The Barker Welfare Foundation
The Barker Welfare Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Founded in 1934, it makes grants to qualified charitable organizations whose initiatives improve quality of life, with particular emphasis on strengthening youth and families and reflecting the philanthropy of founder Catherine Barker Hickox.
The Barker Welfare Foundation at a glance
In short: The Barker Welfare Foundation gave $1.5M across 124 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in New York. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,506,172
- -18.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 124
- -25.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,147
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $106,057,771
- +1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (16 of 111, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (53% 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 The Barker Welfare Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
A telephone call is suggested before submitting an online funding inquiry describing the organization, its purpose, and the amount requested. Funding inquiries are accepted year-round. Organizations must provide two years of current audited financial statements or a CPA review, two years of IRS Form 990s, the first page of the most recent Form 990, a current organization budget (and a separate capital or program budget if applicable), and a copy of their 501(c)(3) determination. If an inquiry is considered suitable, the foundation invites the organization to complete a full application; applications are initiated by the foundation. Applicants must be tax-exempt public charities classified under Section 501(c)(3) and Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3). Start-ups are discouraged. The foundation generally declines requests from organizations outside its defined service areas, national agencies, individuals, and requests for scholarships, research, start-up costs, emergency funds, or deficit financing. Chicago requests are accepted only by invitation, as are charter-school requests. An organization whose proposal is declined is asked to wait at least one year before reapplying.
- Review Cycle
- The board meets twice a year. Completed proposals must be received before February 1 for the spring meeting and before August 1 for the fall meeting.
- Deadline
- The board meets twice a year.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan M Demaio
Mailing address: The Barker Welfare Foundation Po, Box 31432, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420
Phone: (561) 677-9119
Email: susandemaio@barkerwelfare.org
Website: https://barkerwelfare.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Barker Welfare Foundation
Who The Barker Welfare Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Inc ($150K). Together the top 10 received $429K.
Grant Size Distribution
943 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 931 grants of 943 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated priorities include New York City (the five boroughs only) and Michigan City, Indiana. Its general policy also identifies metropolitan Chicago, but requests from that area are no longer accepted unless invited by the foundation.
In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 22% to Indiana, 11% to Illinois, 4% to Florida, and 3% to New Mexico. The listed 2025 awards also included a grant to an organization in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 124 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Barker Welfare Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 111 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 159% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2025) to $4.8M (2021). In 2025 it made 124 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Inc New Haven, IN | First payment of $150,000 on a pledge of $450,000 payable over 3 yrs for the capital campaign to construct the car shop which will be names the haskell & barker car company. | $150,000 |
| Metropolitan Opera Association Inc New York, NY | For first payment on a pledge of $100,000.00 payable over 3 years for hd live in nyc schools. | $50,000 |
| Citizens Concerned for the Homeless Inc Michigan City, IN | For first payment on a pledge of $80,000.00 payable over 2 years for general operating support | $40,000 |
| Academy for Urban School Leadership Chicago, IL | For first payment on a pledge of $50,000.00 payable over 2 years for general operating support. | $25,000 |
| Chicago Commons Association Chicago, IL | For first payment on a pledge of $50,000.00 payable over 2 years for family hub program | $25,000 |
| Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Santa Fe, NM | For final payment on a pledge of $50,000.00 payable over 2 years for the new gok museum. | $25,000 |
| Grand Street Settlement Inc New York, NY | For final payment on a pledge of $75,000.00 payable over 3 years for the second century capital campaign. | $25,000 |
| Jack & Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts Inc Michigan City, IN | For final payment on a pledge of $50,000 payable over 2 years for general operating support | $25,000 |
| New York Botanical Garden Bronx, NY | For first payment on a pledge of $50,000.00 payable over 2 years for green leaders: empowering youth in community gardens initiative. | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington Washington, DC | For Primary Care Services | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Barker Welfare Foundation?
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 | $106,057,771 | $4,359,471 | $3,589,543 | $1,506,172 | 124 | $5,655,179 | $3,986,049 | $3,553,526 |
| 2024 | $104,073,946 | $4,872,089 | $3,803,483 | $1,848,531 | 167 | $6,775,176 | $4,527,407 | $3,448,705 |
| 2023 | $93,200,855 | $3,077,555 | $4,175,155 | $2,279,686 | 203 | $8,534,134 | $2,673,815 | $3,422,390 |
| 2022 | $88,183,793 | $6,888,935 | $4,537,799 | $2,631,967 | 212 | $8,011,745 | $6,533,772 | $4,068,422 |
| 2021 | $105,939,654 | $24,546,512 | $6,067,565 | $4,763,561 | 237 | — | $9,032,200 | $4,176,284 |
| 2020 | $82,177,550 | $5,143,858 | $4,478,123 | $3,502,450 | 322 | — | $4,867,023 | $3,741,018 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barker Welfare Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2025 — 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 mission is to make grants to qualified charitable organizations whose initiatives improve quality of life, especially by strengthening youth and families.
Its 2025 grants illustrate a range of supported work. For example, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society describes its mission as restoring and preserving historically significant railroad equipment and artifacts for public use. Citizens Concerned for the Homeless says it provides homeless families temporary shelter and counseling on housing, employment, and substance abuse. New York Botanical Garden describes its work as improving public understanding of the natural world and expanding knowledge of plants and their uses. Other grantees include education, community-service, arts, and cultural organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 124 grants totaling $1,506,172. Grants ranged from $500 to $150,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Selected 2025 awards included $150,000 to Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society for a capital campaign to construct a car shop; $50,000 to Metropolitan Opera Association for HD Live in NYC schools; and $40,000 to Citizens Concerned for the Homeless for general operating support. Other awards included $25,000 each to Academy for Urban School Leadership for general operating support, Chicago Commons Association for its Family Hub program, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum for its new museum, Grand Street Settlement for its Second Century Capital Campaign, New York Botanical Garden for its Green Leaders initiative, and Queens Community House for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Alline Matheson as president and director; Frances B. Hickox as first vice president and director; Sarane R. O’Connor as second vice president and director; James A. B. Hickox as secretary and director; and Betsy L. Turner as treasurer and director. Susan M. DeMaio is listed as assistant secretary and executive director. Other directors listed are Danielle H. Moore, Thornton Matheson, Alexander B. Ross, and Sarane H. Ross.
The Barker Welfare Foundation is led by Susan M. Demaio, Assistant Secretary & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan M. Demaio
Assistant Secretary & Executive Director
Assisitant Secretary → Assistant Secretary & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$188K (2020) → $365K (2025)
Alline Matheson
President & Director
2nd Vice President & Director → 1st Vice President & Director, 2022
1st Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarane H. Ross
Director
President Emerita & Executive Director → President Emerita & Director, 2021
President Emerita & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$92K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Alexander B. Ross
Director
President & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy L. Turner
Treasurer & Director
Assisitant Treasurer & Director → Treasurer & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle H. Moore
Ipp & Director
1st Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2022
President & Director → Ipp & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frances B. Hickox
1st Vice President & Director
Secretary & Director → 2nd Vice President & Director, 2022
2nd Vice President & Director → 1st Vice President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. B. Hickox
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarane R. O'Connor
2nd Vice President & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2022
Secretary & Director → 2nd Vice President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen B. Ross
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Walter L. Ross III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thornton Matheson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Wawrynek
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Frances H. Barker (2024) — Director
- Former: Thomas P. McCormick (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John L. Leinweber (2021–2023) — Director
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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $365K, to Susan M Demaio (Asst. Secretary, Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Barker Welfare Foundation
How much does The Barker Welfare Foundation give each year?
The Barker Welfare Foundation gave $1.5M across 124 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 167 grants.
What is The Barker Welfare Foundation's typical grant size?
The Barker Welfare Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,147, across 124 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Barker Welfare Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Barker Welfare Foundation give grants?
The Barker Welfare Foundation gives mostly in New York: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (22%) and Illinois (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (39 grants), Chicago, IL (12 grants), Ridgefield, CT (10 grants) and Michigan City, IN (8 grants).
Does The Barker Welfare Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 63% of The Barker Welfare Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (78 of 124) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Barker Welfare Foundation's largest grantees?
The Barker Welfare Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Inc ($150,000), Metropolitan Opera Association Inc ($50,000) and Citizens Concerned for the Homeless Inc ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Barker Welfare Foundation?
The Barker Welfare Foundation reported $106.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Barker Welfare Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to make grants to qualified charitable organizations whose initiatives improve quality of life, especially by strengthening youth and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Barker Welfare Foundation?
A telephone call is suggested before submitting an online funding inquiry describing the organization, its purpose, and the amount requested. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Barker Welfare Foundation's EIN?
The Barker Welfare Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6018526. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Barker Welfare Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Barker Welfare Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-barker-welfare-foundation-morg_e7f5781262c04b5c8af587b3df752e10
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366018526_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Barker Welfare Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-barker-welfare-foundation-morg_e7f5781262c04b5c8af587b3df752e10},
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 The Barker Welfare 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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