OVERVIEW: The Barnwood Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to farming, conservation and animals. Recent giving has also addressed public and reproductive health.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities, and its grantmaking may be geographically limited. This is not an accessible funder as it prefers to seek its own grantees to fund.
PROFILE: The Barnwood Foundation was established in 2007 by financier Michael G. Barnes and his wife, Lisa Underwood. Michael G. Barnes graduated with an A.B. from Columbia College and oversaw various credit trading strategies at UBS, PaineWebber and Bear Stearns. In 2003, he became a founding partner of Tricadia Holdings, LP, a privately held company providing investment management services, where he serves as chairman. The couple keeps a low profile and the foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.
Grants for Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture
According to tax filings, the Barnwood Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to farming and land conservation.
- While the foundation does not name strategies for this giving, it appears to prioritize land conservation, organic farming, urban agriculture and organizations that help farms adapt to climate change.
- Past grantees include Connecticut’s Bethlehem Land Trust, Farm Forward of Oregon, the Council on the Environment and Glen Highland Farms of Morris, New York.
Grants for Animals and Wildlife
Barnwood also makes grants to organizations that promote the humane treatment of animals and those that train and place service animals.
- Recipients include the ASPCA, Freedom Service Dogs, Humane World for Animals and Food Animal Concerns (FACT).
Grants for Food and Nutrition
This funder has awarded grants to organizations that supply food to people in need. Grantees include World Central Kitchen, City Harvest and the Food Bank for New York City.
Grants for Public Health, Reproductive and Maternal Health
Health is a smaller area of giving for this funder, but a few grants each year steadily go out the door each year.
- Grantees include Planned Parenthood of America, the Global Lyme Alliance and the Johns Hopkins University Eye Institute.
Important Grant Details:
This funder made about $650,000 in grants in a recent year. Grants range from $5,000 to $150,000, although grants typically stay at or below $40,000.
- While this funder often gives to large national and international charities, the majority of its grantmaking centers around Connecticut and New York.
- Many of Barwood’s grantees enjoy multi-year support.
- This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.
- The Barnwood Foundation does not provide a way to get in touch, but its phone number is listed as (516) 874-8800. A mailing address is provided below.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Barnwood Foundation
P.O. Box 810
Katonah, NY 10536