The Barney Family Foundation concentrates nearly all giving in two directions: large, repeated gifts to Donors Trust (a donor-advised vehicle) and significant support for Hillsdale College. The pattern and recipients indicate a preference for conservative, free‑market and classical liberal arts causes, with funding often routed through intermediary donor-advised/trust structures rather than a broad base of local nonprofits.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants split across repeated payments to the same two recipients (Donors Trust and Hillsdale College), with funding often channeled through intermediary donor‑advised trusts rather than many small or geographically diverse grants.
Donors Trust, Hillsdale College, Conservative/free‑market initiatives funded via donor‑advised vehicles
A recurring feature of Barney Family Foundation C/o Robert T Napier Harrison LLP’s grantmaking is its large, repeated support for Donors Trust and Hillsdale College, both funded at high levels across multiple years. That pattern points to a foundation that favors general-purpose support for a small set of aligned recipients rather than a wide spread of one-off awards. In the recent grant record, Donors Trust received $595,000 in 2024, $585,000 in 2023, and $500,000 in 2025, while Hillsdale College received $400,000 in each of those same three years. Beyond those core grants, the foundation also appears in a mix of education, health, and human-services giving, with grants such as Treasure Coast Classical Academy and Special Olympics showing a broader but still selective portfolio. The overall picture is of a funder with a clear preference for unrestricted or general-purpose support, often directed to institutions and intermediary vehicles rather than project-specific campaigns. Its annual grantmaking is substantial, at more than $5 million, with giving concentrated in nationally oriented recipients and repeated relationships that extend across years.
A central theme is support for philanthropic infrastructure and donor-advised vehicles. Donors Trust received $500,000 in 2025 for general purposes, after similarly large awards in 2024 and 2023. Another major theme is classical higher education: Hillsdale College received $400,000 in 2025 for general purposes, matching the same amount in the prior two years. The foundation also funded K-12 classical education, giving Treasure Coast Classical Academy $100,000 in 2023 for general purposes. In health and human services, its grants include $50,000 to Misericordia - Heart of Mercy in 2025 for general purposes and $50,000 to Special Olympics in 2025 for general purposes, showing that the portfolio is not limited to ideological institutions.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes much larger recurring awards in the hundreds of thousands. The foundation gives repeatedly to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Donors Trust and Hillsdale College. Grants are made as general-purpose support, and the foundation does not make program-related investments. It also does not fund individuals. The structure in the record suggests a private family foundation using broad-purpose grants rather than project-restricted awards.
$2M
$28.9M
$3.4M
$3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 18% of grants go to recipients in FL.
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Grant recipients are national, with all recorded recipient-country activity in the United States. Ohio is the top state by grant count, and 19% of grants go to recipients in Illinois, the headquarters state. Recent recipients include Alexandria, VA; Hillsdale, MI; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Memphis, TN; Houston, TX; and Baltimore, MD. The pattern shows a mix of local Illinois recipients and institutions in other major U.S. cities, with no non-U.S. grant countries in the recent record.
The record shows recurring support for donor-advised or donor-trust vehicles and classical liberal arts education, especially Donors Trust and Hillsdale College. It also gives general-purpose support to organizations in health, disability services, and education, including Special Olympics, Misericordia - Heart of Mercy, and Treasure Coast Classical Academy.
Yes. Donors Trust received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Hillsdale College also received grants in each of those three years. Several other recipients recur as well, including Special Olympics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Alzheimer’s Association, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, and Nu Feinberg School of Medicine.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger awards such as $500,000 to Donors Trust and $400,000 to Hillsdale College.
Ohio is the top state by grant count. Illinois accounts for 19% of grants, even though it is also the headquarters state. Recent recipient cities include Alexandria, Hillsdale, Chicago, Cleveland, Memphis, Houston, Baltimore, Stuart, and Tampa.
The foundation does not fund individuals. Its recent record shows grants to organizations only, with awards made for general purposes rather than to persons.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DONORS TRUST | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $612,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NU FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | TAMPA, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | JUPITER, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GARY SINISE FOUNDATION | MERRIFIELD, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MISERICORDIA - HEART OF MERCY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CULVER EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | CULVER, IN | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| LOST TREE VILLAGE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | NORTH PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WARRIORS RENEWAL COALITION INC | TEQUESTA, FL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SCOREBOARD CHARITIES | CLARENDON HILLS, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION | DOYLESTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| OPERATION 300 INC | PORT SALERNO, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| HOPE RURAL SCHOOL | INDIANTOWN, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| AUTISM RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| REAL LIFE CHILDREN'S RANCH | OKEECHOBEE, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION | USAF ACADEMY, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PROJECT K-9 HERO | WHITWELL, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE | LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TREASURE COAST WILDLIFE CENTER | PALM CITY, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BUSCH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY | JUPITER, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NEADS WORLD CLASS SERVICE DOGS | PRINCETON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| K9S FOR WARRIORS | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MISSION K9 RESCUE | NEEDVILLE, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MARK GARWOOD SHARE FOUNDATION | STUART, FL | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FORSYTH HUMANE SOCIETY | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ST JOSEPH'S INDIAN SCHOOL | CHAMBERLAIN, SD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MUSIC CITY MARAUDERS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DONORS TRUST | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | TAMPA, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MISERICORDIA - HEART OF MERCY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
MAYO CLINIC
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
NU FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GENERAL PURPOSES
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
WARRIORS RENEWAL COALITION INC
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSES
SCOREBOARD CHARITIES
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSES
OPERATION 300 INC
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSES
TREASURE COAST WILDLIFE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MISSION K9 RESCUE
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MARK GARWOOD SHARE FOUNDATION
$7,500GENERAL PURPOSES
ST JOSEPH'S INDIAN SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MUSIC CITY MARAUDERS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
THE JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MISERICORDIA - HEART OF MERCY
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MAYO CLINIC
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES