Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation supports human services, medical, health and science, education, community benefit, food security, and conservation and environment in Louisiana.
IP TAKE: This is an accessible funder to know for Louisiana and Mississippi nonprofits because it is open receiving letters of interest from new groups throughout the year.
PROFILE: Established in 1959, the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation is a family foundation based in Metairie, Louisiana. Joe Brown gained his wealth in the oil drilling industry and became one of Louisiana’s largest independent oil producers. Dorothy Brown dedicated her time to building and expanding a hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi after her husband’s death. The couple raced thoroughbred horses during their lifetimes. D. Paul Spencer is an American war hero and long-time friend and employee of the Browns who has led the foundation. The foundation believes in "feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and developing new treatments for the sick while assisting with community benefit and human-interest programs where prudent.” It funds local efforts for human services, medical, health and science, education, community benefit, food security, and conservation and the environment.
Grants for K-12 and STEM Education, Brain and Cell, Food Systems, and Community Development
The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation is dedicated to alleviating human suffering, and it has various interests that it pursues at the local level. Education grants are focused on K-12 initiatives and STEM education. It has an education department that sponsors Emmy Noether Awards. The other grant categories are pursued broadly, with many different local nonprofits receiving Brown Foundation grants each year. The funder considers requests from organizations that it has not supported in the past, as well as returning grantees. It typically has one big initiative per year, such as oncology research or healthy aging.
Past local grantees include House Unbuilt, Academy of Our Lady and Albert Cammon Middle School.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $1,000 and $100,000. Grantmaking focuses on Greater New Orleans area, Louisiana and Mississippi. To a much lesser extent, the foundation considers nationwide programs within its interest areas too.
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of interest from nonprofits. There is no strict format to follow for LOIs, but grantseekers should send a hard copy of the letter by mail to the foundation. It does not consider email requests. Organizations that have received foundation support within the last three years and are seeking another grant can log into the funder’s website with a password to access the application packet. Direct general questions to the staff at 504-834-3433 or to the office staff at bethbuscher@thebrownfoundation.org or marypoche@thebrownfoundation.org.
PEOPLE:
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