The Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2020 and based in Gaffney, South Carolina that primarily funds religious ministry, including supporting a local soup kitchen that feeds the poor and homeless. As of 2025, the foundation was operating under James Wilkins Brown, who at the time was its chairman of trustees. 1 The foundation claims to support small nonprofits committed to addressing physical, educational, and spiritual needs, with a particular emphasis on humanitarian aid and ministry-focused initiatives. 1
Background
The Brown Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2020 and based in Gaffney, South Carolina that primarily funds religious ministry, including supporting the soup kitchen that feeds the poor and homeless. 1 The foundation claims to support small nonprofits committed to addressing physical, educational, and spiritual needs, with a particular emphasis on humanitarian aid and ministry-focused initiatives. 1
Leadership and Funding
As of 2025, foundation’s board structure included Jvames Wilkins Brown as chairman of trustees, serving alongside additional trustees Barbara Hopper Brown and Walter Reed Brown. 2
According to financial data from 2023, the Brown Family Foundation maintained approximately $6.9 million in assets, with annual giving totaling $131,000 distributed across 14 grants that year. 2 The Brown Family Foundation concentrates its grantmaking efforts within the southeastern United States, specifically serving organizations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The foundation may consider applications from organizations supporting humanitarian efforts outside the continental United States, provided the applicant organization is headquartered within the Carolinas. 3
In 2022, notable recipients included Samaritans Purse ($25,000), Go Tell Ministries ($20,000), First Baptist Church ($10,000), and Cherokee Pregnancy Center ($10,000). The foundation also supports social services organizations such as the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen ($5,000) and Miracle Hill Ministries ($10,000). 4
In 2023, the Brown Family Foundation disbursed $329,700 in grants to a range of organizations, each designated for “supporting religious ministry.” Recipients included COME AND SEE Foundation in Raleigh, North Carolina ($5,000); Boys Farm in Newberry, South Carolina ($15,000); Cherokee County Meals on Wheels in Gaffney, South Carolina ($25,000); Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries in Augusta, Georgia ($7,000); and GO TELL Crusades Inc. in Duluth, Georgia ($50,000). 2 Additional grants were provided to Goucher Charter Academy, Habitat for Humanity affiliates, Kingdom First Ministries, the Living Vine Maternity Home, SEND 56 Ministry Inc., Straight Street Laurens Inc., Thrive, United Christian Ministries, World Relief, Antioch Global, and Pine Eden Christian Retreat, with individual grant amounts ranging from $10,000 to $48,000. 2
In 2023, the foundation’s funding was geographically distributed across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, with all grants categorized under religious ministry support. The list of grantees included a mix of faith-based ministries, social service organizations, educational institutions, and humanitarian agencies. The foundation’s grantmaking demonstrates a particular emphasis on Christian ministry and faith-based social services. 2
References
- “About Us – The Brown Family Foundation,” Brown Family Foundation, accessed July 14, 2025, https://brownfamilyfoundationsc.org/about-us/.
- “Brown Family Foundation – Nonprofit Explorer – ProPublica,” ProPublica, June 30, 2025, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/301117489.
- “Brown Family Foundation invites applications from organizations in North Carolina, South Carolina,” Philanthropy News Digest, May 12, 2025, https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps/rfp17998-brown-family-foundation-invites-applications-from-organizations-in-north-carolina-south-carolina.
- “the brown family foundation – GrantExec,” GrantExec, January 1, 2025, https://grantexec.com/foundations/301117489.