SOURCE OF WEALTH: Tricadia Holdings, LP
FUNDING AREAS: Environment, Human Services
OVERVIEW: Michael Barnes and his wife Lisa Underwood move their philanthropy through the Barnwood Foundation. According to recent tax filings, the foundation which gave away $540,000 in 2017 and $1.8 million from 2014 to 2017. The family particularly focuses on the environment through their foundation, including farming. They keep a low profile.
BACKGROUND: Michael G. Barnes graduated with an A.B. from Columbia College. Barnes 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.
ISSUES:
ENVIRONMENT: Barnes and Underwood haven’t said much about their philanthropy publicly as far as we can see, but the environment is a clear focus of the Barnwood Foundation’s grantmaking. Farming is one interest: the couple have supported Rodale Institute, a “nonprofit that supports research into organic farming,” with over $100,000 over multiple grants from 2010 to 2017. Additional grantees include Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut; Connecticut Farmland Trust; Farm Forward, which “implements innovative strategies to promote conscientious food choices, reduce farmed animal suffering, and advance sustainable agriculture;” and Growing Power, an urban agriculture organization headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Other grantees have included Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, Environmental Working Group, World Wildlife Fund, Litchfield Hills Conservancy, and Bethlehem Land Trust.
HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included City Harvest and Food Bank for NYC.
OTHER: Bethlehem, Connecticut, is a site of philanthropy, with support to Bethlehem Ambulance and Bethlehem Food Bank. Other grantees have included St. Paul’s School, Global Lyme Alliance, and Choate Parent Fund.
LOOKING FORWARD: Barnes is still very much engaged in business. Perhaps the family will be more public about their philanthropy in the coming years.
CONTACT:
The Barnwood Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address:
Barnwood Foundation
525 W. 22nd Street, Suite 2F
New York, NY 10011
