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The Invisible Hand Foundation (John and Daria Barry Foundation)

Annual Giving
$25.4M
Grant Range
$25K - $4.0M

The Invisible Hand Foundation (John and Daria Barry Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25,371,366 (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $2,000,000+ (average ~$75,000)
  • Total Assets: $609,939,602 (FY 2024)
  • Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on New York, Florida, South Dakota, Connecticut, and Haiti
  • Application Method: Invitation only/trustee discretion

Contact Details

Website: https://www.barryfamilyfoundation.org/

Location: Miami, FL

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. All grants are made to preselected organizations.

Overview

Originally founded in 2014 as The Invisible Hand Foundation, this private foundation was established by Wall Street couple John Francis Barry III and Daria Becker Barry, owners of Prospect Capital Management, an investment advisory firm overseeing more than $11.8 billion. The foundation reported total assets of approximately $610 million and distributed over $25 million in charitable grants in FY 2024. The foundation's mission is "committed to improving opportunities, with a focus on veterans, education and the environment." In 2023, the foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $23,801,005. The foundation operates on the principle that "charity best flourishes in a philanthropic culture engaged in free market economic activity" and seeks to encourage private, morally responsible philanthropy. In FY 2024, the foundation received $131 million in contributions and $28 million in dividends, demonstrating significant ongoing growth in their philanthropic capacity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses on three primary areas with substantial grants in each:

Veterans Programs: $25,000 - $2,500,000+

  • Health care access for veterans
  • Legal assistance programs for veterans, particularly women veterans
  • Mental health and PTSD support programs
  • Recent grants include $2.5 million to establish the John and Daria Barry Precision Oncology Center of Excellence at the Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System

Education: $25,000 - $4,000,000+

  • Early childhood education initiatives
  • K-12 programs (focus on New York, South Dakota, and Haiti)
  • Higher education programs at elite universities
  • Over $4 million awarded to the Foundation For Excellence In Higher Education in 2023

Environmental Conservation: Variable grant sizes

  • Local water quality improvement projects
  • Land conservation efforts
  • Wildlife protection initiatives

Medical Research: Multi-million dollar commitments

  • Glaucoma research (personal priority due to Daria Barry's diagnosis)
  • $5 million gift to Glaucoma Research Foundation's Treatment Accelerator Initiative announced in 2024

Priority Areas

Veterans Support:

  • Healthcare access and quality improvement
  • Legal services for veterans, especially women
  • Mental health services and PTSD treatment
  • Companion animal programs for emotional support

Education:

  • Quality education throughout all developmental stages
  • Early childhood programs
  • K-12 education improvements
  • Higher education excellence programs

Environment:

  • Water quality improvement in rivers, reservoirs, and bays
  • Land conservation in Northeast and Southeast U.S.
  • Wildlife habitat protection
  • Recent grant recipients include Audubon Society, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Everglades Foundation, and Greenwich Land Trust

Medical Research:

  • Glaucoma research and treatment development
  • Prostate cancer research
  • Healthcare access initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and the language "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations," the foundation does not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant requests from organizations not already known to the trustees
  • Organizations outside their three core priority areas (veterans, education, environment)
  • International programs (except Haiti for education)
  • Individuals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by five family member trustees, all serving without compensation:

  • John Francis Barry III - Co-Founder, Trustee (Owner, Prospect Capital Management)
  • Daria Becker Barry - Co-Founder, Trustee (Owner, Prospect Capital Management)
  • Elizabeth Barry Swanson - Trustee
  • Matthew C. Barry - Trustee
  • James C. Barry - Trustee

All five trustees receive zero compensation for their service, demonstrating that 100% of expenditures go to charitable purposes (98.1% to grants, with minimal administrative costs).

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation articulates a distinctive approach rooted in free-market principles and personal responsibility: "charity best flourishes in a philanthropic culture engaged in free market economic activity." They emphasize private, morally responsible philanthropy from those who benefit from capitalism. The foundation's original mission emphasized helping "the truly poor and disadvantaged," seeking to "feed the starving, protect the defenseless, clothe the destitute, aid the sick and shelter the impoverished."

Personal Motivation

Daria Barry's personal diagnosis with glaucoma in her 50s has driven the foundation's significant commitment to glaucoma research, including the $5 million Treatment Accelerator Initiative with the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

According to their policies and tax filings, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the five family trustees to organizations they have identified through their own research, networks, and priorities. The foundation awarded 30 grants in 2023 and has consistently increased its grantmaking as assets have grown.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made by the board of trustees at their discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with grants made to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. There is no public application process to reapply to.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what attracts the foundation's attention can be valuable:

Alignment with Core Mission Areas: Organizations working in veterans' services, education (early childhood through higher education), and environmental conservation in the Northeast and Southeast U.S. are the foundation's documented priorities.

Evidence-Based Impact: The foundation's major grants (such as the $2.5 million VA prostate cancer center and $5 million glaucoma research initiative) demonstrate a preference for programs with measurable health and quality-of-life outcomes.

Geographic Considerations: While based in Miami, the foundation has supported organizations in:

  • New York (early childhood and K-12 education, veterans healthcare)
  • Connecticut (environmental conservation)
  • Florida (environmental conservation - Everglades Foundation)
  • South Dakota (K-12 education)
  • Haiti (education programs)

Personal Connection to Cause: The foundation's substantial investment in glaucoma research stems directly from Daria Barry's personal diagnosis, suggesting that causes with personal significance to the trustees receive consideration.

Institutional Excellence: The foundation's support of "elite universities" through the Foundation For Excellence In Higher Education ($4+ million in 2023) suggests an appreciation for established, high-quality institutions.

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program - Women Veterans Legal Assistance Program (multi-year grant, 2024)
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation - $2.5 million for John and Daria Barry Precision Oncology Center of Excellence at VA NY Harbor Healthcare System
  • Glaucoma Research Foundation - $5 million for Treatment Accelerator Initiative
  • Foundation For Excellence In Higher Education - over $4 million (2023)
  • Audubon Society - environmental conservation
  • Everglades Foundation - Florida water quality and conservation
  • Connecticut Fund for the Environment - local environmental protection
  • Greenwich Land Trust - land conservation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation only funds preselected organizations identified by trustees
  • Substantial assets and growing grantmaking - With over $600 million in assets and $25+ million in annual giving, this is a major foundation with significant capacity
  • Three clear priority areas - Veterans, education, and environment are explicitly stated focus areas; medical research (particularly glaucoma) is a documented fourth area
  • Family foundation structure - Five family trustees make all decisions without outside influence or staff recommendations
  • Geographic flexibility - While based in Miami, grants reach multiple states and Haiti, suggesting openness to quality programs regardless of location within priority areas
  • Large grant capacity - Grants range from $25,000 to over $4 million, with average around $75,000; the foundation can make transformational gifts to aligned organizations
  • Personal motivation matters - Daria Barry's glaucoma diagnosis led to $5 million in research funding, suggesting trustees' personal experiences influence priorities

References

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