Florida<1%

5 other states: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to organisations The Browning Kimball Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

30 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 30 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k7%
$5k–$10k10%
$10k–$25k43%
$25k–$50k27%
$50k–$100k7%
$100k–$250k3%
$250k–$500k3%

Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • CM Russell Museum · Browning firearms exhibit
    $250,0002024 tax year
  • Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation · Exempt purpose
    $100,0002024 tax year
  • Friends of Beaver Creek Park · Exempt purpose
    $78,0002024 tax year
  • Producers Partnership Inc · Exempt purpose
    $50,0002024 tax year
  • Special K Ranch · Unrestricted support
    $46,9002024 tax year
  • Western Sustainability Exchange · Regenerative ranching program
    $35,0002024 tax year
  • Montana State University Foundation · Bearpaw excellence in agriculture sc
    $31,5792024 tax year
  • AWARE · General operations support
    $30,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Lisa Cowan Huestis — Director
  • Brett Huestis — Director
  • William B Cowan — President
  • William Cowan — Director
  • Michelle Cowan — Director
  • Barbara Cowan — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$1,453,903$1,123,398$25,310,223Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$1,289,278$1,012,612$27,443,496Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$1,283,229$964,479$29,310,955Filing 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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