Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation

What Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation does

The Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit established in 2013 in Arlington, Texas, that operates the "Extraordinary Is" social movement. The foundation's mission centers on recognizing and supporting individuals and organizations in the North Texas Metroplex who achieve extraordinary community impact using ordinary resources. Its programs include scholarship awards (the Extraordinary Is Scholarship for new high school applicants and a Sustaining Scholarship for continuing recipients), a Passport Initiative that funds first passports for local students, a mentorship program, community grants, recognition/awards programs, and special events such as charity galas and community clean-ups.

The foundation operates an integrated program suite delivered through a community-led go-to-market model. Donations are the sole revenue source, accepted through a Square-based online storefront and direct outreach; contributions above $5,000 require engagement with the Executive Director. Beneficiaries are extraordinary North Texas high school students (scholarship funds cover tuition, room and board, supplies, application fees, transportation, and books), under-served youth and families, and local community change-makers. The foundation does not sell a product or technology; its "platform" is a Wix-hosted website (extraordinaryis.org) plus Facebook and Instagram channels used for awareness, donor engagement, and beneficiary storytelling.

Governance is founder-led through a Board of Directors chaired by founder Reggie Brown, with his children Thasunda Brown Duckett and Anick Brown among the directors, and Shannon Flowers serving as Executive Director. There is no parent company, no outside institutional ownership, and no PE/VC structure. The organization is classified as small (1-10 employees), reports $180K in cumulative scholarships awarded, has supported 140 scholars and 36 community grants to date, has 75 active volunteers, and has publicly committed to giving away an additional $100,000 over the next five years.

Name

Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation

Legal name

Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://extraordinaryis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Arlington, Texas that runs the "Extraordinary Is" movement, providing scholarships, grants, mentorship, and community recognition programs to North Texas students and community change-makers funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the foundation operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. All contributions are tax-deductible. For donations exceeding $5,000, direct contact with the Executive Director is required.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that awards scholarships, grants, and community recognition awards to under-served youth, students, and community changemakers in the North Texas Metroplex. Its core programs include the Extraordinary Is Scholarship and Sustaining Scholarship for high school and college students, the Passport Initiative that funds first passports for local students, community grants for extraordinary initiatives, a mentorship program, and special events such as charity galas and community clean-ups, all funded through tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

The Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation operates the Extraordinary Is Movement as a unified social campaign comprising multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include scholarship programs (The Extraordinary Is Scholarship for new applicants, Sustaining Scholarships for continuing recipients, and the Passport Initiative), mentorship services connecting community members with experienced guides, community grants supporting local initiatives, and community awards recognizing extraordinary individuals. Special events such as charity galas and community clean-up events provide engagement opportunities. The foundation's mission is to connect families to North Texas community resources, foster academic engagement, and partner with local organizations to support vulnerable children and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Extraordinary Is Scholarship: Scholarship program for extraordinary high school students who utilize ordinary resources to create change in their local community.
• Passport Initiative

Products and services

• Extraordinary Is Movement Social campaign celebrating extraordinary community work and recognizing individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to make a difference; the overarching brand and engagement platform for the foundation's programs.
• The Extraordinary Is Scholarship Annual scholarship award for high school seniors in North Texas who demonstrate academic excellence, athletic performance, and community service, donating their time and talent to give back. Covers tuition, room and board, supplies and materials, application fees, transportation costs, and/or books.
• Extraordinary Is Sustaining Scholarship Continuing financial support for previous Extraordinary Is scholarship recipients through their college careers, addressing ongoing financial needs as they progress toward a degree.
• Passport Initiative Program providing resources for local North Texas students to obtain their first passport, enabling cultural immersion experiences abroad; passport applications are facilitated through the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library partnership.
• Community Grants Grants awarded to organizations and individuals making a difference in the local community, supporting extraordinary initiatives across the North Texas Metroplex.
• Mentorship Program Program connecting individuals with experienced mentors who provide guidance and support as they work to make a difference in their community, supporting academic engagement and college enrollment.
• Community Awards Program Recognition program that celebrates and honors extraordinary work done by individuals and organizations in the North Texas community, shining a light on community heroes.
• Special Events Community engagement events including charity galas and community clean-up events that provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to come together and make a positive impact in the North Texas community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140 scholars supported through scholarships
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• George W. Hawkes Downtown LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe library serves as the designated location where students must submit their passport applications to have costs covered through the Passport Initiative. The foundation partners with the library to facilitate passport processing for local students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Communities Foundation of Texas: Largest community foundation in Texas, also headquartered in North Texas. Operates scholarship funds, community grants, and donor-advised giving programs across the same DFW geography as the Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation, making it the most direct large-scale comparable.
• United Way of Tarrant County: Major Tarrant County nonprofit funding education, youth development, and community programs. Comparable as a regional fundraising/grantmaking entity targeting overlapping North Texas beneficiary populations.
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: National foundation offering scholarships and grants to high-achieving, low-income students. Comparable as a scholarship-focused nonprofit, though at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Others

• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (scholarship arm): Honor society administering scholarships for high-achieving community college and high school students. Comparable as an adjacent scholarship-granting organization with similar beneficiary profile.

Direct peers

• Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation: Athletic-focused scholarship and youth-development foundation based in Arlington, Texas. Directly comparable because it also funds high school scholars with athletic achievement within the same North Texas geography.
• The Dallas Foundation: Community foundation serving the Dallas area, administering scholarship funds, community grants, and donor-advised giving. Directly comparable as a North Texas-based grantmaking community foundation serving similar scholar and grantee populations.
• Arlington Tomorrow Foundation: Local Arlington-based foundation supporting education, youth programs, and community initiatives. Highly comparable due to overlapping Arlington geography and shared focus on scholarships and youth development.

Emerging players

• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: National nonprofit providing scholarships and college-access support to underrepresented students. Comparable mission (removing financial barriers to higher education) but operates nationally versus the foundation's regional scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/extraordinaryis
• Instagraminstagram.com/extraordinaryis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/otis-and-rosie-brown-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation