Bob Barker Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-1276455 · since 2004bobbarkerfoundation.org·North Carolina, United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Up to $25,000

Grant range

From the funder's website

$13,500

Typical grant (median)

82 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Bob Barker Foundation funds programmes that reduce recidivism and help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people re-enter society, so approach it only if your work fits that focus.
Applicants must work with at least 100 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people each year, hold charitable tax-exempt status, and use evidence-based methods or best practices, and the foundation does not fund individuals, scholarships, endowments or non-U.S. organisations.
Half of its grants to organisations were $15,000 or less and its grants go up to $25,000, so a modest request in that range fits its usual pattern; its focus is nationwide, but the filing says it gives preference to organisations working in North Carolina.
Begin with an online Letter of Inquiry, which the foundation reviews before requesting a full online application, and note that applications are accepted on a rolling basis and that previously funded organisations can skip the inquiry, though a site visit may be required.
Repeat support is a real pattern, with 35% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded earlier, so building a relationship over time may help.

Overview

Bob Barker Foundation is a US private foundation based in FuquayVarina, NC.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports programmes to reduce recidivism and help incarcerated people re-enter society successfully and stay out for life. It works directly with nonprofit and governmental organisations, through programmes serving incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people and their families. Applicants must work with at least 100 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people each year, and the foundation looks for sound management, financial and fundraising plans, strategic planning, strong leadership and engaged governance. It encourages best practices in proven, cost-effective approaches. Its executive director helps organisations reduce recidivism nationwide; the filing says preference is given to organisations working in North Carolina.

Themes

Recidivism reduction
Reentry support

Geographic Focus

Nationwide. Priority: North Carolina.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals, scholarships, or endowments
Political causes, candidates, or campaigns
Sporting or fundraising events, auctions, or other events
Litigation or debt reduction
Institutions that discriminate, in policy or in practice, based on age, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, race, religion, marital status, disability, veteran or any other legally protected status
Non-U.S. organizations, programs, or entities
Work that does not fit the Bob Barker Foundation Vision and Mission

How to apply

Organisations submit an online Letter of Inquiry, which the Foundation reviews before requesting a full online Grant Application. Previously funded organisations can bypass the Letter of Inquiry; a site visit may be required.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 35% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 244 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It seeks well-managed organisations with financial and fundraising plans, strategic planning, strong leadership and engaged governance.
Applicants’ work must result in reducing recidivism.
Applicants must work with at least 100 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people annually.
Applicants must have charitable tax-exempt status or be an eligible governmental, educational or research institution with tax-exempt status.
Applicants must use evidence-based methods or best practices.
It encourages best practices in proven, cost-effective approaches to reduce recidivism.
It gives preference to organisations working in North Carolina.
A site visit may be required where necessary.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

North Carolina22%

California9%

Texas6%

New York6%

Florida5%

Tennessee5%

6 other states: 20%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 27%

The largest single recipient received 2% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 35% of grant dollars went to organisations Bob Barker Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

82 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $13,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 82 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$5k–$10k21%

$10k–$25k65%

$25k–$50k15%

Median $13,500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Clean State Utah · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Mount Tamalpais College · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Triangle Family Services · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Hudson Link for Higher Education · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Campbell University · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Pardoned by Christ · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Bridges to Life · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year
Second Street Second Chances · General Operation
$25,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Nancy B Johns — Director
Patricia M Barker — Director
Robert J Barker — Director
Robert J Barker Jr — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$1,700,750	$1,641,549	$8,815,475	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$978,489	$957,918	$12,905,748	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,219,362	$1,186,121	$20,831,881	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.