The Barnes Foundation Inc
The Barnes Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Marion, Connecticut. Its 2024 filing describes support for federally tax-exempt nonprofit organizations relating to precollegiate education in Connecticut; its recorded grants are chiefly to Connecticut organizations and are designated for educational programs.
The Barnes Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Barnes Foundation Inc gave $306K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Connecticut. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $306,000
- -31.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,300
- -28.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $9,854,711
- +6.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (3 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (93% 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 The Barnes Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are asked to submit a written request including a budget, proof of tax-exempt status, and a description of the organization. Awards are restricted to federally tax-exempt nonprofit organizations relating to precollegiate education in Connecticut.
- Review Cycle
- Submissions should be made six to twelve months in advance.
- Deadline
- Submissions should be made six to twelve months in advance.
- Contact
Application contact: Timothy O'Connor The Barnes Foundat
Mailing address: PO Box 411, Marion, CT 06444
Phone: (860) 653-0462
Website: https://barnesfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Barnes Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bristol Public Schools ($29K). Together the top 10 received $199K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 98 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing’s grant dollars went primarily to Connecticut recipients (93%), with 3% each going to recipients in Massachusetts and New York. The filing’s stated award restriction is for organizations relating to precollegiate education in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Barnes Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 20 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% 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 $283K (2022) to $447K (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $306K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Public Schools Bristol, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $29,000 |
| Environmental Learning Centers of CT Inc Bristol, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $25,000 |
| Connecticut Science Center Inc Hartford, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $20,000 |
| Horizons at Westminster School Simsbury, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $20,000 |
| Neighborhood Music School New Haven, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $20,000 |
| New Haven Ecology Project Inc New Haven, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $20,000 |
| Uconn Foundation Storrs, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $20,000 |
| Charter Oak Temple Restoration Association Hartford, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $15,000 |
| Connectikids Hartford, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $15,000 |
| Read to Grow Branford, CT | To Support Educational Programs | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Barnes Foundation Inc?
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 | $9,854,711 | $748,835 | $522,146 | $306,000 | 20 | $442,482 | $679,896 | $479,648 |
| 2023 | $9,293,925 | $589,189 | $642,496 | $447,000 | 21 | $571,678 | $525,776 | $444,485 |
| 2022 | $8,918,451 | $326,448 | $464,195 | $282,537 | 17 | $395,238 | $261,277 | $456,258 |
| 2021 | $10,516,307 | $635,382 | $490,137 | $307,140 | 23 | $409,277 | $563,505 | $499,822 |
| 2020 | $9,934,170 | $308,386 | $599,649 | $419,000 | 17 | — | $244,285 | $454,420 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barnes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $480K 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 Barnes Foundation’s website states that the Barnes Foundation’s mission is to promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture. Its 2024 grant records describe awards as supporting educational programs.
Recipients’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. New Haven Ecology Project describes itself as a center for environmental learning and leadership; Neighborhood Music School says it builds connections through learning, practice, and presentation of the performing arts; and Read to Grow says it promotes children’s language skills and literacy beginning at birth. Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated missions include inspiring lifelong learning through science, mentoring and tutoring children, mobilizing resources to end poverty, and supporting urban students’ educational success.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $306,000. Grants ranged from $8,000 to $29,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $29,000 to Bristol Public Schools and $25,000 to Environmental Learning Centers of CT Inc. Connecticut Science Center, Horizons at Westminster School, Neighborhood Music School, New Haven Ecology Project, and UConn Foundation each received $20,000. Charter Oak Temple Restoration Association, Connectikids, Read to Grow, and United Way each received $15,000; Children’s Community School received $13,000. The listed grant purpose for these awards was to support educational programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joan B. Flynn as president; Sally A. O’Connor as vice president; Timothy J. O’Connor as executive director; Brenna K. Flynn as treasurer; Heather B. Adams as secretary; and Elliott B. Bristow, Patricia Hamon, Lynne B. Leahy, Edward Thomas Adams, and Brooke L. Harris as directors.
The Barnes Foundation Inc is led by Timothy J. O'Connor, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy J. O'Connor
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$85K (2020) → $92K (2024)
Joan B. Flynn
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brooke L. Harris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Thomas Adams
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elliott B. Bristow
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynne B. Leahy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Hamon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenna K. Flynn
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather B. Adams
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally A. O'Connor
V & P
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $92K, to Timothy J O'Connor (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Barnes Foundation Inc
How much does The Barnes Foundation Inc give each year?
The Barnes Foundation Inc gave $306K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $447K across 21 grants.
What is The Barnes Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Barnes Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,300, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Barnes Foundation Inc that year got $11K on average.
Where does The Barnes Foundation Inc give grants?
The Barnes Foundation Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hartford, CT (4 grants), Bristol, CT (2 grants), New Haven, CT (2 grants) and New London, CT (2 grants).
Does The Barnes Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on The Barnes Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Educational Programs" (20 grants).
Who are The Barnes Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Barnes Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Bristol Public Schools ($29,000), Environmental Learning Centers of CT Inc ($25,000) and Connecticut Science Center Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Barnes Foundation Inc?
The Barnes Foundation Inc reported $9.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $442K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $480K (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 The Barnes Foundation Inc fund?
The Barnes Foundation’s website states that the Barnes Foundation’s mission is to promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture. Its 2024 grant records describe awards as supporting educational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Barnes Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Barnes Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Barnes Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6037160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Barnes Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-barnes-foundation-inc-morg_e9963a484d414c51b8c2c3a5c926ff56
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066037160_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Barnes Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-barnes-foundation-inc-morg_e9963a484d414c51b8c2c3a5c926ff56},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Barnes Foundation Inc'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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