The Coeta and Donald Barker
The Coeta and Donald Barker is a private foundation based in Rancho Mirage, California. Established by Mr. and Mrs. Barker in Eugene, Oregon, in 1977, it supports registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in education, culture, health care, and social services/civic areas. The foundation says the Barkers were particularly interested in helping young people.
The Coeta and Donald Barker at a glance
In short: The Coeta and Donald Barker gave $1.7M across 103 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in California. 41% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,669,215
- +30.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 103
- +30.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,206
- -0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $18,021,970
- -3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (42 of 103, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Coeta and Donald Barker
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says grant requests considered must be brought forward by a Board member; invited organizations apply online. It considers Letters of Intent/Inquiry from registered 501(c)(3) organizations in its funding areas, submitted online. The 2023 filing states that eligible organizations must have current IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and an IRS determination that they are not a private foundation under section 509(a).
- Review Cycle
- The website lists March 1 for spring-cycle Letters of Intent/Inquiry and August 1 for fall-cycle Letters of Intent/Inquiry. Both 2026 dates have passed. Invited applications submitted by April 1 are considered at the spring meeting; those submitted by September 1 are considered at the fall meeting. The website says final reports are due within six months after a grant is received.
- Deadline
- The website lists March 1 for spring-cycle Letters of Intent/Inquiry and August 1 for fall-cycle Letters of…
- Contact
Application contact: The Coeta Donald Barker Foundatio
Mailing address: PO Box 936, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Phone: (760) 340-1162
Website: https://thebarkerfoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Coeta and Donald Barker funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Peace Health Sacred Heart Medical ($165K). Together the top 10 received $638K.
Grant Size Distribution
354 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 328 grants of 354 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Eugene and communities in southern Oregon, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and the Coachella Valley in California for Letters of Intent/Inquiry and sponsorship requests. In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to California recipients and 21% to Oregon recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 103 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Coeta and Donald Barker open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 42 of 103 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 202% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2023) to $1.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 103 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Health Sacred Heart Medical Springfield, OR | Provide Financial Assistance | $165,000 |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Foundatio Rancho Mirage, CA | Eisenhower Nurse Residency Program | $150,000 |
| University of Oregon Foundation Eugene, OR | Support Athletic Club | $65,000 |
| Mizzell Center Palm Springs, CA | Meels & Wheels Transportation Prog. | $55,000 |
| South West College Foundation San Diego, CA | Nursing Program Donation | $44,000 |
| Palm Springs Air Museum Palm Springs, CA | Sponsorship & Educational Programs | $36,050 |
| Unity Shoppe Santa Barbara, CA | Support Youth Training Program | $32,500 |
| Friends of Cultural Center Palm Desert, CA | Support Performing Arts Center | $30,000 |
| Sansum Diabetes Research Institute Santa Barbara, CA | Support Health Program | $30,000 |
| United Boys & Girls of Santa Barbar Santa Barbara, CA | Food Program Donation | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Coeta and Donald Barker?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $18,021,970 | $1,448,903 | $2,053,679 | $1,669,215 | 103 | $1,852,095 | $1,285,882 | $914,958 |
| 2024 | $18,670,042 | $1,028,765 | $1,765,571 | $1,280,850 | 79 | $1,576,503 | $877,207 | $1,211,481 |
| 2023 | $19,363,552 | $-5,679 | $1,430,493 | $1,043,583 | 53 | $1,255,831 | $599,549 | $1,116,309 |
| 2022 | $20,799,724 | $730,445 | $1,580,278 | $1,184,801 | 61 | $1,389,288 | $640,972 | $1,189,541 |
| 2021 | $21,649,557 | $3,997,445 | $1,713,178 | $1,378,080 | 58 | — | $3,912,825 | $1,338,363 |
| 2020 | $19,365,290 | $1,176,050 | $1,569,412 | $1,273,814 | 70 | — | $1,105,704 | $1,172,991 |
| 2019 | $19,758,652 | $919,590 | $1,595,083 | $1,299,266 | 72 | — | $1,085,853 | $1,182,397 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Coeta and Donald Barker reported a distributable amount of $915K for 2025 — 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’s website describes its funding areas as education, culture, health care, and social services/civic. Its 2025 grants included support for a nursing program, a youth training program, educational and performing arts programs, health programs, food assistance, and transportation services.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Eisenhower Medical Center says it serves changing healthcare needs through patient care, education, and research. Unity Shoppe says it provides essentials and job training to residents facing temporary poverty, natural disaster, or health crisis. The Palm Springs Air Museum says it educates the public about military aircraft and artifacts. The Mizell Center says it supports independence and self-sufficiency through education, information, and assistance.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 103 grants totaling $1,669,215. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $165,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were $165,000 to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical for financial assistance; $150,000 to Eisenhower Medical Center Foundation for its Nurse Residency Program; $65,000 to the University of Oregon Foundation to support its Athletic Club; and $55,000 to the Mizell Center for its Meals & Wheels transportation program.
The foundation also reported 79 grants totaling $1,280,850 in 2024 and 53 grants totaling $1,043,583 in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dana E. Newquist as chair and John DBrennan, John V. Buerstatte, Melissa Russo, and John Williams as trustees.
The Coeta and Donald Barker is led by Dana E. Newquist, Chair since 2023 (on filings since 2019); all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dana E. Newquist
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $3K (2025)
John Dbrennan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $3K (2025)
John V. Buerstatte
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $3K (2025)
John Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$3K (2025)
Melissa Russo
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$3K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Nancy G. Harris (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kenneth Jenkins (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Nancy Miller (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dennis Healey (2019–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to John Dbrennan (Trustee). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Coeta and Donald Barker
How much does The Coeta and Donald Barker give each year?
The Coeta and Donald Barker gave $1.7M across 103 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 79 grants.
What is The Coeta and Donald Barker's typical grant size?
The Coeta and Donald Barker's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,206, across 103 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Coeta and Donald Barker that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Coeta and Donald Barker give grants?
The Coeta and Donald Barker gives mostly in California: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (31 grants), Palm Desert, CA (19 grants), Palm Springs, CA (15 grants) and Eugene, OR (7 grants).
Does The Coeta and Donald Barker give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of The Coeta and Donald Barker's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 103) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Support Youth Activities" (3 grants).
Who are The Coeta and Donald Barker's largest grantees?
The Coeta and Donald Barker's largest 2025 grantees include Peace Health Sacred Heart Medical ($165,000), Eisenhower Medical Center Foundatio ($150,000) and University of Oregon Foundation ($65,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Coeta and Donald Barker?
The Coeta and Donald Barker reported $18.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $915K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Coeta and Donald Barker fund?
The foundation’s website describes its funding areas as education, culture, health care, and social services/civic. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Coeta and Donald Barker?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does The Coeta and Donald Barker accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Coeta and Donald Barker funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-coeta-and-donald-barker-morg_b070780fe93e4a9aba87aae60fba60ee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_930698411_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Coeta and Donald Barker funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-coeta-and-donald-barker-morg_b070780fe93e4a9aba87aae60fba60ee},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Coeta and Donald Barker'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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