Donald L Barnes Foundation
The Donald L Barnes Foundation is a private foundation based in Chesterfield, Missouri. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable, educational, religious, cultural, and other organizations, including groups in Missouri and Illinois.
Donald L Barnes Foundation at a glance
In short: Donald L Barnes Foundation gave $51K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Missouri. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $51,450
- +22.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,979
- +27.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $1,053,786
- +4.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (7 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (45% 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 Donald L Barnes Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 738 Fairfield Lake Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone: (314) 997-2733
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Donald L Barnes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Starkloff Disability Institute ($10K). Together the top 10 received $47K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($250), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 137 grants of 137 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, reported grant dollars were distributed primarily to recipients in Missouri (45%) and Illinois (43%). The filing also lists 10% for an unspecified recipient state, 2% for New York, and 1% for California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Donald L Barnes Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 26 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2023) to $51K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $51K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Starkloff Disability Institute St. Louis, MO | Support Program to Aid Disabled People | $10,000 |
| North American Baptist Church Harrisburg, IL | To support the religious and charitable mission of North American baptist church through general ministry operations, worship services, outreach, and community programs. | $9,750 |
| Brehm Preparatory School Carbondale, IL | To support the educational mission of brehm preparatory school by providing specialized academic instruction, student services, and programs designed to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities and other learning differences. | $7,010 |
| Save the Rhino International | To support wildlife conservation efforts focused on protecting rhinos, anti-poaching initiatives, habitat preservation, and community education programs. | $5,000 |
| Stages St Louis Chesterfield, MO | Support Local Entertainment | $5,000 |
| St Peter's Episcopal Church St. Louis, MO | Support Various Church Sponsored Programs | $4,000 |
| Crab Orchard School Marion, IL | Support the Elementary School Program | $3,000 |
| Co Claybreakers Marion, IL | To Support School Athletics Program | $1,000 |
| Muny Guarantors Fund St. Louis, MO | Support the Community Theatre Association | $1,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Staten Island, NY | To Support Veterans Services | $1,000 |
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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 | $1,053,786 | $136,275 | $72,996 | $51,450 | 26 | $62,956 | $128,235 | $66,819 |
| 2024 | $1,009,747 | $39,813 | $67,668 | $42,040 | 27 | $60,770 | $36,356 | $65,013 |
| 2023 | $1,018,362 | $37,266 | $63,817 | $37,700 | 28 | $57,084 | $30,554 | $59,329 |
| 2022 | $1,044,913 | $50,101 | $77,893 | $47,214 | 27 | $68,909 | $41,117 | $57,412 |
| 2021 | $1,072,705 | $97,596 | $67,151 | $40,635 | 29 | $58,312 | $88,956 | $67,887 |
| 2020 | $1,042,260 | $60,378 | $79,465 | $49,077 | 24 | — | $49,394 | $58,288 |
| 2019 | $1,061,347 | $47,302 | $62,342 | $38,720 | 28 | — | $36,765 | $59,107 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donald L Barnes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $67K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for disability services, education, religious and community programs, theatre, wildlife conservation, veterans services, scouting, and animal rescue.
Several grantees describe their own work as serving people with disabilities. Starkloff Disability Institute says it advances economic opportunity and inclusion through disability-led programs; Brehm Preparatory School says it provides programs for students with learning disabilities; and Tree House of Greater St. Louis says it supports individuals with disabilities and their families through therapy, recreation, education, and exploration.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $51,450. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $10,000, with a median of $500. Notable grants included $10,000 to Starkloff Disability Institute for a program aiding disabled people; $9,750 to North American Baptist Church for its religious and charitable mission; $7,010 to Brehm Preparatory School for specialized instruction and student services; and $5,000 each to Save the Rhino International for wildlife conservation and STAGES St. Louis for local entertainment.
Other reported grants included $4,000 to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for church-sponsored programs, $3,000 to Crab Orchard School for its elementary school program, and $1,000 each to Co Claybreakers for school athletics, Muny Guarantors Fund for community theatre, and Tunnel to Towers for veterans services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Trent B Phelps as president, secretary, and treasurer, and Natalie P Tate and Taylor P Stewart as directors.
Donald L Barnes Foundation is led by Trent B. Phelps, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Trent B. Phelps
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $1K (2025)
Natalie P. Tate
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $1K (2025)
Taylor P. Stewart
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$1K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $1K, to Trent B Phelps (President/Secretary/Treasu). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Donald L Barnes Foundation
How much does Donald L Barnes Foundation give each year?
Donald L Barnes Foundation gave $51K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $42K across 27 grants.
What is Donald L Barnes Foundation's typical grant size?
Donald L Barnes Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,979, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Donald L Barnes Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Donald L Barnes Foundation give grants?
Donald L Barnes Foundation's top state is Missouri, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was Illinois (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (11 grants) and Marion, IL (5 grants).
Does Donald L Barnes Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 15% of Donald L Barnes Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Donald L Barnes Foundation's largest grantees?
Donald L Barnes Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Starkloff Disability Institute ($10,000), North American Baptist Church ($9,750) and Brehm Preparatory School ($7,010), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($250), which are not listed by name. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Donald L Barnes Foundation?
Donald L Barnes Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $63K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (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 Donald L Barnes Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for disability services, education, religious and community programs, theatre, wildlife conservation, veterans services, scouting, and animal rescue. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Donald L Barnes Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Donald L Barnes Foundation's EIN?
Donald L Barnes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1531070. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Donald L Barnes Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Donald L Barnes Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/donald-l-barnes-foundation-morg_09825ae6b6f74787aae3b5f996116d3b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431531070_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Donald L Barnes Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/donald-l-barnes-foundation-morg_09825ae6b6f74787aae3b5f996116d3b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Donald L Barnes Foundation'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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