The Barra Foundation Inc
The Barra Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that supports innovation in Greater Philadelphia through grants and impact investing. Founded in 1963 by Robert L. McNeil, Jr., it provides approximately $4 million in annual grants and supports early-stage ideas intended to strengthen communities.
The Barra Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Barra Foundation Inc gave $4.0M across 85 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,018,848
- +42.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 85
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,281
- +34.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $94,849,803
- +15.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (32 of 85, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Barra Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- No formal submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- No formal submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: The Barra Foundation
Mailing address: Wwwbarrafoundationorg, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (610) 964-7601
Website: https://barrafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Barra Foundation Inc
Who The Barra Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was TCG Groceries ($305K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
579 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 465 grants of 579 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s grants are restricted to the Greater Philadelphia region. Its Catalyst Fund FAQ identifies the five-county region as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 85 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Barra Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 32 of 85 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $46K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 49% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 141% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2023) to $4.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 85 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TCG Groceries Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant - $300,000, knowledge and networks grant - $5,000 | $305,000 |
| Philadelphia City Fund Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst Fund Grant | $300,000 |
| Workshop Learning Narberth, PA | Entity Support - Special Grant | $263,280 |
| Art-Reach Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and Networks Grant | $205,000 |
| Philadelphia Accelerator Fund Philadelphia, PA | Mission Aligned Investment Grant | $200,000 |
| Sustainable Business Networktriple Bottom Brewing Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst Fund Grant | $182,500 |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and Networks Grant | $180,000 |
| Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst Fund Grant | $150,000 |
| Famfrequency Productions Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst Fund Grant | $150,000 |
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | Entity Support - Special Grant | $125,000 |
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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 | $94,849,803 | $8,764,398 | $7,013,678 | $4,018,848 | 85 | $6,187,918 | $6,064,311 | $4,377,775 |
| 2023 | $82,165,197 | $4,472,640 | $5,135,431 | $2,816,700 | 80 | $6,075,861 | $5,942,282 | $4,049,829 |
| 2022 | $82,770,739 | $289,675 | $4,679,680 | $2,947,500 | 88 | $4,115,353 | $232,871 | $4,402,482 |
| 2021 | $88,095,707 | $13,456,505 | $4,203,912 | $2,949,750 | 106 | $4,416,185 | $14,875,541 | $5,127,586 |
| 2020 | $78,843,114 | $3,667,037 | $5,017,659 | $3,819,065 | 220 | — | $2,757,332 | $4,242,420 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barra Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes its work as investing in innovation to inspire change that strengthens communities in Greater Philadelphia. Its four areas of interest are Arts & Culture, Education, Health, and Human Services. It prioritizes early-stage, inventive approaches with the potential for durable, transformative, and equitable change, particularly for under-resourced communities.
Examples of grantees’ work include TCG Groceries, which says it aims to make eating well easier by reinventing the corner store, and Art-Reach, which says it creates and expands accessible opportunities in the arts. Workshop Learning describes its work as helping high school students learn through real-world problem solving. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
The Catalyst Fund is the Foundation’s core grantmaking program. It provides early-stage funding for organizations to explore, test, or launch novel ideas. Projects are typically less than three years old, though the applying organization may be more established. The Foundation looks for a clearly defined and timely problem or opportunity, a meaningful departure from existing practice, input from people affected by the issue, and potential for broader change. It is not currently considering Catalyst Fund projects focused on artificial intelligence.
In 2024, the Foundation made 85 grants totaling $4,018,848. Grants ranged from $500 to $305,000, with a median of $11,000. Among the largest were $305,000 to TCG Groceries, $300,000 to Philadelphia City Fund, $263,280 to Workshop Learning, $205,000 to Art-Reach, and $200,000 to Philadelphia Accelerator Fund. The listed purposes included Catalyst Fund grants, Knowledge and Networks grants, entity support, and a mission-aligned investment grant.
The Foundation also made program-related investments in 2024. These included a $350,000, 3.5% interest loan to the Women’s Community Revitalization Project for affordable housing in Philadelphia; a $300,000, 2% interest loan to Pathways Housing Wellness Corporation for redevelopment intended to create approximately 70 affordable housing units; and a $250,000 installment of a $500,000, 2% interest loan to Jounce Partners to support operating costs for its Expertise Leadership Opportunity Program.
To apply for a Catalyst Fund grant, organizations begin with an online Letter of Inquiry (LOI) describing the request, timeframe, and target audience, among other information. LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis; the Foundation aims to respond within 45 days and invite selected applicants to submit a full application. Grants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, including projects using a fiscal sponsor; individuals are not funded. The Foundation lists exclusions including budget deficits, endowments, capital campaigns or projects unless part of an innovative project, international programs, and expansion of existing programs. Its filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kristina L. Wahl as president and treasurer; Matthew Bergheiser as chairman; Clayton Gates McNeil as secretary; and Emily L. Turner as assistant treasurer. Directors listed are Uva Coles, Michael DiPiano, Stacy E. Holland, Magda Martinez, David P. O’Conner, and Joanna McNeil Lewis.
The Barra Foundation Inc is led by Kristina L. Wahl, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 12 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kristina L. Wahl
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$259K (2020) → $325K (2024)
Matthew Bergheiser
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joanna McNeil Lewis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Dipiano
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert L. McNeil III
Director
Chairman → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacy E. Holland
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. Williams Jr.
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David P. O'Conner
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Magda Martinez
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Uva Coles
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clayton Gates McNeil
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily L. Turner
Assistant Treasurer
Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Victoria McNeil Le Vine (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Donna M. De Carolis (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Laura A. Williamson (2020–2022) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Valerie V. Gay (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Hogan (2021) — Director to March
- Former: Eleanor Lewis (2020) — Director
- Former: Patrick P. Coyne (2020) — Assistant Treasurer
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $325K, to Kristina L Wahl (President, Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about The Barra Foundation Inc
How much does The Barra Foundation Inc give each year?
The Barra Foundation Inc gave $4.0M across 85 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.8M across 80 grants.
What is The Barra Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Barra Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $11,000, and its average grant was $47,281, across 85 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Barra Foundation Inc that year got $50K on average.
Where does The Barra Foundation Inc give grants?
The Barra Foundation Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (58 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Conshohocken, PA (2 grants) and Exton, PA (2 grants).
Does The Barra Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 85 grants with a stated purpose on The Barra Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Entity Support - Director's Grant" (22 grants), "Entity Support - Staff Grant" (17 grants) and "Catalyst Fund Grant" (17 grants).
Who are The Barra Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Barra Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include TCG Groceries ($305,000), Philadelphia City Fund ($300,000) and Workshop Learning ($263,280), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Barra Foundation Inc?
The Barra Foundation Inc reported $94.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Barra Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation describes its work as investing in innovation to inspire change that strengthens communities in Greater Philadelphia. Its four areas of interest are Arts & Culture, Education, Health, and Human Services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Barra Foundation Inc?
The Barra Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check barrafoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Barra Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Barra Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6277885. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Barra Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-barra-foundation-inc-morg_dfe759a143614895897d999e523b9e60
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236277885_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Barra Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-barra-foundation-inc-morg_dfe759a143614895897d999e523b9e60},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Barra Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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