Young Heroes Project
Young Heroes Project is a private foundation based in Boulder, Colorado. It runs the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which recognizes young people in the U.S. and Canada for service work that makes a positive difference to people, communities, or the environment.
Young Heroes Project at a glance
In short: Young Heroes Project gave $150K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $150,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,375
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $24,173
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Young Heroes Project
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing states that applications are accepted online only. Its website describes a two-step process for the 2026 cycle: a pre-application followed by a full application for those invited to proceed. The filing says selection criteria are available on the prize website.
- Review Cycle
- For the 2026 cycle, the pre-application deadline was March 15 and the full-application deadline was April 15, both at 5 p.m. Mountain Time; these dates have passed.
- Deadline
- For the 2026 cycle, the pre-application deadline was March 15 and the full-application deadline was April 15, both at…
- Contact
Application contact: Barbara Ann Richman
Mailing address: P O Box 18750, Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: (303) 440-8075
Email: director@barronprize.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Young Heroes Project
Who Young Heroes Project funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Aadi Kulkarni ($10K). Together the top 10 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 89 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The prize is open to eligible applicants residing in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Canada; residents of U.S. territories are not eligible. In the 2025 filing, reported award dollars went chiefly to recipients in New York (27%), California (20%), Florida (13%), New Hampshire (7%), and Oregon (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Young Heroes Project gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2019) to $175K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $150K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aadi Kulkarni Nashua, NH | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Anisha Dhoot Portland, OR | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| April Surac Cocoa, FL | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Asa Miller Hartsdale, NY | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Carter Joseph Medved Scarsdale, NY | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Cynthia Zhang Great Neck, NY | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Enyu Zhang Stanford, CA | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Ethan HUA San Mateo, CA | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Gia Providente Massapequa, NY | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
| Mathew a Vila Miami, FL | Recognize Achievements | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Young Heroes Project?
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 | $24,173 | $180,003 | $177,867 | $150,000 | 16 | $177,867 | $3 | $1,440 |
| 2024 | $22,037 | $175,003 | $174,807 | $150,000 | 16 | $174,807 | $3 | $1,568 |
| 2023 | $21,841 | $195,025 | $187,385 | $150,000 | 15 | $187,385 | $25 | $1,823 |
| 2022 | $14,201 | $170,003 | $164,700 | $150,000 | 15 | $164,700 | $3 | $451 |
| 2021 | $8,898 | $215,003 | $210,473 | $175,000 | 27 | $210,473 | $3 | $545 |
| 2020 | $4,368 | $165,002 | $165,167 | $150,000 | 15 | — | $2 | $767 |
| 2019 | $4,533 | $184,002 | $183,728 | $150,000 | 19 | — | $2 | $226 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Young Heroes Project reported a distributable amount of $1K 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 Barron Prize celebrates public-spirited young people who have made a significant positive impact. Eligible applicants must lead a service activity that benefits other people or the planet; the activity must have been primarily initiated by the applicant and be current or have taken place within the prior 12 months.
The prize’s awards are for the recipients’ higher education or service projects. The 2025 filing describes its awards as recognition for recipients’ achievements.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 awards totaling $150,000. Individual awards ranged from $5,000 to $10,000, with a median of $10,000. The 2024 filing reported 16 prizes to young recipients selected for extraordinary leadership.
Among the largest reported 2025 awards were $10,000 each to Aadi Kulkarni of Nashua, New Hampshire; Anisha Dhoot of Portland, Oregon; April Surac of Cocoa, Florida; Asa Miller of Hartsdale, New York; Cynthia Zhang of Great Neck, New York; and Ethan Hua of San Mateo, California. The filing lists the purpose of these awards as “recognize achievements.”
The website describes the prize as honoring 25 young leaders annually; its application materials say 15 top winners receive $10,000 each. The 2026 application process required a pre-application followed by a full application for eligible applicants. Eligibility included being 8–18 on April 15, residing in the U.S. or Canada, and leading a qualifying service project. The 2026 cycle is closed, and its deadlines have passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas A. Barron as president and secretary. The prize website identifies T. A. Barron as founder and Barbara Ann Richman as executive director.
Young Heroes Project is led by Thomas A. Barron, President & Secretary on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas A. Barron
President & Secretary
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Young Heroes Project
How much does Young Heroes Project give each year?
Young Heroes Project gave $150K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $150K across 16 grants.
What is Young Heroes Project's typical grant size?
Young Heroes Project's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,375, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Young Heroes Project give grants?
Young Heroes Project's top state is New York, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (20%) and Florida (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Eden Prairie, MN (2 grants).
Does Young Heroes Project give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Young Heroes Project's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Recognize Achievements" (16 grants).
Who are Young Heroes Project's largest grantees?
Young Heroes Project's largest 2025 grantees include Aadi Kulkarni ($10,000), Anisha Dhoot ($10,000) and April Surac ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Young Heroes Project?
Young Heroes Project reported $24K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $178K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Young Heroes Project fund?
The Barron Prize celebrates public-spirited young people who have made a significant positive impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Young Heroes Project?
The foundation’s filing states that applications are accepted online only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Young Heroes Project's EIN?
Young Heroes Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1566409. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Young Heroes Project's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Young Heroes Project'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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