Joe Barnhart Foundation
The Joe Barnhart Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It says it carries out Dr. Joe Barnhart’s vision of building a community with educational and cultural opportunities for all, beginning with and focusing on children.
Joe Barnhart Foundation at a glance
In short: Joe Barnhart Foundation gave $1.8M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $46K), mostly in Texas. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,766,780
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $46,494
- +1.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $16,462
- Total assets
- $47,306,051
- +3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Joe Barnhart 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. Its grants page also provides instructions for submitting grant request proposals by email.
- Review Cycle
- The grants page lists Wednesday, September 3, 2026, as the due date for 2027 grant request proposals.
- Deadline
- The grants page lists Wednesday, September 3, 2026, as the due date for 2027 grant request proposals.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5615 Kirby Drive 520, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: (713) 526-5622
Website: https://barnhartfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joe Barnhart Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas ($1.0M across 11 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($170,686), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
179 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 179 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that the majority of its grants benefit Bee County, Texas. All of its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. Its website also lists grants in Houston and programs in Beeville.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Joe Barnhart Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 25 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2021) to $1.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | Learners to Leaders | $291,443 |
| Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | STREAM | $242,908 |
| Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | Early Start World Language | $188,100 |
| Joe Barnhart Bee County Library Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | Operating Budget | $152,500 |
| Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | Character Education | $115,000 |
| 4 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $170,686 |
| The Beeville Vineyard Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | General Fund | $80,000 |
| Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | Health Professions Magnet | $61,600 |
| Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | Museum of Fine Arts Programs | $58,748 |
| St Mary's Academy Beeville Texas Beeville, TX | General Fund | $50,386 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,306,051 | $5,537,370 | $3,866,614 | $1,766,780 | 38 | $3,117,927 | $2,937,125 | $3,584,739 |
| 2023 | $45,586,507 | $5,498,030 | $4,081,183 | $1,829,611 | 40 | $3,344,142 | $3,164,846 | $3,319,275 |
| 2022 | $44,034,014 | $3,777,580 | $3,840,878 | $1,525,956 | 35 | $2,984,765 | $2,129,579 | $3,234,598 |
| 2021 | $43,757,267 | $9,809,565 | $2,928,351 | $1,020,566 | 31 | $2,257,572 | $8,725,026 | $3,325,136 |
| 2020 | $38,024,655 | $5,577,510 | $3,076,192 | $1,343,723 | 35 | — | $4,633,524 | $2,518,151 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joe Barnhart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated vision is to build a community with educational and cultural opportunities for all, with a focus on children. Its work includes the Joe Barnhart Scholarship Program, which supports Beeville Independent School District students pursuing post-secondary education; the Beeville Art Museum; the Joe Barnhart Bee County Library; and parks in Beeville.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes direct activities as operating the Beeville Art Museum, staffing a college-readiness and financial-aid program at A.C. Jones High School, and funding library staff salaries, ordinary operating expenses, and building improvements. The filing reports 11,770 museum visits in 2024. It says more than 100 seniors participate in the high school program each year, with the staff’s broader educational efforts affecting about 1,000 students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $1,766,780. Grant amounts ranged from $238 to $291,443, with a median of $16,462.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $291,443 to Beeville Independent School District for “Learners to Leaders,” $242,908 to the district for “STREAM,” and $188,100 to the district for “Early Start World Language.” The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library received $152,500 for its operating budget. Other large awards included $115,000 to the district for character education, $102,040 for scholarships awarded to A.C. Jones High School students, and $80,000 to The Beeville Vineyard for its general fund.
The foundation’s website lists 2025 support that includes Beeville arts, library, scholarship, and park programs; Houston grants; and Beeville Independent School District programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists V. Richard Viebig Jr. as president; George Tallichet and Janice Huie as vice presidents; Lou Adele May as secretary; and Ben Andrews as treasurer.
Joe Barnhart Foundation is led by V. Richard Viebig Jr., President on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
V. Richard Viebig Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Ben Andrews
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2024)
George Tallichet
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Janice Huie
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Lou Adele May
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $15K, to V Richard Viebig Jr (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Joe Barnhart Foundation
How much does Joe Barnhart Foundation give each year?
Joe Barnhart Foundation gave $1.8M across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 40 grants.
What is Joe Barnhart Foundation's typical grant size?
Joe Barnhart Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $16,462, and its average grant was $46,494, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joe Barnhart Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Joe Barnhart Foundation give grants?
Joe Barnhart Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Beeville, TX (29 grants) and Houston, TX (4 grants).
Does Joe Barnhart Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 53% of Joe Barnhart Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (3 grants).
Who are Joe Barnhart Foundation's largest grantees?
Joe Barnhart Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Beeville Independent School District Beeville Texas ($1,003,845 across 11 grants), Joe Barnhart Bee County Library Beeville Texas ($152,500) and The Beeville Vineyard Beeville Texas ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($170,686), which are not listed by name. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joe Barnhart Foundation?
Joe Barnhart Foundation reported $47.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.6M (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 Joe Barnhart Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated vision is to build a community with educational and cultural opportunities for all, with a focus on children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joe Barnhart 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 Joe Barnhart Foundation's EIN?
Joe Barnhart Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-4007055. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Joe Barnhart 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 September 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 November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joe Barnhart Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joe-barnhart-foundation-morg_ecc9a1cbc24c4d5997448924b8006b57
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_384007055_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joe Barnhart Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joe-barnhart-foundation-morg_ecc9a1cbc24c4d5997448924b8006b57},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Joe Barnhart 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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