The Barnhill Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2014 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. Led by Bob and Penny Barnhill, the foundation supports organizations focused on helping underserved youth thrive and live healthy lives. The foundation has strong ties to North Carolina through the Barnhill family's Barnhill Contracting Company, based in Rocky Mount/Tarboro.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-32.7% YoY
Grant Count
64
-1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-31.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Education — Educational innovation initiatives and school literacy programs
- Youth Development — After-school programs and youth education initiatives
- Health & Human Services — Programs supporting underserved populations
- Disaster Relief — Support for relief and recovery efforts
- Philanthropy & Grantmaking — Support for charitable organizations and initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funds. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion on a rolling basis.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$35,125
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in North Carolina, with some grants extending to Virginia and Texas. North Carolina is the primary geographic focus area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $27,944,101
- Total Revenues: $5,947,870
- Total Expenses: $1,782,677
- Total Giving: $1,536,754
- Annual Giving: $1,741,976
Giving Rate: 10.4%
| 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
246 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Operation Resolute Inc ($163,000), Kenan-flagler Business School Foundation ($125,000), Casa ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN INC WINTERVILLE, NC | Academic Success | $50,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN INC WINTERVILLE, NC | Williamston Word Force Match fund | $5,949 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TAR RIVER REGION INC ROCKY MOUNT, NC | Steak and Burger Event | $1,250 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TAR RIVER REGION INC ROCKY MOUNT, NC | Project Learn | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TAR RIVER REGION INC ROCKY MOUNT, NC | BE Well fund | $39,000 |
| BOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC RALEIGH, NC | Great Futures fund | $35,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D HAGERSTOWN, NC | Research to Cure T1D | $15,000 |
| BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION CLARKSBURG, MD | Annual Fund | $1,000 |
| CASA RALEIGH, NC | King's Ridge - Phase 2 | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP DEVEL BETHEL, NC | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board includes:
- Robert E. Barnhill Jr. (President, Director, Secretary)
- Penny Barnhill (Director, Vice President)
- Austin Barnhill (Director)
- Christian Barnhill (Director)
- Sarah Barnhill (Director)
- Robert Barnhill III (Director)
- Leigh Edwards (Director)
- Rob Edwards (Director)
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Barnhill | Dir | 1 | — |
| Christian Barnhill | Dir | 1 | — |
| Penny Barnhill | Dir, VP | 1 | — |
| Sarah Barnhill | Dir | 1 | — |
| Robert Barnhill III | Dir | 1 | — |
| Robert E Barnhill Jr | Pres, Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
| Leigh Edwards | Dir | 1 | — |
| Rob Edwards | Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with a focus on education, youth development, and human services. Recent grants demonstrate ongoing commitment to educational innovation through partnerships with institutions like UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and support for programs addressing innovation and community development in North Carolina.
Wolfson Foundation Supporting Barnhill - Barnhill Community High SchoolSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barnhill Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • **Education** — Educational innovation initiatives and school literacy programs • **Youth Development** — After-school programs and youth education initiatives • **Health & Human Services** — Programs supporting underserved populations • **Disaster Relief** — Support for relief and recovery efforts • **Philanthropy & Grantmaking** — Support for charitable organizations and initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Barnhill Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Since 2016, the foundation has awarded 246 individual grants totaling $5.6 million • Made 58 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024) **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $500,000 • Average grant: $35,125 • Median grant: $15,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funds. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion on a rolling basis. **Recent Notable Grants (202…
Where does Barnhill Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in North Carolina, with some grants extending to Virginia and Texas. North Carolina is the primary geographic focus area.
What size grants does Barnhill Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Barnhill Family Foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Barnhill Family Foundation's EIN?
Barnhill Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4917069. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barnhill 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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