JMR Barker Foundation
The JMR Barker Foundation is a private foundation established in 1968, originally in New York and currently based in Waltham, Massachusetts. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving to organizations aligned with its directors' interests and priorities.
Key facts about JMR Barker Foundation
- EIN
- 13-6268289
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,785,392
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $236,587
- Median grant
- $197,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (6 of 16, 2024)
- Total assets
- $84,521,329
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who JMR Barker Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for JMR Barker Foundation's 16 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (35%), South Carolina (26%) and Connecticut (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants) and Gloucester, MA (2 grants). 69% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Special Project" (4 grants).
Is JMR Barker Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 16 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $272K; repeat grants $216K. How we count
Medians: $155K first-time, $198K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with JMR Barker Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$84.5M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+14.1% YoY
Grant Count
16
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$237K
+14.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JMR Barker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving emphasizes organizations that are well-known to one or more of its directors. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Environment
- Cultural programs
- Science and medical research
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 22 grants in 2024. Notable recent recipients include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in:
- Massachusetts
- Texas
- South Carolina
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $84,521,329
- Total Revenues: $2,645,434
- Total Expenses: $3,632,758
- Total Giving: $3,785,392
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,537,516
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $79.3 million
- Total Revenue: $1.79 million
- Total Expenses: $5 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $84,521,329 | $79,306,649 | $74,423,357 |
| Revenue | $2,645,434 | $1,792,534 | $2,582,466 |
| Expenses | $3,632,758 | $4,999,475 | $5,604,199 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,937,680 | $3,956,608 | $4,226,390 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,879,790 | $1,082,229 | $1,960,119 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,089,894 | $3,868,118 | $4,102,889 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Medical University of South Carolina Foundation ($1,000,000), Yale University ($800,000), Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation ($310,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION Charleston, SC | SPECIAL PROJECT | $1,000,000 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY New Haven, CT | SPECIAL PROJECT | $800,000 |
| NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Newton, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT | $310,000 |
| SPOONFULS INC Boston, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT | $290,000 |
| AUSTIN ACHIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Austin, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT | $270,000 |
| HEAL UKRAINE GROUP CO MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL Boston, MA | SPECIAL PROJECT | $250,392 |
| BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC New York, NY | ENDOWMENT | $250,000 |
| GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION Gloucester, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT | $205,000 |
| TREMONT SCHOOL Concord, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT | $190,000 |
| TIDELINES INSTITUTE Gustavus, AK | SPECIAL PROJECT | $70,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Margaret B. Clark (President & Director)
- Kathryn E. Barker (First Vice President & Director)
- James R. Barker (Vice President & Director)
- W. Benjamin Barker (Vice President & Director)
- Robert P. Connor (Treasurer, Assistant Secretary & Director)
- J. Barry Tubman (Secretary)
Administrative contact: Ballentine Partners LLC, 230 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, Waltham, MA 02451 Phone: 781-314-1300
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathryn E Barker | President & Director | 0.5 | — |
| William S Barker | Vice President & Director | 0.5 | — |
| Margaret S B Moore | Treasurer & Director | 0.5 | — |
| J Barry Tubman | Secretary | 2 | — |
| James R Barker | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Anne Christine Barker | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Robert P Connor | Director (Until 06/24) | 0.5 | — |
| Margaret G Blakelock | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Adam P Kahn | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Margaret B Clark | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Kristina P Koutrakos | Director (As of 06/24 ) | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced a $2.5 million donation to UT Health San Antonio for the establishment of a biobank dedicated to studying diseases including cancer and Alzheimer's. This initiative was part of a multi-organization partnership focused on aging and cancer research.
Multi-Organization Partnership Announces $2.5 Million\_for Aging & Cancer\Frequently Asked Questions
What does JMR Barker Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving emphasizes organizations that are well-known to one or more of its directors. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Environment • Cultural programs • Science and medical research • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from JMR Barker Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $1,040,000 • Recent grant examples include awards of $1,000,000 to Medical University of South Carolina Foundation, $800,000 to Yale University, and $270,000 to Austin Achieve Public Schools • In 2022, the foundation made grants with an average of $337,500, with a range of $145,000 to $530,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 22 grants in 2024. Notable recent recipients include: • Medical University of South C…
Where does JMR Barker Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in: • Massachusetts • Texas • South Carolina
What size grants does JMR Barker Foundation award?
In 2024, JMR Barker Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $237K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is JMR Barker Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, JMR Barker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is JMR Barker Foundation's EIN?
JMR Barker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6268289. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.