Owsley Brown II Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation supports arts and culture, the environment, religion, health, education, youth and human services in Kentucky.

FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, the environment, religion, health, youth, human services, education

IP TAKE: This funder maintains a low public profile and is not particularly accessible to first-time grantseekers. However, it is still a major Kentucky foundation to be familiar with.

PROFILE: The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation is a family foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. It is managed by Zelkova Strategic Partners in Louisville. Owsley Brown II spent much of his career with the Brown-Forman Corporation in the distilled spirits industry and became the company’s president. He was also a local philanthropist who gave to community groups and churches before his death in 2011. There is also a separate Oswley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation based in Louisville. This foundation funds local efforts for arts and culture, the environment, education, religion, health, youth and human services.

The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, past tax records indicate that this foundation gives to a wide variety of local causes. Grants are often for general operating support. However, it awards other funds in the form of challenge grants, event sponsorships, endowments, annual funds, capital expenses, memorial donations and specific projects. Music festivals, construction projects and preservation funds have received this funder’s support as well.

Grants range between about $1,000 and $300,000. The foundation often makes over $5 million in grants and contributions per year. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking largely focuses on the state of Kentucky. Past local grantees include the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Kentucky Opera Association and Kentucky Public Radio.

This foundation does not typically accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and only funds pre-selected organizations. Direct general questions to the staff at 502-805-7203.

PEOPLE:

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