The Barra Foundation Inc
Historical FunderPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania · EIN 23-6277885 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$4M
Organizations funded85
Typical grant$11,000
Total assets$94.8M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $68,668.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | THE BARRA FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Address | WWWBARRAFOUNDATIONORG, PHILADELPHIA PA 19103 |
| Phone | 6109647601 |
| Form and materials | ALL LETTERS OF INQUIRY (LOI) MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH AN ONLINE SYSTEM AT WWW.BARRAFOUNDATION.ORG. THE LOI MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TYPE OF REQUEST, TIMEFRAME, TARGETED AUDIENCE, ETC. |
| Deadlines | NO FORMAL SUBMISSION DEADLINES. |
| Restrictions | GRANTS ARE RESTRICTED TO THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA REGION. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE FOUNDATION IS ON INNOVATION IN AND ACROSS THE FIELDS OF ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. PLEASE SEE WWW.BARRAFOUNDATION.ORG FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
14% of grants went outside Pennsylvania.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tcg Groceries | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant - $300,000, knowledge and networks grant - $5,000 | $305,000 |
| Philadelphia City Fund | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $300,000 |
| Workshop Learning | Narberth, PA | Entity support - special grant | $263,280 |
| Art-Reach | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $205,000 |
| Philadelphia Accelerator Fund | Philadelphia, PA | Mission aligned investment grant | $200,000 |
| Sustainable Business Networktriple Bottom Brewing | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $182,500 |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $180,000 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $150,000 |
| Famfrequency Productions | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $150,000 |
| National Philanthropic Trust | Jenkintown, PA | Entity support - special grant | $125,000 |
| Research for Action | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $118,000 |
| Greenline Access Capital | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $105,000 |
| We Love Philly | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant - $100,000, knowledge and networks grant - $5,000 | $105,000 |
| Bolt | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $100,000 |
| Democracy at Work Institute | San Francisco, CA | Catalyst fund grant | $100,000 |
| Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Inc | Baltimore, MD | Catalyst fund grant | $100,000 |
| Mann Center for the Performing Arts | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $100,000 |
| United Way | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - special grant - $95,000, entity support - staff grant - $1,000 | $96,000 |
| Pathways to Housing Pa | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $75,000 |
| Pig Iron Theatre Company | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - special grant | $75,000 |
| Deep Space Mindfederation of Neighborhood Centers | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $70,950 |
| Xiente | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant - $66,668, entity support - staff grant - $2,000 | $68,668 |
| The Fountain Fund | Charlottesville, VA | Knowledge and networks grant - $55,000, entity support - staff grant - $1,500 | $56,500 |
| Nowak Metro Finance Lab | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $55,000 |
| Ccate | Blue Bell, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $50,000 |
| Jubilee School | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $50,000 |
| P Michael Boone Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $50,000 |
| The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund | Ft Washington, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $50,000 |
| The Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - special grant | $50,000 |
| Children's Literacy Initiative | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant - $5,000, recovery and response grant - $35,000 | $40,000 |
| College Unbound | Providence, RI | Catalyst fund grant | $25,000 |
| Dayonenotdaytwo | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $25,000 |
| Impactphl | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $25,000 |
| Seachange Capital Partners Inc | New York, NY | Entity support - special grant | $25,000 |
| Project Home | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant - $20,000, entity support - staff grant - $1,000 | $21,000 |
| Anthony Wayne Theater | Wayne, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $20,000 |
| Cobbs Creek Restoration and Community Foundation | Conshohocken, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $20,000 |
| Heights Philadelphia (Formerly Phila Futures) | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $20,000 |
| Zoological Society of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $20,000 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety | New York, NY | Entity support - director's grant | $15,000 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $15,000 |
| Puentes de Salud | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant - $10,000, entity support - staff grant - $1,000 | $11,000 |
| The Welcoming Center | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant - $10,000, entity support - staff grant - $1,000 | $11,000 |
| Ceasefire Pennsylvania Education Fund | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| Fortress Arts Academy | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| Institute for Educational Leadership Inc | Washington, DC | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| Juntos | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| New Sanctuary Movement | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| St Paul's Episcopal Church | Exton, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| Starfinder Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| The Woodlynde School | Strafford, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| Youth Mentoring Partnership | Exton, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $10,000 |
| Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - special grant - $8,250, entity support - staff grant - $1,000 | $9,250 |
| Kensington Corridor Trust | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant - $5,000, entity support - staff grant - $2,500 | $7,500 |
| Boy's Latin of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $5,000 |
| Building 21 | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $5,000 |
| Children's Crisis Treatment Center | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $5,000 |
| City Year Greater Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - director's grant | $5,000 |
| First Up | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $5,000 |
| Food Connect Co | Philadelphia, PA | Knowledge and networks grant | $5,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 85 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift Every Voice | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $480,000 |
| Bolt | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $300,000 |
| The Bridge Way School | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $300,000 |
| Deep Space Mindfederation of Neighborhood Centers | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $201,850 |
| Sentencing Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $200,000 |
| Thread | Baltimore, MD | Catalyst fund grant | $200,000 |
| We Love Philly | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $200,000 |
| Sustainable Business Networktriple Bottom Brewing | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $182,500 |
| Famfrequency Productions | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $150,000 |
| Xiente | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $133,332 |
| Tcg Groceries | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $100,000 |
| United Way | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - special grant | $75,000 |
| Ccate | Blue Bell, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $50,000 |
| P Michael Boone Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $50,000 |
| The Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - special grant | $50,000 |
| Dayonenotdaytwo | Philadelphia, PA | Catalyst fund grant | $25,000 |
| National Philanthropic Trust | Jenkintown, PA | Entity support - special grant | $25,000 |
| Seachange Capital Partners Inc | New York, NY | Entity support - special grant | $25,000 |
| African Family Health | Philadelphia, PA | Entity support - staff grant | $1,000 |
| Cancer Patient Support | Williston, VT | Entity support - special grant | $1,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,018,848 | 105 |
| 2023 | $2,816,700 | 90 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 11, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202533159349102788
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 23-6277885
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.