Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Twice a year
Next expected
February 1, 2027
Tracked since
April 2026

Deadlines each year: February 1 · August 1

From the program guidelines: “For our Spring meeting, completed proposals must be received before February 1 and for our Fall meeting, before August 1.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

  • Grants are not made to individuals, to federated campaigns or to work with specific diseases or disabilities.

Geography

  • Operating in the field of health, welfare, education, cultural activities, and civic affairs, primarily serving New York Ci

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

  • The Foundation requires 2 years for audited financial statements (or a Review by an accounting firm) and 2 years of IRS Form 990’s complete with ALL schedules.
  • Site Visits will not be arranged prior to the submission of a proposal.
  • We will make every effort to inform applicants promptly if their proposal will not be successful.
  • An applicant whose proposal has been turned down must wait at least one year before reapplying.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: With the sale of the Haskell-Barker Car Company to the Pullman Company, Catherine Barker established the Barker Annuity Fund in 1924 to provide pensions for former Haskell & Barker employees and their families who were ineligible for benefits under the Pullman Company plan.
  • Not eligible: Proposals from social services and cultural institutions from outside the metropolitan New York (five boroughs of New York City) area will not be considered.
  • Not eligible: Start-ups of new organizations are discouraged from applying.

Overview

The Barker Welfare Foundation offers grants to qualified charitable organizations focused on enhancing the quality of life, particularly for youth and families, in New York City and Michigan City, Indiana. Organizations must be recognized as public charities and meet specific eligibility criteria, including providing audited financial statements. Proposals from start-ups or outside designated areas are discouraged. Hickox.

NOTE:
In advance of submitting a funding inquiry, a telephone call is suggested to determine if the organization seeking to apply for a grant falls within the current General Policy of the Foundation. The Foundation Board meets twice per year. For our Spring meeting, completed proposals must be received before February 1 and for our Fall meeting, before August 1.
The Barker Welfare Foundation provides grants to qualified charitable organizations whose initiatives improve the quality of life, with an emphasis on strengthening youth and families and to reflect the philosophy of Catherine B. Hickox, the Founder.
With the sale of the Haskell-Barker Car Company to the Pullman Company, Catherine Barker established the Barker Annuity Fund in 1924 to provide pensions for former Haskell & Barker employees and their families who were ineligible for benefits under the Pullman Company plan.
In 1934, The Barker Welfare Foundation was founded to support nonprofit organizations. After fulfillment of the Annuity Fund, the remaining balance was transferred to the Foundation, which is operated with the involvement of numerous Barker-Hickox heirs.
Consideration will be given to grant applications from institutions and agencies operating in the field of health, welfare, education, cultural activities, and civic affairs, primarily serving New York City (the five boroughs only) and Michigan City, Indiana.
Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Barker Welfare Foundation is to make grants to qualified charitable organizations whose initiatives improve the quality of life, with an emphasis on strengthening youth and families, which reflects the philanthropy of Catherine Barker Hickox The Founder.

Eligibility

Organizations must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as public charities and tax-exempt under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.The Foundation requires 2 years for audited financial statements (or a Review by an accounting firm) and 2 years of IRS Form 990’s complete with ALL schedules.Site Visits will not be arranged prior to the submission of a proposal.
We will make every effort to inform applicants promptly if their proposal will not be successful. An applicant whose proposal has been turned down must wait at least one year before reapplying.Grants are not made to organizations whose work is conducted outside of the United States. Grants are not made to individuals, to federated campaigns or to work with specific diseases or disabilities. Proposals from educational institutions for scholarships and fellowships are discouraged, as well as requests for endowments and research efforts.Proposals from social services and cultural institutions from outside the metropolitan New York (five boroughs of New York City) area will not be considered. Other funding areas include; Michigan City Indiana, and Chicago, IL (Chicago requests for proposal are initiated by the Foundation only).

Ineligibility

Start-ups of new organizations are discouraged from applying.

What The Barker Welfare Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025

Grants in 2025
124
Total given
$1.51M
Median grant
$10K
Range
$500–$150K
  • By dollars: New York 53%, Indiana 22%, Illinois 11%. Top recipient cities: New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Ridgefield, CT.
  • 63% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 14% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Inc · New Haven, IN

    First payment of $150,000 on a pledge of $450,000 payable over 3 yrs for the capital…

    $150K

  • Metropolitan Opera Association Inc · New York, NY

    For first payment on a pledge of $100,000.00 payable over 3 years for hd live in nyc…

    $50K

  • Citizens Concerned for the Homeless Inc · Michigan City, IN

    For first payment on a pledge of $80,000.00 payable over 2 years for general operating…

    $40K

  • Academy for Urban School Leadership · Chicago, IL

    For first payment on a pledge of $50,000.00 payable over 2 years for general operating…

    $25K

  • Chicago Commons Association · Chicago, IL

    For first payment on a pledge of $50,000.00 payable over 2 years for family hub program

    $25K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Nonprofits
  • Youth programs
  • Family services
  • Education
  • Community services

Categories

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