The Barra Foundation Inc
The Barra Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1963 and incorporated in Delaware. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the foundation invests in innovation to inspire change that strengthens communities in the Greater Philadelphia region. The foundation operates with approximately $82 million in assets and distributes millions annually in grants and impact investments to support social change across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$94.8M
+15.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+42.7% YoY
Grant Count
85
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
+34.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Barra Foundation invests in innovation to inspire change that strengthens communities in the Greater Philadelphia region.
The foundation organizes its grantmaking around four primary areas of interest:
- Arts & Culture
- Education
- Health
- Human Services
All projects and initiatives supported by Barra aim to improve the lives of under-resourced individuals, families, and communities. The foundation emphasizes supporting early-stage ideas that challenge the status quo and test novel approaches to entrenched or emerging problems.
Grantmaking
The Barra Foundation operates two primary grantmaking programs:
Grant Range
$1,000 - $120,000
How to Apply
The foundation maintains an online application portal and accepts applications through its website. Decision time from Letter of Intent to final decision typically ranges from 4-6 months.
Ready to take the next step with The Barra Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Barra Foundation focuses on the Greater Philadelphia region, specifically serving:
- Bucks County
- Chester County
- Delaware County
- Montgomery County
- Philadelphia County
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $82.2 million
- Annual Revenue: $4.47 million
- Annual Expenses: $5.14 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.64 million
- Annual Giving: Approximately $2.8 million (distributed across 80 grants in 2023)
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization; donations are tax deductible. The foundation is required to file IRS Form 990-PF.
EIN: 23-6277885
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $94,849,803 | $82,165,197 | $82,770,739 |
| Revenue | $8,764,398 | $4,472,640 | $289,675 |
| Expenses | $7,013,678 | $5,135,431 | $4,679,680 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,187,918 | $6,075,861 | $4,115,353 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,064,311 | $5,942,282 | $232,871 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,377,775 | $4,049,829 | $4,402,482 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Barra Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kristina L. Wahl serves as President and Treasurer of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTINA L WAHL | PRESIDENT, TREASURER | 40 | $325,242 |
| MATTHEW BERGHEISER | CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| CLAYTON GATES MCNEIL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| EMILY L TURNER | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| UVA COLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL DIPIANO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STACY E HOLLAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAGDA MARTINEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID P O'CONNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOANNA MCNEIL LEWIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT L MCNEIL III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN C WILLIAMS JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in supporting innovation across its focus areas. Recent initiatives include:
**Philadelphia's Cultural Treasures Program:** 39 BIPOC-led organizations and artists were awarded $1 million through this Barra-funded program
39 BIPOC-Led Organizations and Artists Awarded $1 Million Through Barra-Funded\**Impact Investing:** The foundation continues to expand its impact investing portfolio as a complement to traditional grantmaking, with ongoing learning and documentation of approaches
**Ongoing Catalyst Fund Support:** The foundation continues to support organizations testing novel approaches across Arts & Culture, Education, Health, and Human Services sectors
Contact Information
Website: www.barrafoundation.org
Address: 1617 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1821
Phone: 610-964-7601
Online Application Portal: barra.fluxx.io
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Barra Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities