Barr Foundation Inc
Barr Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its 2025 filing reports six grants totaling $249,055, all to recipients in Kentucky. The foundation’s filing says eligible applicants must be qualified 501(c)(3) exempt organizations.
Barr Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Barr Foundation Inc gave $249K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in Kentucky. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $249,055
- -0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,509
- +32.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $49,782
- Total assets
- $1,966,463
- +35.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Barr Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Applicants are required to submit a written grant proposal explaining the purpose of the assistance, how the funds will be used (including a budget), and how program evaluation will be performed. The filing says the foundation does not limit support to particular charitable, educational, religious, or scientific groups, other than requiring qualified 501(c)(3) exempt status.
- Review Cycle
- December 1 each year for payment of grants before year-end.
- Deadline
- December 1 each year for payment of grants before year-end.
- Contact
Application contact: J Mcferran Barr Ii
Mailing address: 435 N Whittington Pkwy Suite 180, Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: (502) 327-5660
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Barr Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gilda's Club Kentuckiana Inc ($50K). Together the top 4 received $149K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($99,614), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 62 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported in the 2025 filing went to recipients in Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Barr Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 96% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 64% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $249K (2025) to $5.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $249K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $99,614 |
| Gilda's Club Kentuckiana Inc Louisville, KY | General supportcontributed 102 shares of microsoft corp stock on 11/19/25. Cost basis of $272 reported as book value; fair value of $49,686. | $49,807 |
| Lincoln Heritage Council of Boy Scouts of America Inc Louisville, KY | General supportcontributed 9 shares of microsoft corp and 2,846 shares of kenvue inc stock on 11/19/25. Cost basis of $2,482 reported as book value; fair value of $49,604. | $49,757 |
| Second Hope Ministries Louisville, KY | General Support | $25,000 |
| Meredith Dunn School Louisville, KY | General supportcontributed 1,539 shares of kenvue inc stock on 11/19/25. Cost basis of $2,159 reported as book value; fair value of $24,716. | $24,877 |
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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 | $1,966,463 | $2,221,699 | $298,493 | $249,055 | 6 | $251,820 | $68,637 | $396,240 |
| 2024 | $1,451,024 | $525,819 | $289,689 | $250,000 | 8 | $252,715 | $283,344 | $340,665 |
| 2023 | $1,410,541 | $376,813 | $291,332 | $250,000 | 9 | $255,215 | $62,470 | $283,485 |
| 2022 | $1,561,691 | $503,491 | $5,654,111 | $5,591,295 | 12 | $5,596,395 | $248,324 | $414,916 |
| 2021 | $3,373,952 | $467,785 | $671,541 | $600,000 | 27 | $602,365 | $404,044 | $593,238 |
| 2020 | $3,577,708 | $401,342 | $557,525 | $500,000 | 27 | — | $348,697 | $481,431 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barr Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $396K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a mission or specific funding focus areas. Among the organizations reported as grantees, Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana says its mission is to empower people impacted by cancer through knowledge, action, and community. An individual recipient describes its work as providing academic, recreational, and mentoring opportunities for children, youth, and families. Second Hope Ministries says it helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives and return to society with purpose and dignity. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported six grants totaling $249,055. Grants ranged from $24,877 to $49,807, with a median of $49,782. The 2024 filing reported eight grants totaling $250,000; the 2023 filing reported nine grants totaling $250,000.
The 2025 filing lists grants of $49,807 to an individual recipient, Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana, and an individual recipient; $49,757 to Lincoln Heritage Council of Boy Scouts of America; $25,000 to Second Hope Ministries; and $24,877 to Meredith Dunn School. The filing describes the grants as general support. A separate grantee description reports that an individual recipient received $49,807 in 2025 and describes its work as conservation, education, and community enjoyment.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Alexandra Ortiz as president, J McFerran Barr II as chairman, Matthew W Carper as treasurer, and Panayiota G Jones as secretary.
Barr Foundation Inc is led by Alexandra Ortiz, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alexandra Ortiz
President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. McFerran Barr II
Chairman
Chairman → Chariman, 2023
Chariman → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Panayiota G. Jones
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$5K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Matthew W. Carper
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Sally E. Barr (2022–2024) — President
- Former: Charles C. Barr (2020–2021) — Director & President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $5K, to Panayiota G Jones (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Barr Foundation Inc
How much does Barr Foundation Inc give each year?
Barr Foundation Inc gave $249K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $250K across 8 grants.
What is Barr Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Barr Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $49,782, and its average grant was $41,509, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Barr Foundation Inc give grants?
Barr Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (4 grants).
Does Barr Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Barr Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Barr Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Barr Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Gilda's Club Kentuckiana Inc ($49,807), Lincoln Heritage Council of Boy Scouts of America Inc ($49,757) and Second Hope Ministries ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($99,614), which are not listed by name. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Barr Foundation Inc?
Barr Foundation Inc reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $252K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $396K (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 Foundation Inc fund?
The filing does not state a mission or specific funding focus areas. Among the organizations reported as grantees, Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana says its mission is to empower people impacted by cancer through knowledge, action, and community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barr Foundation Inc?
Applicants are required to submit a written grant proposal explaining the purpose of the assistance, how the funds will be used (including a budget), and how program evaluation will be performed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Barr Foundation Inc's EIN?
Barr Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1361347. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
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