Barr Charitable Trust
Barr Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports 23 grants totaling $43,350 to charitable organizations.
Barr Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Barr Charitable Trust gave $43K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Illinois. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $43,350
- +16.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- -25.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,885
- +56.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $322,853
- -8.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (8 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (33% 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 Barr Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Trust stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 230 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110-2437
Phone: (617) 523-6531
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Barr Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Envision Unlimited ($10K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 124 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (33%), Vermont (31%), California (27%), and New York (7%). Florida recipients received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Barr Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 23 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2021) to $46K (2023). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $43K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Envision Unlimited Chicago, IL | General & to Support the Adaptive Cycling Program | $10,000 |
| Planting Justice Oakland, CA | General | $5,000 |
| Living Tree Alliance Moretown, VT | For 2nd day rosh hashanah and children programming througout the year | $4,500 |
| East Bay Community Foundation Oakland, CA | Campaign for a Just East Bay | $3,000 |
| Disability Lead Chicago, IL | General | $2,500 |
| Bennington Early Childhood Center Bennington, VT | General | $2,150 |
| Civicure Hoosick Falls, NY | Civic and Cultural Restoration | $2,000 |
| Impact 100 East Bay Castro Valley, CA | General | $2,000 |
| Prospect Mountain Association Bennington, VT | Bill Koch League | $1,800 |
| Bennington College Bennington, VT | CAPA | $1,500 |
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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 | $322,853 | $23,912 | $55,412 | $43,350 | 23 | $45,325 | $14,594 | $48,901 |
| 2024 | $354,353 | $32,959 | $48,534 | $37,250 | 31 | $39,205 | $25,023 | $46,577 |
| 2023 | $369,928 | $23,260 | $55,624 | $45,950 | 20 | $47,905 | $5,234 | $40,100 |
| 2022 | $402,292 | $-810 | $54,728 | $44,150 | 25 | $46,205 | — | $43,112 |
| 2021 | $457,830 | $33,043 | $44,722 | $32,000 | 25 | — | $24,713 | $46,870 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barr Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $49K 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 Trust is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied activities. Envision Unlimited describes its work as providing services that promote choice, independence, and community integration for people with disabilities or other special needs. Planting Justice says it works to expand access to nutritious food and support urban residents’ food production and economic opportunities. Disability Lead describes its work as connecting leaders with disabilities who seek to shift power and transform systems.
Other 2025 recipients include Bennington Early Childhood Center, which says it provides and promotes accessible, affordable care and education for children and families in the greater Bennington area; Prospect Mountain Association, which describes its work as providing cross-country ski trails and programs in southern Vermont and western Massachusetts; and East Bay Community Foundation, which says it mobilizes resources and community leadership to address pressing needs in the East Bay.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 23 grants totaling $43,350. Grants ranged from $200 to $10,000, with a median grant of $1,000.
The largest reported grants included $10,000 to Envision Unlimited for general support and its adaptive cycling program; $5,000 to Planting Justice for general support; $4,500 to Living Tree Alliance for 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah and children’s programming throughout the year; $3,000 to East Bay Community Foundation for its Campaign for a Just East Bay; and $2,500 to Disability Lead for general support. Other notable grants included $2,150 to Bennington Early Childhood Center, $2,000 to Civicure for civic and cultural restoration, and $1,800 to Prospect Mountain Association for the Bill Koch League.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following trustees: Teri L. Barr, Bianca Barr, Shira Sternberg, Nushin Kormi, Amy L. Domini, and Wendy Holding. The filing marks Amy L. Domini as resigned and Wendy Holding as appointed, with “12525” shown as the respective filing notation.
Barr Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nushin Kormi
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$1K (2023) → $3K (2025)
Wendy Holding-Appointed
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Bianca Barr
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shira Sternberg
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teri L. Barr
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Amy L. Domini (2021–2025) — Trustee · Filing note: Resigned 12525
- Former: William Andrew Mims (2021–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Nushin Kormi (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Barr Charitable Trust
How much does Barr Charitable Trust give each year?
Barr Charitable Trust gave $43K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $37K across 31 grants.
What is Barr Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Barr Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,885, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Barr Charitable Trust that year got $1K on average.
Where does Barr Charitable Trust give grants?
Barr Charitable Trust's top state is Illinois, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Vermont (31%) and California (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants), Bennington, VT (3 grants), North Bennington, VT (3 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Barr Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of Barr Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Barr Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Barr Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Envision Unlimited ($10,000), Planting Justice ($5,000) and Living Tree Alliance ($4,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Barr Charitable Trust?
Barr Charitable Trust reported $323K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $45K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $49K (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 Barr Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the Trust is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied activities. Envision Unlimited describes its work as providing services that promote choice, independence, and community integration for people with disabilities or other special needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barr Charitable Trust?
The Trust stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Barr Charitable Trust's EIN?
Barr Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3558730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Barr Charitable Trust 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from Barr Charitable Trust'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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