Barney Family Foundation Grant

The Barney Family Foundation Grant focuses on improving early education and advancing medical research, particularly in cancer and Alzheimer’s. It supports organizations that demonstrate a clear plan to enhance children's life experiences and educational opportunities for those in grades K-8. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000, prioritizing established entities while welcoming startups. Eligible applicants must have 501(c)(3) status, and the Foundation does not fund individual requests or political activities.

NOTE: We accept grant applications from January 1 through June 30. Organizations are encouraged to submit applications at their earliest opportunity so that ample time is available for review.
Focus Areas
The Foundation’s focus is mainly on early education and health research. While there are occasional deviations from these areas, they are not common.
What We Look For
The Barney Family Foundation's primary focus is in the educational field, particularly children in grades K-8. The Barney Family Foundation places significant emphasis on giving children the opportunity for a better education. We want to be convinced that a project we fund will lead, over time, to significant improvement in children's life experiences and as such, favor proposals that describe a plausible and practical chain of events leading to tangible results for children. From organizations that work directly with children and families, to teachers and other frontline workers, we look for fairly simple, original ideas embedded with a strong plan for their implementation. We expect strategic impact from organizations engaged in research, policy analysis, advocacy, or other work that does not touch children directly.
As stated, we focus primarily on early education (generally elementary school with the occasional high school) as well as healthcare research (primarily cancer and Alzheimer’s). Established organizations have a better chance, but start-ups are welcome to apply as well.
Funding
Since the Foundation does not have a small grants committee, it has adopted a policy of making and recommending grants in amounts greater than one thousand dollars. The Foundation makes annual grants and grant recommendations only; a grant made in one year does not imply that the recipient will have preferential status for funding in future years.
Our grants and grant recommendations generally range from $5,000 - $50,000 for a one-year period. Occasionally, the Foundation's officers may authorize smaller or (larger) grants.

Eligibility

All applicants must furnish evidence of federal tax exemption issued by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Ineligibility

Please note that the Foundation does not make grants to individuals. Organizations devoting a significant portion of their activities in attempting to influence legislation or participating in political campaigns on behalf of candidates for public office are ineligible. No grants are made to governmental bodies or tax-supported institutions for services that fall within their normal responsibilities.