The Jo Ann Brassfield Charitable Giving Foundation concentrates its support on athletic programs—particularly collegiate rowing—while also making occasional larger gifts to community facility projects and event-driven fundraising for family/health services. Grants are program- or project-specific (e.g., men's rowing program, facility construction, gala support) and appear to follow a local-to-regional focus with some grants outside the immediate area.
Concentrated, small-number giving: a majority of funds are directed to a repeat, flagship grantee (Santa Clara University Athletics) through multiple grants, supplemented by one-off mid-sized gifts for capital projects and gala fundraising. Overall grants are few but relatively large and targeted rather than broadly distributed.
Jo Ann Brassfield Charitable Giving Foundation’s clearest pattern is sustained support for Santa Clara University Athletics’ men’s rowing program. The foundation gave $40,000 in 2023 and followed with $20,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025 to that same program, showing repeated backing for the same athletic effort across multiple years. That rowing support sits alongside a smaller set of project-based gifts, including facility construction and event underwriting. The foundation’s recent grants also show a willingness to fund larger, defined needs rather than broad unrestricted support. One example is a $25,000 gift in 2025 to The Bradley Center in Pittsburgh for facility construction. Another is a $10,000 grant in 2025 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii for a benefit gala. The overall picture is a regional giver with a strong preference for athletics, especially men’s rowing, and with occasional support for capital and fundraising projects tied to specific institutions and events.
Athletic support is the foundation’s main thread, and men’s rowing is the most visible example. Santa Clara University Athletics Co Jerry Farwell received $40,000 in 2023 for the men’s rowing program, followed by $20,000 grants in 2024 and 2025 for the same purpose. The foundation also funds capital needs in recreation and athletics-related settings. In 2025, The Bradley Center received $25,000 for facility construction, pointing to interest in physical infrastructure rather than only operating support. Event underwriting appears as another distinct use of funds. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii received $10,000 in 2025 for a benefit gala, showing that the foundation will support fundraising events when the request is tied to a named purpose. Across these grants, the funding is specific and project-oriented.
The foundation’s typical grant size clusters tightly around $20,000, with a p25 of $20,000, a median of $20,000, and a p75 of $25,000. Recent giving also includes a larger $40,000 award, but most listed grants sit in that narrower band. The pattern suggests repeated support for the same recipient over multiple years, especially the men’s rowing program at Santa Clara University Athletics Co Jerry Farwell. The foundation is a private grantmaker rather than an operating program, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grants shown are all program- or project-specific rather than unrestricted.
$95K
$893K
$96K
$100K
Most grants fall between $20K and $25K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Notable grantees: Santa Clara University Athletics (Men's Rowing Program), The Bradley Center (facility construction), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii (benefit gala)
Giving is concentrated in California, which accounts for 60% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Santa Clara, CA appears repeatedly among the recipients, while Honolulu, HI and Pittsburgh, PA also appear in the recent grants list. All listed grants go to U.S. recipients, with no non-U.S. countries shown. The footprint is regional, with most support staying in the foundation’s home state and a smaller number of gifts reaching outside California.
The clearest pattern is program-specific athletic support, especially men’s rowing. The foundation also funds facility construction and event underwriting, including a benefit gala. Its recent grants show each award tied to a named purpose rather than broad unrestricted support.
Yes. Santa Clara University Athletics Co Jerry Farwell received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the men’s rowing program. That repeated pattern suggests ongoing support for the same athletic program across multiple years.
The grant-size distribution is centered at $20,000. The p25 is $20,000, the median is $20,000, and the p75 is $25,000. Recent grants also include a $40,000 award, but most listed gifts fall near the $20,000 level.
California is the top state by grant count, with 60% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grants list also includes recipients in Pittsburgh, PA and Honolulu, HI, but all listed grants are to U.S. organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BRADLEY CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $45,000 | 2026 | FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL | SANTA CLARA, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM |
| SHARKS ALUMNI FOUNDATION | SAN JOSE, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | FUNDING FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| KELSEYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | KELSEYVILLE, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNIFORMS FOR VOLLEBALL TEAM |
| THE BRADLEY CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | FACILITY CONSTRUBTION |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL | SANTA CLARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $10,000 | 2025 | BENEFIT GALA |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL | SANTA CLARA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL | SANTA CLARA, CA | $40,000 | 2023 | MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM |
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL
$30,000MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM
SHARKS ALUMNI FOUNDATION
$15,000FUNDING FOR YOUTH SPORTS
KELSEYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000UNIFORMS FOR VOLLEBALL TEAM
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL
$20,000MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL
$20,000MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CO JERRY FARWELL
$40,000MEN'S ROWING PROGRAM