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Himan Brown Charitable Trust
Richard L. Kay, Himan Brown's attorney, founded the Himan Brown Charitable Trust in 2010 to formalize the late producer's philanthropic legacy.
Himan Brown Charitable Trust
Richard L. Kay, Himan Brown's attorney, founded the Himan Brown Charitable Trust in 2010 to formalize the late producer's philanthropic legacy. Brown built his fortune as a pioneer of radio and television drama, most notably through CBS Radio Mystery Theater. The trust now operates from New York under Kay's sole trusteeship, with investment advisory support from Kay's former personal trainer, Matthew Forman. The trust's grant-making strategy concentrates on nonprofits that align with Brown's personal values: storytelling, elder care, Jewish communal life, education, and family-strengthening initiatives. It has processed a total of $70.9 million in grants and programs, directing capital through a diversified financial portfolio held at Fidelity Investments, Morgan Stanley, and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. The trust's balance sheet also includes meaningful illiquid assets, notably Himan Brown's former residence on Central Park West and a country house in North Stamford, Connecticut, alongside a collection of significant artworks by artists including Marc Chagall and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Kay maintains a concentrated governance structure as sole trustee, a common posture for private foundations of this vintage and size. He is a board director at the 92nd Street Y, a New York cultural institution, which aligns with the trust's local grant-making focus. Brown's granddaughters, Melina and Barri Brown, remain connected to the family's broader philanthropic and entertainment legacy through the Radio Drama Network, where Melina serves as director, but their direct operational role at the trust is not publicly defined. The trust's architecture is structurally distinct from most named investment entities: it functions purely as a grant-maker, not a direct investor. There is no disclosed venture portfolio, no co-investment club, and no fund-of-funds program. All capital flows from a liquid securities portfolio and real assets into qualified charitable distributions, a model dictated by the founder's vision and enforced by its single-trustee governance.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2010
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, New York, United States
Principals
Richard L. Kay
Sole Trustee
Matthew Forman
Consultant and Investment Advisor
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who controls investment decisions at the Himan Brown Charitable Trust?
Richard L. Kay serves as the sole trustee and is legally responsible for all governance and distribution decisions. Day-to-day investment advisory is provided by Matthew Forman, a consultant who previously worked as Kay's personal trainer. The trust's liquid assets are custodied across three external brokerages: Fidelity Investments, Morgan Stanley, and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Does the trust make direct investments or participate in fund commitments?
No. The Himan Brown Charitable Trust is structured exclusively as a grant-making organization. It does not run a direct private investment program, make venture capital allocations, or participate in fund commitments. Its capital is deployed through a standard liquid portfolio and used entirely for charitable distributions to qualified nonprofits.
What is the governance structure, and are family members involved?
The trust is governed by a single trustee, Richard L. Kay, who was Himan Brown's longtime personal lawyer. Brown's granddaughters, Melina and Barri Brown, are not trustees. Melina Brown directs the related Radio Drama Network, a separate entity focused on preserving Brown's creative works.
What is the relationship between the trust and the Radio Drama Network?
Both entities derive from Himan Brown's estate but operate independently. The Himan Brown Charitable Trust is a grant-making foundation managed by Richard L. Kay. The Radio Drama Network, directed by Melina Brown, preserves and distributes Brown's radio and television productions. There is no public evidence of commingled governance or shared investment committees.
What types of nonprofits does the trust fund?
Grants are directed toward organizations focused on community-building, Jewish causes, senior services, family-strengthening programs, and education. The trust explicitly maintains a storytelling focus, reflecting Himan Brown's career. Richard L. Kay's board role at the 92nd Street Y indicates a concentration on New York-based cultural and educational institutions.
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