Barney Family Foundation
The Barney Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) family foundation established in 1998 by Stephen and Lynne Barney. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the foundation operates with the guiding principle of the Golden Rule—"to do unto others as you would have done unto you." The foundation was created out of the Barneys' desire to aid those financially less fortunate and to offer people an opportunity for a new beginning.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-5.6% YoY
Grant Count
34
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-5.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to help educate youth and support medical research advancements for the good of all. Primary funding areas include:
- Early Education — The foundation's main focus area
- Health Research — Significant emphasis on medical research initiatives
- Higher Education — Support for colleges and universities
- Elementary and Secondary Education — K-12 educational initiatives
While the foundation primarily concentrates on early education and health research, occasional deviations from these core areas occur but are not common.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000 to $595,000
Average Grant
approximately $52,824
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- Florida
- Virginia
The foundation also supports initiatives across other U.S. states and cities, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $30.4 million
- Total giving: $1.7 million
- Total expenses: $2.65 million
- Total revenues: $745,242
- Total liabilities: $0
Staffing:
- 3 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
158 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Barney Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donors Trust ($500,000), Hillsdale College ($400,000), Alzheimer's Association ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION USAF ACADEMY, CO | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FL | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| BUSCH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY JUPITER, FL | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| DONORS TRUST ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $500,000 |
| GARY SINISE FOUNDATION MERRIFIELD, VA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $30,000 |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE HILLSDALE, MI | GENERAL PURPOSES | $400,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Stephen M. Barney Sr. — Founder and Trustee
- Lynne C. Barney — Founder and Trustee
- Stephen M. Barney Jr. — Managing Director
- Kristen Barney Adams — Managing Director
- Mary Ann Roti — Associate Managing Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN M BARNEY SR | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| LYNNE C BARNEY | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| STEPHEN M BARNEY JR | FOUNDATION MGR. | 30 | $125,000 |
| KRISTEN BARNEY ADAMS | FOUNDATION MGR. | 30 | $125,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 130 South Canal Street, Suite 9T Chicago, IL 60606-3919
Phone: (312) 632-0000 Fax: (312) 632-1000
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barney Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to help educate youth and support medical research advancements for the good of all. Primary funding areas include: • **Early Education** — The foundation's main focus area • **Health Research** — Significant emphasis on medical research initiatives • **Higher Education** — Support for colleges and universities • **Elementary and Secondary Education** — K-12 educational initiatives While the foundation primarily concentrates on early education and health research, oc…
How do I apply for a grant from Barney Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.7 million (2024) • Number of grants: 34 awards in 2024 • Grant range: $5,000 to $595,000 • Average grant size: approximately $52,824 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Donors Trust: $500,000 • Hillsdale College: $400,000 • MD Anderson Cancer Center: $50,000 **Application Process:** • Application window: January 1 – June 30 • Applications received after October 1 are considered for the following year
Where does Barney Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • Florida • Virginia The foundation also supports initiatives across other U.S. states and cities, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Barney Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Barney Family Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Barney Family Foundation's EIN?
Barney Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7195126. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barney Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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