Donald L Barnes Foundation
The Donald L Barnes Foundation is a private foundation based in Chesterfield, Missouri. It made 27 grants totaling $42,040 in 2024, supporting organizations that include arts and education groups, a church, and organizations serving people with disabilities.
Key facts about Donald L Barnes Foundation
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.
- EIN
- 43-1531070
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $51,450
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- Average grant
- $1,979
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (7 of 26, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,053,786
- Primary geography
- Missouri (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$51K
+22.4% YoY
Grant Count
26
-3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+27.1% YoY
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.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations and programs, including disability services, musical theatre, education, church-sponsored programs, animal rescue, and camps.
Among the recipients, STAGES ST LOUIS says it is committed to advancing musical theatre through performance and education. Tree House of Greater St Louis describes its work as improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families through therapy, recreation, education, and exploration. St Louis Bridge Center says it uses bridge instruction and play to support learning, achievement, and social skills.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $42,040. Grants ranged from $50 to $10,000, with a median grant of $500. Its largest grants included $10,000 to The Starkloff Disability Institute for a program to aid disabled people; $5,640 to Fidelity Charitable as a gift fund; and $5,000 each to Classical Academy De Lafayette, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, and STAGES ST LOUIS. Other recipients included Crab Orchard School ($1,250), Clearwater Camp ($1,000), and Unleashed Potential Animal Rescue ($1,000).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to Missouri recipients (73%), followed by Ohio (13%), Illinois (7%), and Wisconsin (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 137 grants of 137 (100%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants | Grant total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27 | $42,040 |
| 2023 | 28 | $37,700 |
| 2022 | 27 | $47,214 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,053,786 | $1,009,747 | $1,018,362 |
| Revenue | $136,275 | $39,813 | $37,266 |
| Expenses | $72,996 | $67,668 | $63,817 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $62,956 | $60,770 | $57,084 |
| Net Investment Income | $128,235 | $36,356 | $30,554 |
| Distributable Amount | $66,819 | $65,013 | $59,329 |
Data update history
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
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Trent B Phelps as president/secretary/treasu and Natalie P Tate as a director.
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 738 Fairfield Lake Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone: (314) 997-2733
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. 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 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations and programs, including disability services, musical theatre, education, church-sponsored programs, animal rescue, and camps. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Donald L Barnes Foundation?
The foundation 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 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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