The Old State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 61-0598511

W L Lyons Brown Foundation

A private foundation in Louisville, KY. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 15 grants and $34.1 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $34,141,952

    Grants listed
    15
    Assets, end of year
    $0

  • Tax year 2024

    $4,123,800

    Grants listed
    139
    Assets, end of year
    $291,534

  • Tax year 2023

    $4,684,152

    Grants listed
    148
    Assets, end of year
    $187,393

  • Tax year 2022

    $4,986,774

    Grants listed
    137
    Assets, end of year
    $197,124

  • Tax year 2021

    $4,928,022

    Grants listed
    149
    Assets, end of year
    $2,102,267

  • Tax year 2020

    $4,243,349

    Grants listed
    121
    Assets, end of year
    $254,242

Grants paid in 2025

15 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Food Literacy ProjectLouisville, KY

    Capital support

    $125,000
  2. Billfish FoundationFt Lauderdale, FL

    Operational support

    $100,000
  3. Berry CenterNew Castle, KY

    Operational support

    $50,000
  4. Episcopal High SchoolAlexandria, VA

    Operational support

    $12,500
  5. Brevard Music CenterBrevard, NC

    Program support

    $12,000
  6. Salisbury SchoolSalisbury, CT

    Operational support

    $10,000
  7. UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC

    Program support

    $10,000
  8. Trees LouivilleLouisville, KY

    Program support

    $10,000
  9. University of Colorado FoundationDenver, CO

    Program support

    $10,000
  10. Ducks Unlimited IncMemphis, TN

    Program support

    $6,000
  11. American Farmland TrustWashington, DC

    Operational support

    $5,000
  12. Norton Healthcare FoundationLouisville, KY

    Program support

    $5,000
  13. Sheridan Community Land TrustSheridan, WY

    Operational support

    $5,000
  14. His Church AnglicanLivonia, MI

    Operational support

    $5,000
  15. Second Stride IncProspect, KY

    Operational support

    $2,000

6 grants totaling $33,774,452 are held for a check and not listed

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Animals1 grant $100,00053% of the total
  2. Education3 grants $70,00037% of the total
  3. Environment1 grant $5,0003% of the total
  4. Food and agriculture1 grant $5,0003% of the total
  5. Health1 grant $5,0003% of the total
  6. Philanthropy and grantmaking1 grant $2,0001% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Kentucky5 grants $192,000
  2. Florida1 grant $100,000
  3. North Carolina2 grants $22,000
  4. Virginia1 grant $12,500
  5. Colorado1 grant $10,000
  6. Connecticut1 grant $10,000
  7. Tennessee1 grant $6,000
  8. District of Columbia1 grant $5,000
  9. Michigan1 grant $5,000
  10. Wyoming1 grant $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Susannah Scott-BarnesPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • Lainey MusselmanSEC/TREASURER/DIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • Owsley Brown IIIVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR Hours 0.25Pay $0
  • Susan V NicholsonFOUNDATION ADMINISTRATOR Hours 8Pay $102,459

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (animals), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Arcus FoundationNew York, NY 365 grants Accepts applications $31,280,594 giving
  2. Leslie L Alexander Foundation IncDelray Beach, FL 622 grants Preselected only $28,415,100 giving
  3. The Alsam FoundationPo Box Chica, IL 20 grants Preselected only $49,056,610 giving
  4. Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable TrustIndianapolis, IN 328 grants Accepts applications $22,690,217 giving
  5. The Timashev Family FoundationNew York, NY 10 grants Preselected only $22,107,758 giving