The Barris Foundation
The Barris Foundation is a private foundation, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2022. In 2022, it awarded 2 grants totaling $728K.
The Barris Foundation at a glance
In short: The Barris Foundation gave $728K across 2 grants in 2022 (avg $364K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $727,568
- -98.1% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 2
- -50.0% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $363,784
- -96.1% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $363,784
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated September 2026.
Who The Barris Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was The Bessemer Giving Fund ($728K across 2 grants).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 2 grants of 6 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Barris Foundation gives
- In 2022 it paid out 131% of 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 2021 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $728K (2022) to $37.4M (2021). In 2022 it made 2 grants totaling $728K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Bessemer Giving Fund Woodbridge, NJ | To support selected charities for educational, scientific and other charitable purposes | $500,000 |
| The Bessemer Giving Fund Woodbridge, NJ | To support selected charities for educational, scientific and other charitable purposes | $227,568 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $10,500 | $781,498 | $727,568 | 2 | $40,260 | — | $30,643 |
| 2021 | $771,466 | $-348,275 | $37,449,945 | $37,357,587 | 4 | $4,250,000 | $5,090,090 | $762,660 |
| 2020 | $18,256,823 | $18,256,823 | — | — | — | — | — | $59,981 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Barris Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Barris Foundation is led by Peter J. Barris, Director, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Peter J. Barris
Director, President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "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 Barris Foundation
How much does The Barris Foundation give each year?
The Barris Foundation gave $728K across 2 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $37.4M across 4 grants.
Where does The Barris Foundation operate?
The Barris Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey.
How much is The Barris Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, The Barris Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Barris Foundation's EIN?
The Barris Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4241142. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
Live grants for the work The Barris Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Barris Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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