The JMR Barker Foundation concentrates substantial gifts to health care and academic institutions—particularly hospitals and university medical programs—while also funding local social services and youth education initiatives. Grants are often large, sometimes repeated, and designated for general support or specific projects and capital needs; recipients include both Boston-area organizations and selective out-of-region beneficiaries. The foundation appears to prioritize mental health and medical research, basic needs (food security), and youth opportunity programs.
Concentrated, high-value grants with several repeat recipients; mix of unrestricted general support and designated special-project or capital grants; geographically centered in the Boston area but willing to fund notable out-of-region institutions.
Jmr Barker Foundation C/o Ballentine Partners LLC makes some of its largest recent grants to hospitals and medical research institutions, with repeated seven-figure support for McLean Hospital, Yale University, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation. That pattern points to a funder that backs both psychiatric and general health care, often through general support paired with special projects. The foundation also gives meaningful sums to food security groups and schools, including Open Door Cape Ann Food Pantry Inc, Summer Search Boston, and Austin Achieve Public Schools. Across the recent grant list, the foundation’s gifts are often substantial and sometimes repeated across multiple years, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. Its portfolio includes university-based medical funding, hospital support, and targeted investments in education and community need. Grants also extend to endowment support, capital campaign work, and strategic planning, which shows a mix of immediate operating help and longer-horizon institutional backing. The recurring presence of Boston-area health and education organizations, alongside selected out-of-region beneficiaries, gives the foundation a regional profile with some national reach.
Health care is a clear priority. The foundation gave $1,040,000 to McLean Hospital for general support and special project work, and $760,000 plus $310,000 to Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation for the same kind of support. Medical research and university-based health programs also appear in the giving record. Jmr Barker Foundation C/o Ballentine Partners LLC awarded $800,000 and $700,000 to Yale University for special projects, and $100,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital for a special project. In food access, the foundation supported Open Door Cape Ann Food Pantry Inc with $530,000 for general support and capital campaign work, plus $380,000 for general support and a special project. It also backed Spoonfuls Inc with $290,000 and Lovin Spoonfuls Inc with $275,000. Education grants include $600,000 to Summer Search Boston and $205,000 to Gloucester Education Foundation, both for special-project-oriented support.
$2.7M
$84.5M
$2.6M
$3.6M
Most grants fall between $25K and $250K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Notable grantees: McLean Hospital, Yale University, Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation, Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry, Summer Search Boston
The typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile, so the foundation’s giving ranges from modest awards to large institutional commitments. Its recent record shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including hospitals, Yale University, Austin Achieve Public Schools, and Vermont Foodbank. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant descriptions frequently combine general support with special project, capital campaign, strategic planning, or endowment support, indicating flexible, institution-focused funding rather than a single grant format.
Grants are concentrated in Massachusetts, which accounts for 46% of recipients and is the top state by grant count. Boston, Newton, Belmont, Gloucester, Jamaica Plain, Concord, and Ashfield all appear in the recent list, showing a strong Massachusetts footprint. Outside the state, the foundation gave to recipients in Connecticut, Texas, Vermont, South Carolina, New York, Washington, DC, and Alaska. All recent grants went to US recipients.
The recent grants show a strong tilt toward health care and education. Hospitals and medical institutions appear repeatedly, including McLean Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation, Yale University, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The foundation also supports food security groups and schools such as Open Door Cape Ann Food Pantry Inc and Summer Search Boston.
The grant-size distribution is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from $70,000 to $1,040,000, so the foundation makes both mid-sized and very large grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including McLean Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation, Yale University, Austin Achieve Public Schools, Vermont Foodbank, Lonestar Circle of Care, and Bridge Fund of New York Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships with some grantees.
Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, and 46% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Massachusetts recipients include Belmont, Newton, Boston, Gloucester, Jamaica Plain, Concord, and Ashfield organizations.
The grant descriptions frequently mention general support together with special projects, and some awards also fund capital campaigns, endowments, or strategic planning. Examples in the record include general support and special project funding, capital campaign support, endowment support, and strategic plan funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $800,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | NEWTON, MA | $310,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| SPOONFULS INC | BOSTON, MA | $290,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| AUSTIN ACHIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | AUSTIN, TX | $270,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| HEAL UKRAINE GROUP CO MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $250,392 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | GLOUCESTER, MA | $205,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| TREMONT SCHOOL | CONCORD, MA | $190,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| TIDELINES INSTITUTE | GUSTAVUS, AK | $70,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| KIMBALL UNION ACADEMY | MERIDEN, NH | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LONE STAR CIRCLE OF CARE | GEORGETOWN, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCKPORT MUSIC INC | ROCKPORT, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOORCAPE ANN FOOD PANTRY INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA | $1,040,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $700,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| AUSTIN ACHIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | AUSTIN, TX | $395,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| OPEN DOORCAPE ANN FOOD PANTRY INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $380,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | NEWTON, MA | $210,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| LONESTAR CIRCLE OF CARE | GEORGETOWN, TX | $165,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| VERMONT FOODBANK | BARRE, VT | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | GLOUCESTER, MA | $65,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| LOVIN SPOONFULS INC | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| TREMONT SCHOOL | CONCORD, MA | $32,150 | 2024 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| CHARLESTON COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | JOHN ISLAND, SC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TIDELINES INSTITUTE | GUSTAVUS, AK | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WINDHAM AND WINDSOR HOUSING TRUST | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCKPORT MUSIC INC | ROCKPORT, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEADWATERS SCHOOL | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | NEWTON, MA | $760,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| SUMMER SEARCH BOSTON | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $600,000 | 2023 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA | $540,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| OPEN DOORCAPE ANN FOOD PANTRY INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $530,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| LOVIN SPOONFULS INC | BOSTON, MA | $275,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND STRATEGIC PLAN FUND |
| BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $250,000 | 2023 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| RED GATE FARM EDUCATION CENTER (KISTNER FOUNDATION INC) | ASHFIELD, MA | $200,000 | 2023 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| AUSTIN ACHIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | AUSTIN, TX | $145,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| VERMONT FOODBANK | BARRE, VT | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LONESTAR CIRCLE OF CARE | GEORGETOWN, TX | $120,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT |
| OSA CONSERVATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| NEXT STAGE ARTS PROJECT INCORPORATED | PUTNEY, VT | $60,000 | 2023 | SPECIAL PROJECT |
| UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SAN ANTONIO | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $40,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHARLESTON COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | JOHN ISLAND, SC | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LOCAL FOOD HUB | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCKPORT MUSIC INC | ROCKPORT, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| E3 ALLIANCE | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
YALE UNIVERSITY
$800,000SPECIAL PROJECT
NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$310,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
SPOONFULS INC
$290,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
HEAL UKRAINE GROUP CO MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
SPECIAL PROJECT
GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$205,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
TREMONT SCHOOL
$190,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
KIMBALL UNION ACADEMY
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCKPORT MUSIC INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
$1,040,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
YALE UNIVERSITY
$700,000SPECIAL PROJECT
GENERAL SUPPORT, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, AND SPECIAL PROJECT
NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$210,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$100,000SPECIAL PROJECT
GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$65,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
TREMONT SCHOOL
$32,150SPECIAL PROJECT
ROCKPORT MUSIC INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HEADWATERS SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$760,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
SUMMER SEARCH BOSTON
$600,000SPECIAL PROJECT
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
$540,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROJECT
YALE UNIVERSITY
$250,000SPECIAL PROJECT
RED GATE FARM EDUCATION CENTER (KISTNER FOUNDATION INC)
$200,000SPECIAL PROJECT
OSA CONSERVATION
$100,000SPECIAL PROJECT
NEXT STAGE ARTS PROJECT INCORPORATED
$60,000SPECIAL PROJECT
UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SAN ANTONIO
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LOCAL FOOD HUB
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCKPORT MUSIC INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT