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The Barnes Foundation Inc

MARION, CT EIN: 06-6037160 Website

The Barnes Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in 1945 and located in Marion, Connecticut. The organization operates as a grantmaking foundation with a focus on educational advancement and the arts.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.9M

+6.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$306K

-31.5% YoY

Grant Count

20

-4.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-28.1% YoY

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 April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's stated purpose is to promote excellence in education with an emphasis on programs that benefit students in grades kindergarten through high school.

Grantmaking

The foundation supports educational programs across various organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily operates in Connecticut, with its headquarters in Marion, CT.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

BostonBranfordBremenBristolBrooklynColchesterCortlandHartfordMiddletownMysticNew BritainNew HavenNew LondonNew MilfordNianticProspectRocky HillSimsburyStorrsWaterbury

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total assets: $9,293,925
  • Total revenues: $589,189
  • Total expenses: $642,496
  • Investment income and dividends: $343,091
  • Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $246,053
  • Number of employees: 1
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$206K$412K$618K$824K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$9,854,711$9,293,925$8,918,451
Revenue$748,835$589,189$326,448
Expenses$522,146$642,496$464,195
Qualifying Distributions$442,482$571,678$395,238
Net Investment Income$679,896$525,776$261,277
Distributable Amount$479,648$444,485$456,258

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$112K$224K$335K$447K17 grants202023 grants202117 grants202221 grants202320 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

BRISTOL PUBLIC SCHOOLS$29KENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING C…$25KCONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENT…$20KHORIZONS AT WESTMINSTER …$20KNEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SCHOOL$20KNEW HAVEN ECOLOGY PROJEC…$20KUCONN FOUNDATION$20KCHARTER OAK TEMPLE RESTO…$15KCONNECTIKIDS$15KREAD TO GROW$15K

Grant Size Distribution

98 grants across all recorded years

95<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bristol Public Schools ($29,000), Environmental Learning Centers of Ct Inc ($25,000), Connecticut Science Center Inc ($20,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
BRISTOL PUBLIC SCHOOLS BRISTOL, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$29,000
CHARTER OAK TEMPLE RESTORATION ASSOCIATION HARTFORD, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$15,000
CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL WATERBURY, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$13,000
CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER INC HARTFORD, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$20,000
CONNECTICUT STORY TELLING CENTER NEW LONDON, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$12,000
CONNECTIKIDS HARTFORD, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$15,000
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTERS OF CT INC BRISTOL, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$25,000
FLANDERS NATURE CENTER WOODBURY, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$12,000
HORIZONS AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL SIMSBURY, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$20,000
JACKTER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL COLCHESTER, CTTO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS$8,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Timothy O'Connor is listed as a contact for the foundation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

TIMOTHY J O'CONNOREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$92K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JOAN B FLYNNPRESIDENT2
SALLY A O'CONNORV/P2
ELLIOTT B BRISTOWDIRECTOR1
TIMOTHY J O'CONNOREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR30$92,103
BRENNA K FLYNNTREASURER2
HEATHER B ADAMSSECRETARY2
PATRICIA HAMONDIRECTOR1
LYNNE B LEAHYDIRECTOR1
EDWARD THOMAS ADAMSDIRECTOR1
BROOKE L HARRISDIRECTOR1

Contact Information

  • Address: PO Box 411, Marion, CT 06444-0411
  • Telephone: 860-653-0462
  • EIN: 06-6037160

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Barnes Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's stated purpose is to promote excellence in education with an emphasis on programs that benefit students in grades kindergarten through high school.

How do I apply for a grant from The Barnes Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 23 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $447,000 • Recent grant recipients include: • Main Street Community Foundation ($50,000 for educational programs) • Community First School ($30,000 for educational programs) • New England Carousel Museum ($25,000 for educational programs) **Grant Focus:** The foundation supports educational programs across various organizations.

Where does The Barnes Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily operates in Connecticut, with its headquarters in Marion, CT.

What size grants does The Barnes Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Barnes Foundation Inc awarded 20 grants totaling $306K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Barnes Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Barnes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $480K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Barnes Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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