The Barr Fund
The Barr Fund was a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return and states that the foundation was dissolved, with no remaining assets as of December 31, 2024, after all funds were transferred to donor-advised funds under Schwab Charitable’s custody. It therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
The Barr Fund at a glance
In short: The Barr Fund gave $4.1M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $679K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,075,613
- +1425.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -92.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $679,269
- +21513.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,300
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Barr Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the foundation contributed only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. As the foundation was dissolved, this is not a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 247 East Chestnut Street 1303, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 782-4710
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Barr Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Schwab Charitable ($4.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 5 received $4.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
340 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 339 grants of 340 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 listed recipients were in Colorado, New York, and Wyoming. The largest grant went to Schwab Charitable in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Barr Fund gives
- Giving grew 1252% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $267K (2023) to $4.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $4.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schwab Charitable Lone Tree, CO | General Fund | $4,057,371 |
| Schwab Charitable Lone Tree, CO | General Fund | $5,892 |
| Ethical Culture Fieldston School The Bronx, NY | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Jackson Hole Jewish Community Jackson, WY | General Fund | $3,600 |
| Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy Inc New York, NY | General Fund | $2,500 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | General Fund | $1,250 |
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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 | — | $62,873 | $4,137,352 | $4,075,613 | 6 | $4,112,127 | $64,390 | $194,726 |
| 2023 | $4,074,479 | $395,919 | $337,067 | $267,140 | 85 | $289,041 | $352,566 | $301,824 |
| 2022 | $4,015,627 | $313,944 | $370,537 | $305,850 | 87 | $324,888 | $270,087 | $303,624 |
| 2021 | $4,072,220 | $102,619 | $359,894 | $301,500 | 86 | $309,184 | $55,985 | $334,404 |
| 2020 | $4,329,495 | $271,235 | $332,515 | $268,200 | 76 | — | $228,789 | $285,803 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barr Fund reported a distributable amount of $195K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for an educational institution, a cultural organization, a Jewish community organization, a university, and Schwab Charitable; the listed grant purposes were “general fund.”
Ethical Culture Fieldston School describes its mission as providing education for children from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy describes Park Avenue Armory’s mission as enabling artists to create, students to explore, and audiences to experience adventurous work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported six grants totaling $4,075,613. Grant amounts ranged from $1,250 to $4,057,371, with a median of $4,300. The largest listed grants were $4,057,371 and $5,892 to Schwab Charitable, $5,000 to Ethical Culture Fieldston School, $3,600 to Jackson Hole Jewish Community, $2,500 to Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy, and $1,250 to Columbia University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Howard Isenberg as chairman and director; Amy Lubin as president and director; Marc S Isenberg, Alan L Isenberg, and Alice L Spahr as directors; and Thomas R Lubin as secretary and director.
The Barr Fund is led by Amy Lubin, President & Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amy Lubin
President & Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Howard Isenberg
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alan L. Isenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alice L. Spahr
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marc S. Isenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Lubin
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Donald G. Lubin (2020–2021) — President & Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Barr Fund
How much does The Barr Fund give each year?
The Barr Fund gave $4.1M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $267K across 85 grants.
What is The Barr Fund's typical grant size?
The Barr Fund's median grant in 2024 was $4,300, and its average grant was $679,269, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Barr Fund give grants?
The Barr Fund gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lone Tree, CO (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Barr Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Barr Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Barr Fund's largest grantees?
The Barr Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Schwab Charitable ($4,063,263 across 2 grants), Ethical Culture Fieldston School ($5,000) and Jackson Hole Jewish Community ($3,600), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What does The Barr Fund fund?
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for an educational institution, a cultural organization, a Jewish community organization, a university, and Schwab Charitable; the listed grant purposes were “general fund.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Barr Fund?
The filing states that the foundation contributed only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Barr Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Barr Fund reported a distributable amount of $195K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Barr Fund's EIN?
The Barr Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6111449. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Barr Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 29, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 31, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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