The Barnwood Foundation is a private foundation established in 2007 and based in Katonah, New York. The foundation focuses on grantmaking in the areas of environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, animal welfare, and related philanthropic causes. The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not maintain a website.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.0M
+8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$665K
+2.3% YoY
Grant Count
44
+2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-0.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Barnwood Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to:
- Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture — Land conservation, organic farming, urban agriculture, and organizations that help farms adapt to climate change
- Animals and Wildlife — Organizations that promote the humane treatment of animals and those that train and place service animals
- Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services — Additional focus areas identified in tax filings
- Public and Reproductive Health — Recent giving has also addressed these areas
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation lacks transparency regarding its grantmaking priorities and application procedures. It prefers to seek out and identify its own grantees rather than accept unsolicited proposals, making it a less accessible funder for organizations seeking grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in:
- Connecticut
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $10,989,868
- Total Revenues: $1,424,347
- Total Expenses: $730,693
- Total Giving: $665,000
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,967,079
- Total Giving: $665,000
The foundation's revenue includes investment income and dividends ($264,468 in 2023) and gains from the sale of non-inventory assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,967,079 | $10,989,868 | $10,290,312 |
| Revenue | $1,632,039 | $1,424,347 | $782,517 |
| Expenses | $770,300 | $730,693 | $742,241 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $665,000 | $650,000 | $698,227 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,585,347 | $1,370,279 | $731,353 |
| Distributable Amount | $713,728 | $627,368 | $649,486 |
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
220 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders: Michael G. Barnes and Lisa Underwood
Michael G. Barnes — Financier and founder. He holds an A.B. from Columbia College and has overseen various credit trading strategies at UBS, PaineWebber, and Bear Stearns. In 2003, he became a founding partner of Tricadia Holdings, LP, a privately held company providing investment management services, where he serves as chairman.
The couple maintains a low profile in their philanthropic activities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL G BARNES | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| LISA UNDERWOOD | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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