Barnes Family Foundation
The Barnes Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Durham, North Carolina. It supports “Hyper-Local, Hyper-Public” nonprofit organizations and describes its mission as reinforcing the foundational structure of the individual.
Barnes Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Barnes Family Foundation gave $829K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $92K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $828,650
- -52.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -35.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $92,072
- -26.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $23,993,154
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Barnes Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website has an Apply page, but the available information does not describe an application process or required materials.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4220 Neal Road, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 309-2925
Website: https://barnesfamilyfoundationnc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Barnes Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Carolina Theatre of Durham Inc ($250K). Together the top 9 received $829K.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 139 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes itself as Durham-centric. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 21% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 2% to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Barnes Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 53% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $588K (2020) to $1.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $829K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Theatre of Durham Inc Durham, NC | General Purpose Support | $250,000 |
| Sarah P Duke Gardens Durham, NC | General Purpose Support | $218,750 |
| American Council of Trustees & Alumni Washington, DC | General Purpose Support | $169,900 |
| NC Museum of Life & Science Durham, NC | General Purpose Support | $100,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Durham, NC | General Purpose Support | $25,000 |
| Carteret Community College Foundation Morehead City, NC | General Purpose Support | $25,000 |
| Marine Corps League Safford, VA | General Purpose Support | $15,000 |
| Book Harvest Durham, NC | General Purpose Support | $15,000 |
| Town of Beaufort Beaufort, NC | General Purpose Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Barnes Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $23,993,154 | $4,549,370 | $983,279 | $828,650 | 9 | $831,000 | $2,134,299 | $1,565,044 |
| 2024 | $20,427,892 | $3,196,886 | $1,893,847 | $1,744,000 | 14 | $1,746,350 | $1,675,821 | $1,347,091 |
| 2023 | $19,121,891 | $1,442,216 | $1,115,376 | $1,010,716 | 34 | $1,012,966 | $363,177 | $1,055,166 |
| 2022 | $18,807,893 | $1,997,544 | $1,116,088 | $1,019,000 | 42 | $1,021,250 | $297,777 | $1,013,521 |
| 2021 | $17,926,636 | $4,689,418 | $825,795 | $740,000 | 40 | $742,175 | $3,040,296 | $1,020,513 |
| 2020 | $14,060,944 | $1,810,702 | $672,348 | $588,000 | 32 | — | $167,460 | $742,223 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barnes Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to “support and reinforce the foundational structure of the individual” by helping nonprofit organizations educate, promote, and refine people’s knowledge, skills, and abilities so they can attain agency and liberty for a practical, productive, and fulfilling life.
Its stated areas of interest are child development, education, health care, literacy, senior support, community, food insecurity, homelessness, mental well-being, and substance abuse or recovery. The foundation’s listed grantees include cultural, educational, literacy, and community organizations. For example, the Carolina Theatre of Durham says it enriches audiences through programming that supports the region’s cultural, educational, and economic vitality. Book Harvest says it provides books to children and engages families and communities to promote children’s literacy and academic success.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported nine grants totaling $828,650. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest grants were $250,000 to Carolina Theatre of Durham, $218,750 to Sarah P. Duke Gardens, $169,900 to the American Council of Trustees & Alumni, and $100,000 to the NC Museum of Life & Science. Each was designated for general purpose support. Other 2025 recipients included Boys & Girls Club ($25,000), Carteret Community College Foundation ($25,000), Marine Corps League ($15,000), Book Harvest ($15,000), and Town of Beaufort ($10,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marvin L. Barnes as president and treasurer; Marvin L. Barnes Jr. as vice president and secretary; and Matthew A. Barnes, Michael L. Barnes, and Marvin L. Barnes III as trustees.
Barnes Family Foundation is led by Marvin L. Barnes, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marvin L. Barnes
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin L. Barnes III
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew A. Barnes
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael L. Barnes
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin L. Barnes Jr.
Vice President & Secretary
Vice President & Assistant → Vice President & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Blair B. Morgan (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Cynthia F. Barnes (2020) — Vice President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Barnes Family Foundation
How much does Barnes Family Foundation give each year?
Barnes Family Foundation gave $829K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 14 grants.
What is Barnes Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Barnes Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $92,072, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Barnes Family Foundation give grants?
Barnes Family Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (5 grants).
Does Barnes Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Barnes Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Barnes Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Barnes Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Carolina Theatre of Durham Inc ($250,000), Sarah P Duke Gardens ($218,750) and American Council of Trustees & Alumni ($169,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Barnes Family Foundation?
Barnes Family Foundation reported $24.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $831K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Barnes Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to “support and reinforce the foundational structure of the individual” by helping nonprofit organizations educate, promote, and refine people’s knowledge, skills, and abilities so they can attain agency and liberty for a practical, productive, and fulfilling life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barnes Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Barnes Family Foundation's EIN?
Barnes Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-1031172. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Barnes Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barnes Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Barnes Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/barnes-family-foundation-morg_682bd8b112b749ac9797f44bfba08095
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_901031172_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Barnes Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/barnes-family-foundation-morg_682bd8b112b749ac9797f44bfba08095},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Barnes Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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