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
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.
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.
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Art-reach ($205,000), Drexel University ($150,000), Famfrequency Productions ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHONY WAYNE THEATER WAYNE, PA | ENTITY SUPPORT - DIRECTOR'S GRANT | $20,000 |
| ART-REACH PHILADELPHIA, PA | KNOWLEDGE AND NETWORKS GRANT | $205,000 |
| ASAP PHILADELPHIA, PA | ENTITY SUPPORT - STAFF GRANT | $1,000 |
| BOLT PHILADELPHIA, PA | CATALYST FUND GRANT | $100,000 |
| BOY'S LATIN OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | ENTITY SUPPORT - DIRECTOR'S GRANT | $5,000 |
| BUILDING 21 PHILADELPHIA, PA | ENTITY SUPPORT - DIRECTOR'S GRANT | $5,000 |
| CCATE BLUE BELL, PA | CATALYST FUND GRANT | $50,000 |
| CEASEFIRE PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION FUND PHILADELPHIA, PA | ENTITY SUPPORT - DIRECTOR'S GRANT | $10,000 |
| CENTRO DE APOYO DREXEL HILL, PA | ENTITY SUPPORT - STAFF GRANT | $1,000 |
| CHILDREN'S CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA | KNOWLEDGE AND NETWORKS GRANT | $5,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Barra Foundation Inc fund?
**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 challen…
How do I apply for a grant from The Barra Foundation Inc?
The Barra Foundation operates two primary grantmaking programs: **Catalyst Fund** • Grant range: $1,000 - $120,000 • Provides early-stage risk capital for bold, innovative approaches • Enables organizations to test ideas, assess results, and share lessons learned • Recent examples include Philadelphia Midwife Collective ($400,000/24 months), YEAH Philly ($400,000/24 months), and Mann Center for the Performing Arts ($300,000/36 months) **Barra Awards** • Grant range: $25,000 - $50,000 • Provides…
Where does The Barra Foundation Inc make grants?
The Barra Foundation focuses on the Greater Philadelphia region, specifically serving: • Bucks County • Chester County • Delaware County • Montgomery County • Philadelphia County
What size grants does The Barra Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Barra Foundation Inc awarded 85 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Barra Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Barra Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Barra Foundation Inc'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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