Barker Welfare Foundation Grants

Barker Welfare Foundation Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Barker Welfare Foundation
Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Summary

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. The Foundation aims to reflect the philanthropic legacy of its founder, Catherine B. Hickox.

Overview

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. Barker Welfare Foundation Grants 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

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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.