The Brigham Family Foundation concentrates its giving on conservative/libertarian public policy and civics education, with a particular emphasis on Texas-focused education reform and curriculum distribution. It funds policy think tanks and ideological advocacy organizations that produce and disseminate free educational materials to teachers and schools. Grants are typically large, repeated awards to a small set of aligned organizations rather than broad, diversified giving.
A defining feature of Brigham Family Foundation’s recent giving is its repeated support for the Texas Public Policy Foundation and related education and policy work. Across 2023-2025, the foundation backed the organization’s Life: Powered project, its Center for Innovation in Education, a University Project fund, and a building fund, alongside several larger awards for energy analytics and policy research. That pattern shows a funder that prefers aligned institutions and multi-year commitments over scattered one-off grants. The foundation also makes sizeable awards to the Ayn Rand Institute’s university and free-books programs, pairing fellowship support with classroom distribution of books for teachers in Texas. Those grants point to a clear interest in civics, ideas, and curriculum materials rather than direct service delivery. Other recipients include the University of Texas at Austin and policy-oriented organizations in Washington, DC and Utah, reinforcing a portfolio centered on public policy, education reform, and civic instruction. Grants in the recent file range from $10,000 to $400,000, with several awards clustered at six figures.
In public policy, Brigham Family Foundation supported the Texas Public Policy Foundation with $250,000 in 2025 for the National Center for Energy Analytics under the leadership of Mark Mills, and with $167,000 in 2024 for Life: Powered. Those grants show a sustained interest in policy research tied to energy and related debates. For education, the foundation gave $250,000 in 2025 to the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Innovation in Education fund and $200,000 in 2025 to the Ayn Rand Institute’s Free Books to Teachers fund. It also funded fellowships at the Ayn Rand University with a $240,000 award in 2025. The foundation’s youth and civic programming reaches beyond Texas as well. It gave $50,000 in 2025 to Libertas Institute for the Children’s Entrepreneur Market and Tuttle Twins Academy, and $20,000 in 2024 to American Cornerstone Institute for the Little Patriots Program.
Typical awards are substantial: the grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $50,000, a median of $120,000, and a 75th percentile of $200,000. The recent record also includes several repeat awards to the same organizations across 2023-2025, including Texas Public Policy Foundation, Ayn Rand Institute, and The University of Texas at Austin. That suggests a relationship-based pattern rather than one-off project funding. The foundation is a family foundation, and its filing indicates it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The available record does not show an unsolicited application process.
$3.4M
$324K
$2.9M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $50K and $200K, with a median of $120K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$120K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in TX.
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Highly concentrated giving: few, large grants and multiple repeat awards to the same organizations; strategic support for programmatic initiatives (education content and policy centers) rather than many small, varied grants.
Notable grantees: Texas Public Policy Foundation, Ayn Rand Institute (Center for the Advancement / Texas program), Global Liberty Institute USA
The giving is regional, but the recipient map is heavily concentrated in Texas. Austin appears repeatedly through Texas Public Policy Foundation and The University of Texas at Austin, while other Texas recipients include Kingwood. Outside Texas, the foundation also funded Washington, DC; Santa Ana, California; Lehi, Utah; and Harlan, Iowa. Utah is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. All recent grants in the file went to US recipients.
The recent grants point to public policy and education groups, especially policy think tanks, university programs, and curriculum-related initiatives. Examples include Texas Public Policy Foundation, The University of Texas at Austin, the Ayn Rand Institute, and Libertas Institute.
The grant-size distribution is fairly high: the 25th percentile is $50,000, the median is $120,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000. Several awards are above that range, including a $400,000 grant and multiple $250,000 grants.
Yes. Texas Public Policy Foundation, Ayn Rand Institute, and The University of Texas at Austin each appear in multiple years, with repeated awards across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The recipient locations are mostly in Texas, especially Austin. Other grant recipients are in Washington, DC; Santa Ana, California; Lehi, Utah; and Harlan, Iowa. Utah is the top state by grant count in the file.
No. The foundation data shows funds individuals is false and program-related investments is false, so the recent record reflects organizational grantmaking rather than individual support or PRI activity.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $1,500,000 | 2026 | Ayn Rand Center Fund |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $500,000 | 2026 | Radical Discourse Music Video Initiative |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2026 | the National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA) under the leadership of Mark Mills |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2026 | Center for Innovation in Education Fund |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $240,000 | 2026 | ARI Fellow Sponsorship Program |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $120,000 | 2026 | Salem Center for Policy |
| THE ATLAS SOCIETY LTD | LODI, CA | $117,000 | 2026 | Anthem AI Animated Project |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Free Books to Teachers Fund |
| GLOBAL LIBERTY INSTITUTE USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | Rising Leaders Program |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $57,500 | 2026 | University Project Fund |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | Life: Powered Program |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $25,500 | 2026 | Atlas In Motion Sculpture |
| THE ATLAS SOCIETY LTD | LODI, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SAMARITANS PURSE | BOONE, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | U.S. Disaster Relief: Hurricane Helene |
| ARENA HALL FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $10,000 | 2026 | Reagan Film Fund |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | Focus 2024 - Election Integrity |
| CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM | MULBERRY, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | Hurricane Relief: Pilots |
| WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | WHITEFISH, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | To support the National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA) under the leadership of Mark Mills |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | Center for Innovation in Education fund |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $240,000 | 2025 | For three fellowships at the ayn rand university |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | Free Books to Teachers fund |
| GLOBAL LIBERTY INSTITUTE USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $120,000 | 2025 | Sales Center for Policy |
| THE ATLAS SOCIETY LTD | KINGWOOD, TX | $58,000 | 2025 | Anthem AI Animated Project |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $57,500 | 2025 | University Project fund |
| LIBERTAS INSTITUTE | LEHI, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | Children's Entrepreneur Market and Tuttle Twins Academy |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Program support fund |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | KK Salem Policy Center |
| GLOBAL LIBERTY INSTITUTE USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2024 | Center for Innovation in Education Pledge |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $240,000 | 2024 | For three fellowships at the Ayn Rand University |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | Free Books to Teachers in the Texas Program |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $167,000 | 2024 | Life: Powered |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $120,000 | 2024 | Sales Center for Policy |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $30,000 | 2024 | KK Salem Policy Center |
| AMERICAN CORNERSTONE INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | Little Patriots Program |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT | SANTA ANA, CA | $200,000 | 2023 | Free Books to Teachers in Texas Program |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $167,000 | 2023 | Life: Powered Project |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN - MCCOMBS SCHOOL | AUSTIN, TX | $120,000 | 2023 | General & Unrestricted |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | TPPF Building fund |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN - MCCOMBS SCHOOL | AUSTIN, TX | $30,000 | 2023 | KK Salem Policy Center |
| YOUNG LIFE | HARLAN, IA | $10,000 | 2023 | For Young Life Chapter TX495 |
TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION
$250,000the National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA) under the leadership of Mark Mills
AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
$240,000ARI Fellow Sponsorship Program
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$120,000Salem Center for Policy
Free Books to Teachers Fund
GLOBAL LIBERTY INSTITUTE USA
$100,000Rising Leaders Program
CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM
$10,000Hurricane Relief: Pilots
TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION
$250,000To support the National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA) under the leadership of Mark Mills
AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
$240,000For three fellowships at the ayn rand university
Free Books to Teachers fund
GLOBAL LIBERTY INSTITUTE USA
$200,000General & Unrestricted
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$120,000Sales Center for Policy
THE ATLAS SOCIETY LTD
$58,000Anthem AI Animated Project
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$30,000KK Salem Policy Center
GLOBAL LIBERTY INSTITUTE USA
$400,000General & Unrestricted
For three fellowships at the Ayn Rand University
Free Books to Teachers in the Texas Program
Free Books to Teachers in Texas Program
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN - MCCOMBS SCHOOL
$120,000General & Unrestricted
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN - MCCOMBS SCHOOL
$30,000KK Salem Policy Center
YOUNG LIFE
$10,000For Young Life Chapter TX495