The Barr Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Chesapeake, Virginia. Established in 1997, the foundation operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors including education, arts and creativity, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.2M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$140K
-15.4% YoY
Grant Count
103
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-21.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $281K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Barr Foundation's grantmaking priorities center on advancing systemic change through arts and creativity. The foundation emphasizes:
- Advocating for the Arts: Supporting arts advocacy to foster policy change that builds a more thriving and robust field
- Advancing New Narratives: Promoting narratives about the power and possibilities of the arts as essential to thriving, just communities
- Education: Supporting innovative educational models and initiatives
- Human Services: Funding organizations serving community needs
The foundation views the arts not only as a reflection of culture but as an engine of collective imagination and civic leadership. It strives for long-term changes to policies, practices, cultural models, and systems that unlock the full potential of arts and creativity in collaboration with field leaders.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Average Grant
amount varies by program
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia, though grant activity extends to other states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024):
- Total Assets: $4,159,167
- Total Revenue: $520,486
- Total Expenses: $351,653
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $274,138
Financial Trends:
- Total grants, contributions, and other revenue: $241,474 (down 21.3% from prior year's $306,705)
- Investment income and dividends: $105,756
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,181,186 | $4,159,167 | $3,990,334 |
| Revenue | $356,320 | $520,486 | $480,186 |
| Expenses | $334,301 | $351,653 | $360,774 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $254,952 | $274,138 | $264,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $154,656 | $201,496 | $71,847 |
| Distributable Amount | $281,342 | $254,553 | $230,225 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Breast Cancer Research Foundation ($25,000), Chrysler Museum ($14,050), Beth El ($5,360).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3GNY HOLOCAUST EDUCATION NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $100 |
| ALVIN AILEY DANCE FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER ASSOCIATION ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $360 |
| AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $550 |
| AMERICA'S SECOND HARVESTFEEDING AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $250 |
| BETH EL NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $5,360 |
| BETH SHOLOM HOME VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $150 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Clay H. Barr: President/Director
- Elena B. Baum: Director/VP/Treasurer (10 hours per week, $36,154 compensation)
- Janice Pfaffinger: Secretary (20 hours per week, $58,697 compensation)
The foundation operates with one full-time employee.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAY H BARR | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ELENA B BAUM | DIRECTOR/ VP/ TREASURER | 10 | $41,054 |
| JANICE PFAFFINGER | SECRETARY | 30 | $64,061 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated significant grant activity in 2024 and 2025, with quarterly announcements of major awards:
**Q2 2024**: Awarded $18.5 million
Barr Awards $18.5 Million in Second Quarter of 2024 - Barr FoundationThe foundation continues to support educational innovation through partnerships such as Mass IDEAS (Innovating Design in Education for All Students), an initiative supported by the Barr Foundation and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation that helps communities across Massachusetts create innovative public school models.
Barr Awards $18.5 Million in Second Quarter of 2024 - Barr FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Barr Foundation fund?
The Barr Foundation's grantmaking priorities center on advancing systemic change through arts and creativity. The foundation emphasizes: • **Advocating for the Arts**: Supporting arts advocacy to foster policy change that builds a more thriving and robust field • **Advancing New Narratives**: Promoting narratives about the power and possibilities of the arts as essential to thriving, just communities • **Education**: Supporting innovative educational models and initiatives • **Human Services**:…
How do I apply for a grant from The Barr Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $18 to $80,000 • Median grant amount: $1,175 • Average grant amount varies by program • The foundation awarded 137 grants in its most recent fiscal year • Giving rate: 6.7% of total assets **Recent Grant Activity:** • First Quarter 2025: $12.9 million awarded • Fourth Quarter 2024: $40.7 million awarded • Third Quarter 2024: $34.5 million awarded • Second Quarter 2024: $18.5 million awarded **Notable Grantees and Programs:** • The …
Where does The Barr Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, New York, and the District of Columbia, though grant activity extends to other states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland.
What size grants does The Barr Foundation award?
In 2025, The Barr Foundation awarded 103 grants totaling $140K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Barr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Barr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $281K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Barr Foundation's EIN?
The Barr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1518708. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Barr Foundation'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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