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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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