The W L Lyons Brown Foundation made a single, large operational grant to a local arts higher-education institution, indicating a targeted interest in supporting Kentucky-based postsecondary arts education and cultural training. Their giving in this dataset is highly concentrated, placing emphasis on sustaining institutional capacity rather than many small gifts or broad national programs.
Highly concentrated: one large, unrestricted operational grant to a single regional arts college rather than multiple or diversified grantees.
A single $500,000 operating grant to Kentucky College of Art and Design sets the tone for W L Lyons Brown Foundation’s recent giving: large, institution-focused support for arts and education organizations. The foundation also backed Louisville Orchestra with $286,510 in 2024 for program and operational support, reinforcing a pattern of funding that helps cultural institutions cover both day-to-day work and program delivery. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s support extends beyond one school or one art form. Louisville Collegiate School received capital support in two years, while J B Speed Art Museum, Center for Interfaith Relations, and Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy each appear as funded recipients in Louisville. That mix suggests attention to cultural infrastructure, educational institutions, and civic organizations that serve the Louisville community. The foundation’s grants are not limited to arts alone. It also funded schools, land conservation groups, and community organizations, including Berry Center, Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, and South Louisville Community Ministries. The overall pattern is concentrated and place-based, with Kentucky recipients taking a prominent share of the recent list.
Arts education is a clear thread in the foundation’s recent giving. Kentucky College of Art and Design received $500,000 for operational support, and Louisville Orchestra received $286,510 for program and operational support. The foundation also supports broader cultural institutions. J B Speed Art Museum received $152,500 for program support, while Center for Interfaith Relations received $160,923 for operational and program support. Those grants point to interest in organizations that combine public programming with institutional stability. Education appears in more than one form. Episcopal High School received $270,000 in 2024 and $255,000 in 2023, both for operational support, and Louisville Collegiate School received capital support in 2024 and 2023. Outside the arts and schools, the foundation funded conservation and land-related work through Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve.
W L Lyons Brown Foundation’s recent grants cluster around a few large awards rather than many small ones. Typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile, while several individual grants in the recent list run well above that range. The pattern also shows repeat support: Episcopal High School, Louisville Collegiate School, Berry Center, Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, and the Community Foundation of Louisville each appear in multiple years. It is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$34.1M
$0
$1.1M
$34.4M
Most grants fall between $3K and $30K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Notable grantees: Kentucky College of Art and Design
Giving is strongly centered in Kentucky, which receives 50% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Louisville appears repeatedly across the list, along with Goshen and New Castle in Kentucky. Outside the state, the foundation gives in Nashville, Alexandria, Salisbury, Charlottesville, Washington, San Francisco, Memphis, and Brentwood. All recent grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show a strong focus on arts, education, and civic institutions. Examples include Kentucky College of Art and Design for operational support, Louisville Orchestra for program and operational support, and Louisville Collegiate School for capital support. The foundation also backs museums, conservation groups, and community organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Episcopal High School, Louisville Collegiate School, Berry Center, Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, and the Community Foundation of Louisville. That suggests the foundation often returns to organizations rather than making only one-time gifts.
The distribution centers around $2,500 at the 25th percentile, a $10,000 median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes much larger awards, such as $500,000 to Kentucky College of Art and Design and $286,510 to Louisville Orchestra.
Kentucky is the top state by grant count and receives 50% of grants in the dataset. Louisville is a frequent recipient city, with additional Kentucky grants going to Goshen and New Castle.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSB COCKAYNE FUND INC | NASHVILLE, TN | $11,380,633 | 2026 | LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION |
| SKYLIGHT WOODS FOUNDATION INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $5,653,382 | 2026 | LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION |
| LIMESTONE FAMILY FOUNDATION INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $5,527,278 | 2026 | LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION |
| OWSLEY BROWN III PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $3,769,149 | 2026 | LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION |
| BROOKE BROWN BARZUN PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $3,759,149 | 2026 | LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION |
| SOCIABLE WEAVER FOUNDATION | LOUISVILLE, KY | $3,684,861 | 2026 | LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION |
| FOOD LITERACY PROJECT | LOUISVILLE, KY | $125,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL SUPPORT |
| BILLFISH FOUNDATION | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| BERRY CENTER | NEW CASTLE, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $12,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| BREVARD MUSIC CENTER | BREVARD, NC | $12,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SALISBURY SCHOOL | SALISBURY, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNC CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TREES LOUIVILLE | LOUISVILLE, KY | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $6,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NORTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | LOUISVILLE, KY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HIS CHURCH ANGLICAN | LIVONIA, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| SHERIDAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | SHERIDAN, WY | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| SECOND STRIDE INC | PROSPECT, KY | $2,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | LOUISVILLE, KY | $452,700 | 2025 | CAPITAL SUPPORT |
| RITA JUNE FOUNDATION INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $284,683 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHEEKWOOD ESTATE AND GARDENS | NASHVILLE, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR INTERFAITH RELATIONS | LOUISVILLE, KY | $150,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VANDERBILT LAW SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $143,650 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $135,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| BERRY CENTER | NEW CASTLE, KY | $132,300 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $102,511 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| THE LAND TRUST FOR TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,650 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| CREASEY MAHAN NATURE PRESERVE | GOSHEN, KY | $100,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| THE AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCES CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | BOONE, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA | LOUISVILLE, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL | GREENWICH, CT | $80,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| J DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $80,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL AND PROJECT SUPPORT |
| LOUISVILLE OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $75,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| EVOLVE502 INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $52,222 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI FOUNDATION | OXFORD, MS | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GRACE CATHEDRAL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ST FRANCIS IN THE FIELDS CHURCH | HARRODS CREEK, KY | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ISAAC W BERNHEIM FOUNDATION INC | CLERMONT, KY | $42,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST | WASHINGTON, DC | $40,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| KQED INC | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $38,650 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION | LOUISVILLE, KY | $36,667 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT SUPPORT |
| KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $35,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| EQUESTRIAN EVENTS INC | LEXINGTON, KY | $35,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
MSB COCKAYNE FUND INC
$11,380,633LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION
SKYLIGHT WOODS FOUNDATION INC
$5,653,382LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION
LIMESTONE FAMILY FOUNDATION INC
$5,527,278LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION
OWSLEY BROWN III PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION INC
$3,769,149LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION
BROOKE BROWN BARZUN PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION INC
$3,759,149LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION
SOCIABLE WEAVER FOUNDATION
$3,684,861LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTION
FOOD LITERACY PROJECT
$125,000CAPITAL SUPPORT
BILLFISH FOUNDATION
$100,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL
$12,500OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
UNC CHAPEL HILL
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
TREES LOUIVILLE
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
DUCKS UNLIMITED INC
$6,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HIS CHURCH ANGLICAN
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
$452,700CAPITAL SUPPORT
CHEEKWOOD ESTATE AND GARDENS
$200,000PROJECT SUPPORT
VANDERBILT LAW SCHOOL
$143,650PROGRAM SUPPORT
CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCES CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$100,000OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL
$80,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
GRACE CATHEDRAL
$50,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
ST FRANCIS IN THE FIELDS CHURCH
$50,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
KQED INC
$40,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$38,650ENDOWMENT SUPPORT
KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY
$35,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
EQUESTRIAN EVENTS INC
$35,000PROGRAM SUPPORT