THE BRINSON FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$8.5M-92% YoY
Grants
138
Median Grant
$50K
Organizations Funded
114
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Foundation Overview
Mission
The Brinson Foundation is a privately funded philanthropic organization that provides an opportunity to focus our family common interests in encouraging personal initiative, advancing individual freedoms and liberties, and positively contributing to society in the areas of education and scientific research.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$300M total funding to date, $100M CalTech Brinson Exploration Hub 2023, Brinson Prize Fellowship Program early-career astrophysicists/cosmologists, Brinson Postdoctoral Fellowships (started 2021), $106M grants 2023, University of Chicago collaborations, Chicago area education focus
How to Apply
Complete Grantseeker Information Form (GIF) for initial inquiry. If strong match indicated, program officer contacts for due diligence discussion. Selected grantseekers receive formal application invitation. Board has sole authority to approve grants. Very few education grants outside Chicago area.
Does Not Fund
No discrimination based on race/gender/religion/ethnicity/sexual orientation, no political/lobbying/voter registration activities, no religious content programs, no programs limited to specific demographic groups (except medical research), no capital improvements/endowments/fundraising events, scientific research by invitation only, very few education grants outside Chicago area
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$8.5M
Grants
138
Median
$50K
States
14
$106.0M
Grants
128
Median
$43K
States
11
$6.1M
Grants
131
Median
$40K
States
14
Grant Size Distribution
$50K
Typical Grant (Median)
$250
Smallest
$35K
25th Pctile
$75K
75th Pctile
$600K
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $35K and $75K.
Largest Recent Grants
$600K
2024
ST JOHN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION
WY · HITCHING POST WORKFORCE HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT
$200K
2024
CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP FOR SAFE AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES
IL · SCALING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION FOR A SAFER CHICAGO
$200K
2024
EISENHOWER HEALTH
CA · CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE
$142K
2024
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS EDWARD H LEV
IL · BRINSON ASTROPHYSICS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, BRINSON LECTURE, AND PDTA
$120K
2024
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE CARNEGIE OBSERVATORIES INSTRUMENTATION PRO
CA · CARNEGIE-CALTECH BRINSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.