The Brooks-Mathews Foundation concentrates its giving on maritime and sailing-related causes, funding museums, yacht clubs, competitive sailing teams, restoration schools and marine conservation organizations. Grants are few but large, often directed to national or high-profile organizations that preserve maritime heritage, support competitive sailing, and advance ocean conservation. The foundation appears to favor repeat support for established institutions in the sailing community alongside significant gifts to major environmental groups focused on oceans.
Brooks-Mathews Foundation’s giving is defined by maritime heritage and sailing, with repeated large grants to institutions that preserve the sport’s history and support its present-day community. Across the recent record, the foundation backed the National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum in Annapolis three times, including a $250,000 grant in 2023 and $225,000 in 2025, alongside major support for Conservation International in 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests a funder that combines sailing-centered philanthropy with ocean conservation and broad general support. The foundation’s grants also reach yacht club foundations, competitive sailing teams, vessel restoration programs, and maritime education organizations. Recipients such as Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association, New York Yacht Club Foundation, International Yacht Restoration School, and Sail Newport show how the foundation supports both the heritage side of sailing and the infrastructure that sustains it. Several awards are unrestricted or listed for general purposes, which points to flexibility in how recipients can use the funds. Its latest grants also include cultural and public-benefit organizations beyond the sailing field, but the maritime focus remains the clearest thread across the record.
Maritime history is the foundation’s clearest programmatic lane. It gave $250,000 in 2023, $200,000 in 2024, and $225,000 in 2025 to the National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum for general purposes, indicating sustained support for sailing heritage preservation. Ocean conservation is another recurring area. Conservation International received $240,000 in 2024 and $175,000 in 2025, both for general purposes, showing that environmental funding sits alongside the sailing emphasis rather than outside it. The foundation also supports sailing infrastructure and training. It granted $67,565 to International Yacht Restoration School in 2023 and additional support in 2024 and 2025, while Sail Newport and the Sailing Foundation of New York appear in the recent record as beneficiaries of general-purpose grants. Competitive sailing is included as well, with support to Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association for general purposes.
Brooks-Mathews Foundation’s typical grant size is $21,250 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $83,782 at the 75th percentile, indicating a pattern of relatively substantial awards. The recent record shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, including the National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum, Conservation International, UC Berkeley Foundation, Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF, and International Yacht Restoration School. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grants are frequently broad-purpose or general-support awards, giving recipients flexibility in use.
$204K
$196K
$207K
$208K
Most grants fall between $21K and $84K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$21K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$84K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat and flagship grantees; multi-grant relationships with prominent national organizations rather than many small or local awards.
Notable grantees: National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum, Conservation International, New York Yacht Club Foundation, Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association, International Yacht Restoration School
The foundation gives nationally, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. California accounts for 47% of grants, and recent recipients there include San Anselmo, Berkeley, San Francisco, La Jolla, San Diego, San Leandro, and Fremont-area institutions. Rhode Island is the top state by grant count, with grants to Newport recipients such as International Yacht Restoration School, Sail Newport, Sparkman Stephens MuseumResearch Ct, and Newport Historical Society. Other repeated locations include Annapolis, New York City, Rye, and Peekskill.
The recent record centers on maritime heritage, sailing infrastructure, competitive sailing, and ocean conservation. Named recipients include the National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum, Conservation International, International Yacht Restoration School, Sail Newport, and the New York Yacht Club Foundation, most often with general-purpose support.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the National Sailing Hall of Fame Museum in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Conservation International in 2024 and 2025; International Yacht Restoration School in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and UC Berkeley Foundation and Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF across multiple years.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $21,250 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $83,782 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several six-figure grants, such as multiple gifts of $175,000 or more.
The foundation gives nationally, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Rhode Island is the top state by grant count, while California receives 47% of grants. Recent recipient cities include Newport, Annapolis, New York, San Francisco, Berkeley, and San Anselmo.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum | Annapolis, MD | $70,000 | 2026 | Support general purposes. |
| Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Support General Purposes. |
| National Maritime Historical Societ | Peekskill, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | To support general purposes. |
| UCSF Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Patient Experience Fund |
| Int'l Yacht Restoration School | Newport, RI | $17,500 | 2026 | Support General Purposes. |
| STFYC International Yacht Racing Fd | San Francisco, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | Support General Purposes |
| Newport Historical Society | Newport, RI | $7,500 | 2026 | Support General Purposes |
| St Francis Sailing Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $500 | 2026 | Support General Purposes |
| Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum | Annapolis, MD | $225,000 | 2025 | Support general purposes. |
| Conservation International | San Anselmo, CA | $175,000 | 2025 | Support General Purposes. |
| Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Support General Purposes. |
| Int'l Yacht Restoration School | Newport, RI | $16,000 | 2025 | Support General Purposes. |
| Sparkman Stephens MuseumResearch Ct | Newport, RI | $10,000 | 2025 | Public Education-General Purposes |
| Newport Historical Society | Newport, RI | $1,500 | 2025 | Support General Purposes |
| Conservation International | San Anselmo, CA | $240,000 | 2024 | Support General Purposes. |
| Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum | Annapolis, MD | $200,000 | 2024 | Support general purposes. |
| UC Berkeley Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | To support general purposes. |
| Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | Support General Purposes. |
| Sail Newport | Newport, RI | $40,000 | 2024 | Support General Purposes. |
| Sailing Foundation of New York | Rye, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | To Support General Purposes. |
| National Maritime Historical Societ | Peekskill, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | To support general purposes. |
| Int'l Yacht Restoration School | Newport, RI | $17,500 | 2024 | Support General Purposes. |
| Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum | Annapolis, MD | $250,000 | 2023 | Support general purposes. |
| Bella Mente Quantum Racing Associat | Pensacola, FL | $100,000 | 2023 | To support general purposes. |
| New York Yacht Club Foundation | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | Support general purposes. |
| Int'l Yacht Restoration School | Newport, RI | $67,565 | 2023 | Support General Purposes. |
| UC Berkeley Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | To support general purposes. |
| Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | Support General Purposes. |
| National Maritime Historical Societ | Peekskill, NY | $25,100 | 2023 | To support general purposes. |
| Nice Guys of San Diego | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | Support General Purposes. |
| St Francis Sailing Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | To support general purposes. |
| Scripps Health Foundation | La Jolla, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | Support General Purposes. |
| East Bay Innovations | San Leandro, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | To support general purposes. |
Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum
$70,000Support general purposes.
Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF
$50,000Support General Purposes.
National Maritime Historical Societ
$25,000To support general purposes.
UCSF Foundation
$25,000Patient Experience Fund
Int'l Yacht Restoration School
$17,500Support General Purposes.
STFYC International Yacht Racing Fd
$8,000Support General Purposes
St Francis Sailing Foundation
$500Support General Purposes
Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum
$225,000Support general purposes.
Conservation International
$175,000Support General Purposes.
Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF
$50,000Support General Purposes.
Int'l Yacht Restoration School
$16,000Support General Purposes.
Sparkman Stephens MuseumResearch Ct
$10,000Public Education-General Purposes
Conservation International
$240,000Support General Purposes.
Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum
$200,000Support general purposes.
Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF
$50,000Support General Purposes.
Sail Newport
$40,000Support General Purposes.
Int'l Yacht Restoration School
$17,500Support General Purposes.
Natl Sailing Hall of Fame Museum
$250,000Support general purposes.
Bella Mente Quantum Racing Associat
$100,000To support general purposes.
Int'l Yacht Restoration School
$67,565Support General Purposes.
UC Berkeley Foundation
$50,000To support general purposes.
Asian Art Museum Fdn of SF
$50,000Support General Purposes.
Nice Guys of San Diego
$15,000Support General Purposes.
St Francis Sailing Foundation
$10,000To support general purposes.
East Bay Innovations
$1,000To support general purposes.