Barnes Family Foundation
Barnes Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports $59,000 in grants to 15 organizations, including organizations in South Carolina and several other states.
Barnes Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Barnes Family Foundation gave $59K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in South Carolina. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $59,000
- +20.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,933
- +12.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $418,910
- -5.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (6 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Barnes Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 408 Palm Boulevard, Isle Of Palms, SC 29451
Phone: (843) 388-7991
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 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tunnel to Towers Foundation ($11K). Together the top 10 received $54K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 61% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina, 19% to New York, 17% to Massachusetts, 2% to Ohio, and 2% to Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Barnes Family Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 15 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 90% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2019) to $59K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $59K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Unrestricted Gift | $11,000 |
| Joslin Diabetes Center Boston, MA | Unrestricted Gift | $10,000 |
| Porter Gaud Foundation Charleston, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| East Cooper Community Outreach Mt Pleasant, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charleston, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Wake up Carolina Mt Pleasant, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Isle of Palms Community Corp Isle of Palms, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Isle of Palms R & W for the Child Isle of Palms, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Friend of Fisher House Charleston, SC | Unrestricted Gift | $2,000 |
| Livelikelou Foundation Oxford, OH | Unrestricted Gift | $1,000 |
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 | $418,910 | $65,614 | $68,500 | $59,000 | 15 | $59,000 | $21,046 | $48,448 |
| 2024 | $444,245 | $59,803 | $56,050 | $49,000 | 14 | $49,000 | $12,735 | $39,808 |
| 2023 | $451,327 | $52,954 | $36,940 | $32,440 | 11 | $32,440 | $5,395 | $30,514 |
| 2022 | $443,148 | $24,348 | $31,000 | $31,000 | 13 | $31,000 | $8,912 | $28,582 |
| 2021 | $440,485 | $45,358 | $37,000 | $33,000 | 13 | $33,000 | $8,083 | $28,959 |
| 2020 | $432,238 | $38,713 | $30,145 | $24,000 | 6 | — | $7,959 | $22,315 |
| 2019 | $423,700 | $437,200 | $13,500 | $13,500 | 7 | — | $1,487 | $8,914 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barnes Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for community services, children and families, substance-misuse support, animal welfare, diabetes care, and other charitable organizations. For example, East Cooper Community Outreach describes its work as providing food, clothing, dental and medical care, and financial assistance; Wake Up Carolina says it supports people affected by substance misuse in the Greater Charleston area; and Pet Helpers says its mission includes animal adoption, low-cost spay/neuter services, and humane education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $59,000 through 15 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $11,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Among its largest reported grants were $11,000 to Tunnel to Towers Foundation and $10,000 to Joslin Diabetes Center. It also gave $5,000 each to Porter Gaud Foundation, East Cooper Community Outreach, Ronald McDonald House, Wake Up Carolina, Isle of Palms Community Corporation, and Isle of Palms R & W for the Child. Other listed grants included $2,000 to Friend of Fisher House and $1,000 each to LiveLikeLou Foundation and Pet Helpers.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kenneth W. Barnes, Brett W. Barnes, and Chris A. Barnes as directors.
Barnes Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brett W. Barnes
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Chris A. Barnes
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kenneth W. Barnes
Director
Managing Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Margaret A. Barnes (2019–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $59K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $49K across 14 grants.
What is Barnes Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Barnes Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $3,933, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Barnes Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Barnes Family Foundation give grants?
Barnes Family Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (19%) and Massachusetts (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (6 grants), Mt Pleasant, SC (2 grants) and Isle of Palms, SC (2 grants).
Does Barnes Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Barnes Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) 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 Tunnel to Towers Foundation ($11,000), Joslin Diabetes Center ($10,000) and Porter Gaud Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Barnes Family Foundation?
Barnes Family Foundation reported $419K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Barnes Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for community services, children and families, substance-misuse support, animal welfare, diabetes care, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barnes Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes 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 84-2579585. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 12, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Barnes Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
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 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/barnes-family-foundation-morg_c6f93afa655945949a188b1bb1227c3b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_842579585_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Barnes Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/barnes-family-foundation-morg_c6f93afa655945949a188b1bb1227c3b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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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