Lawrence & Isabel Barnett Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is not the route in; any approach should be built around a connection to the foundation rather than a proposal sent in without one.
- Most of its grants to organisations fall between $3,000 and $265,000, and half of its 24 grants were $25,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size, though its largest grant was $680,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- Nearly all its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, so giving is strongly repeat-based and a new organisation should expect a relationship-led process.
- No geographic focus is stated, so location does not on its stated terms bar an organisation from being considered.
- Its organisation grants are described as unrestricted or general support, and recipients have included universities, a school, an ALS-related association and an art museum, so a grant writer should judge fit by mission rather than by a stated set of priorities.
Overview
Lawrence & Isabel Barnett Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings describe the foundation's organisation grants as unrestricted or general support rather than for specified projects. Recipients include universities, a school, an ALS-related association, an art museum and other charitable organisations. The recorded giving therefore spans higher education, disease-related charitable work and arts and culture, alongside support for other nonprofit activity. Most of the reported grant dollars went to California, while other recipients were in several states and the District of Columbia. Its filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations. The materials reviewed give no broader statement of its funding priorities or how organisations are selected.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% 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 24 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 64% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Lawrence & Isabel Barnett Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Stanford University · General support$262,0002024 tax year
- ALS Association · General support$200,0002024 tax year
- Partners Asia · General support$54,0002024 tax year
- Emily Krzyzewski Center · General support$30,0002024 tax year
- Denver Art Museum · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- University of Southern California · General support$20,0002024 tax year
- Rye Country Day School · General support$3,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- James Joseph Barnett — Director And Assistant Secretary
- Laurey J Barnett — Director And Assistant Secretary
- Lawrence R Barnett JR — Director And Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,379,979 | $1,007,500 | $21,386,068 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,161,516 | $897,604 | $23,718,064 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $946,807 | $594,000 | $25,694,234 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Lawrence & Isabel Barnett Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA
Applying to Lawrence & Isabel Barnett Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA