The Barrios Trust is a private foundation based in Oakland, California, established in 1999. The organization provides financial assistance to non-profit organizations and individuals supporting educational and developmental experiences for economically disadvantaged young people in the Oakland Metropolitan area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$970K
-14.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$416K
+40.8% YoY
Grant Count
43
+22.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+14.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barrios Trust reported a distributable amount of $60K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Barrios Trust provides financial assistance to non-profit organizations, and individuals supporting high quality educational and developmental experiences for economically disadvantaged young people in the Oakland Metropolitan area.
Focus Areas: The foundation supports programs that:
- Encourage healthy habits of mind and body
- Nourish cultural diversity
- Educate the whole child
- Integrate academic skills with enrichment activities
- Help young people develop skills, confidence, and self-esteem
- Enable young people to reach their full potential
Grantmaking
The Barrios Trust reviews grants twice annually:
Review Cycle
September 1st
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Oakland Metropolitan area, California
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $1,130,140
- Total giving: $295,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $970,191 | $1,130,140 | $1,332,892 |
| Revenue | $251,802 | $97,237 | $570,590 |
| Expenses | $431,834 | $316,758 | $314,501 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $424,645 | $310,489 | $308,131 |
| Net Investment Income | $223,455 | $91,480 | $60,868 |
| Distributable Amount | $60,385 | $63,250 | $67,123 |
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
168 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Piedmont East Bay Childrens Choir ($15,000), Oakland Museum of California ($12,500), Girl Ventures ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA of the East Bay Berkeley, CA | Scholarship Program | $7,500 |
| Girl Ventures Oakland, CA | Leadership Programs | $10,000 |
| Brothers on the Rise co SF Study Ce Oakland, CA | Brothers UNITE! Program | $10,000 |
| Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundatio Oakland, CA | LIBRE Program | $10,000 |
| Vida Verde Nature Education San Gregorio, CA | Environmental Edu Programs for Oakland Youth | $10,000 |
| Aim High San Francisco, CA | Oakland Middle School Program | $10,000 |
| Aspire Education Project Oakland, CA | Reading Buddies Program | $10,000 |
| Bay Area Girls Rock Camp Oakland, CA | GRASP Program | $10,000 |
| Beyond Emancipation Oakland, CA | Oakland Foster Youth Programs | $10,000 |
| Earth Island Institute Berkeley, CA | KIDS for the Bay classroom education programs | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder: Warren Wilson
Warren Wilson established The Barrios Trust in 1999 with his wife, Joanne. The foundation was named in honor of his mother, Louise Barrios Wilson. According to Wilson's founder statement, he grew up in Oakland during the Depression and was deeply affected by the poverty and injustice he witnessed. He formed the Board of Trustees by drawing on family members and friends who identify with his philosophy of supporting young people in fulfilling their potential.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joanne Casey | President | 5 | — |
| Kaylea Perenon | Director | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| John Fanning | Director | 0.25 | $1,900 |
| Donald Carter | VP/Sect'y | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| Casey Wilson | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Taj Wilson | Director | 0.25 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Barrios Trust fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Barrios Trust provides financial assistance to non-profit organizations, and individuals supporting high quality educational and developmental experiences for economically disadvantaged young people in the Oakland Metropolitan area. **Focus Areas:** The foundation supports programs that: • Encourage healthy habits of mind and body • Nourish cultural diversity • Educate the whole child • Integrate academic skills with enrichment activities • Help young people develop s…
How do I apply for a grant from The Barrios Trust?
**Application Process:** The Barrios Trust reviews grants twice annually: • Fall submission deadline: September 1st • Spring submission deadline: March 1st **Recent Grantees:** The foundation supports a range of youth-centered programs, including: • Battle Tested Kids (BTK) — provides disadvantaged youth with personal growth and success through competitive athletics training and personalized mentorship • Oakland Space Academy (Chabot Space & Science Center) — prepares Bay Area youth for careers…
Where does The Barrios Trust make grants?
Oakland Metropolitan area, California
What size grants does The Barrios Trust award?
In 2024, The Barrios Trust awarded 43 grants totaling $416K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Barrios Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Barrios Trust reported a distributable amount of $60K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Barrios Trust's EIN?
The Barrios Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3323331. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Barrios Trust'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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