The Coeta and Donald Barker
The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation headquartered in Rancho Mirage, California. Established in 1977 by Mr. and Mrs. Barker in Eugene, Oregon, the foundation carries forward their philanthropic legacy. Donald Barker was a prominent leader in the Oregon timber industry. Following his death in 1980, Coeta divided her time between Santa Barbara and Rancho Mirage, eventually making Rancho Mirage her primary residence. When she passed away in 2005, the foundation established its formal office in Rancho Mirage, where it remains based today.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.7M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+22.7% YoY
Grant Count
79
+49.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-17.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Coeta and Donald Barker reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission reflects the Barkers' interests and values. It funds registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the following areas:
- Education
- Culture
- Health care
- Social services and civic engagement
The Barkers were particularly interested in helping young people, which remains a priority reflected in the foundation's grantmaking.
Grantmaking
Applications for grants are by invitation only from the foundation's five-member Board of Trustees. No unsolicited applications are accepted. Letters of Intent/Inquiry (LOI) will be considered for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the foundation's funding areas.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in:
- California
- Oregon
- North Carolina
Specific cities mentioned include Palm Springs, San Diego, Portland, and Springfield.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (ending November 2024):
- Total assets: $18,670,042
- Total giving: $1,280,850
- Total revenues: $1,028,765
- Total expenses: $1,765,571
- Number of grants made: 70
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,670,042 | $19,363,552 | $20,799,724 |
| Revenue | $1,028,765 | $-5,679 | $730,445 |
| Expenses | $1,765,571 | $1,430,493 | $1,580,278 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,576,503 | $1,255,831 | $1,389,288 |
| Net Investment Income | $877,207 | $599,549 | $640,972 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,211,481 | $1,116,309 | $1,189,541 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Eisenhower Medical Center Foundatio ($150,000), Peace Health Sacred Heart Medical ($150,000), Alzheimer's Disease Association ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACT FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PALM DESERT, CA | SUPPORT HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS | $7,500 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ASSOCIATION PALM DESERT, CA | SUPPORT RESEARCH | $50,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S COACHELLA VALLEY PALM DESERT, CA | SPONSORSHIP DONATION OPEN HOUSE | $2,000 |
| ANGEL VIEW INC CATHEDRAL CITY, CA | ASSISTANCE TO DISABLED | $25,000 |
| ANIMAL SAMARITANS THOUSAND PALMS, CA | SENIOR PET WELLNESS FUND DONATION | $5,000 |
| ARC OF LANE COUNTY SPRINGFIELD, OR | ELECTRONIC GATE ENTRY TO ARC PARK | $10,000 |
| ART FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA SANTA BARBARA, CA | STUDENT EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE COACHELLA VALLEY RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | SUPPORT OPERATION SCHOOL BELL | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESS PALM DESERT, CA | SPONSORSHIP EVENT DONATION | $1,750 |
| BAGS OF LOVE EUGENE, OR | DONATION FOR FILL IN GAPS PROJECT | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's five-member Board of Trustees includes:
- Dana E. Newquist (Chair)
- John D. Brennan
- John V. Buerstatte
- Nancy G. Harris
- Kenneth Jenkins
- Nancy Miller
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN DBRENNAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $3,200 |
| DANA E NEWQUIST | CHAIR | 1 | $4,800 |
| JOHN V BUERSTATTE | TRUSTEE | 1 | $4,800 |
| NANCY G HARRIS | TRUSTEE | — | $109,701 |
| MELISSA RUSSO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN WILLIAMS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several significant grants in recent years:
**June 2024:** Announced a $1.5 million gift to support nurse residency in Oregon through PeaceHealth
The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation announces $1.5 million gift to support**2022:** Provided a generous gift to boost scholarships to RiverBend's Supervised Exercise Program
Generous gift boosts scholarships to RiverBend's Supervised ...Recent support for health research initiatives, including Alzheimer's disease and diabetes research
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Coeta and Donald Barker fund?
The foundation's mission reflects the Barkers' interests and values. It funds registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the following areas: • Education • Culture • Health care • Social services and civic engagement The Barkers were particularly interested in helping young people, which remains a priority reflected in the foundation's grantmaking.
How do I apply for a grant from The Coeta and Donald Barker?
**Application Process:** Applications for grants are by invitation only from the foundation's five-member Board of Trustees. No unsolicited applications are accepted. Letters of Intent/Inquiry (LOI) will be considered for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the foundation's funding areas. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $500 to $200,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 70 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending November 2024). Recent notable grants in…
Where does The Coeta and Donald Barker make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in: • California • Oregon • North Carolina Specific cities mentioned include Palm Springs, San Diego, Portland, and Springfield.
What size grants does The Coeta and Donald Barker award?
In 2024, The Coeta and Donald Barker awarded 79 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Coeta and Donald Barker required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Coeta and Donald Barker reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Coeta and Donald Barker's EIN?
The Coeta and Donald Barker's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-0698411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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