The John Brown Cook Foundation concentrates its funding on a mix of biomedical research and libertarian-leaning policy, legal, and media organizations. It makes sizable, repeat grants to a small set of core grantees that advance scientific research (notably the Garvan Institute) and public-interest causes related to free speech, property/civil liberties, and conservative or libertarian media and film production. Occasional support for entrepreneurship and public‑health research appears alongside the foundation's policy priorities.
A recurring commitment to Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research stands out in the John Brown Cook Foundation’s recent giving, with support of $1,000,000 in 2023 and $475,000 in both 2024 and 2025. That medical-research line sits alongside a separate cluster of public-interest grants, showing a foundation that backs a small set of organizations over multiple years rather than a wide one-time portfolio. The foundation’s largest recent grants also include support for Accuracy in Media, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Institute for Justice, and Moving Picture Institute, all at the $275,000 to $450,000 range in the data provided. Those grants point to steady support for biomedical research, free speech, civil liberties, property-rights litigation, and media production. The pattern is not limited to a single theme: the same grantmaking stream also includes entrepreneurship, public-health research, and education-related work. Across the recent list, the foundation appears to favor general support, with repeated awards to organizations that align with its core policy and research interests.
Biomedical research is a clear line of support. The John Brown Cook Foundation gave $1,000,000 in 2023 and $475,000 in both 2024 and 2025 to Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research for general support. It also backed Epidemic Answers with $250,000 in 2025, after $200,000 awards in 2023 and 2024, again for general support. On the policy and civil-liberties side, the foundation gave $450,000 in 2025, $300,000 in 2024, and $275,000 in 2023 to Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Public-interest law appears through Institute for Justice, which received $400,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $200,000 in 2025. Media and film production is another recurring area, with grants to Accuracy in Media and Moving Picture Institute.
Typical grant size is in the mid-to-upper six figures: p25 is $50,000, median is $125,000, and p75 is $250,000. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Institute for Justice, Moving Picture Institute, Accuracy in Media, Venture for America, Epidemic Answers, Emergent Order Foundation Inc, and Hand to Heart Project. Grants are described as general support, indicating flexible funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$3.1M
$39.3M
$5.2M
$3.6M
Most grants fall between $50K and $250K, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 13% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated giving through relatively large grants to a small number of repeat grantees; funding mixes long‑term commitments to core organizations across two thematic tracks (scientific research and libertarian/conservative policy/media), rather than many small or one‑off donations.
Notable grantees: Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), Moving Picture Institute, Institute for Justice, Accuracy in Media
Grant recipients are located entirely in the United States, with 53 grants to U.S. organizations. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, while 13% of grants go to recipients in Connecticut, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent recipient cities include New York, Philadelphia, Arlington, Washington, Austin, West Simsbury, Trumbull, Mamaroneck, Cornish Flat, and New York City-area organizations. The spread suggests a regional giving pattern rather than a single-city footprint.
Its recent grants support biomedical research, civil liberties and free-speech advocacy, public-interest law, media and film production, entrepreneurship, and public-health research. Named grantees in those areas include Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Institute for Justice, Moving Picture Institute, Accuracy in Media, Venture for America, and Epidemic Answers.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Friends of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Institute for Justice in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The pattern also appears with Accuracy in Media, Moving Picture Institute, Epidemic Answers, Emergent Order Foundation Inc, and Hand to Heart Project.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $125,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $1,000,000 and several in the $275,000 to $475,000 range.
By recipient location, grants are distributed across the United States, with Pennsylvania as the top state by grant count. Connecticut receives 13% of grants, and recent recipient cities include Philadelphia, New York, Arlington, Washington, Austin, West Simsbury, Trumbull, Mamaroneck, and Cornish Flat.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $450,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $450,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL PEHT | TRUMBULL, CT | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOCUMENTING HOPE | WEST SIMSBURY, CT | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DAVIDSON INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL SECURITY | HANOVER, NH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FAIRNESS CENTER | HARRISBURG, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INCUBATE FOUNDATION | MADISON, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAND TO HEART PROJECT | CORNISH FLAT, NH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIBERTY JUSTICE CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STEM TEACHERS NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $475,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $450,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $325,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $275,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EPIDEMIC ANSWERS | WEST SIMSBURY, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL PEHT | TRUMBULL, CT | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN - UATX | AUSTIN, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAND TO HEART PROJECT | CORNISH FLAT, NH | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STEM TEACHERS NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICA'S FUTURE | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FAIRNESS CENTER | HARRISBURG, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $475,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $300,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $275,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VENTURE FOR AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EPIDEMIC ANSWERS | WEST SIMSBURY, CT | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAND TO HEART PROJECT | CORNISH FLAT, NH | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN - UATX | AUSTIN, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL PEHT | TRUMBULL, CT | $95,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $70,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STEM TEACHERS NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EPIDEMIC ANSWERS | WEST SIMSBURY, CT | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VENTURE FOR AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INCUBATE DEBATE | MADISON, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAND TO HEART PROJECT | CORNISH FLAT, NH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION
$450,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
$450,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL PEHT
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DOCUMENTING HOPE
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DAVIDSON INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL SECURITY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INCUBATE FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HAND TO HEART PROJECT
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LIBERTY JUSTICE CENTER
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STEM TEACHERS NYC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
$475,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION
$450,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EPIDEMIC ANSWERS
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL PEHT
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HAND TO HEART PROJECT
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STEM TEACHERS NYC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICA'S FUTURE
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
$475,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION
$300,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VENTURE FOR AMERICA
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EPIDEMIC ANSWERS
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HAND TO HEART PROJECT
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN - UATX
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL PEHT
$95,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STEM TEACHERS NYC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EPIDEMIC ANSWERS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VENTURE FOR AMERICA
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INCUBATE DEBATE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HAND TO HEART PROJECT
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT