Barton Family Foundation

The Barton Family Foundation is a charitable organization established in 2005 by Joe Barton, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives who represented Texas's 6th congressional district. The foundation was created to support selected charitable organizations in and around the district, rather than to operate as a commercial brand or broad national grant-making institution. Its publicly described activities centered on local causes, including youth services and assistance for older residents. The foundation's structure was closely connected to the Barton family. Amy Barton, Joe Barton's daughter-in-law, served as its executive director. Public reporting described the organization as receiving contributions from major corporations, including energy companies, and then directing or pledging support to local charitable projects. Among the organizations associated with its giving were a local Boys & Girls Club and a Meals on Wheels group. The foundation became the subject of national scrutiny because some corporate donors had interests connected to federal energy policy and because several donors had also contributed to Joe Barton's political campaigns. In June 2008, while Barton had introduced legislation intended to assist corporations with recycling spent nuclear fuel, he solicited a $25,000 contribution to the foundation from Exelon Corporation, a Chicago-based nuclear energy company. Exelon was also reported to have contributed $80,000 to Barton's campaign committees. These overlapping charitable, legislative, and political relationships prompted questions about whether the foundation could create an appearance of influence or access, even though it was legally distinct from Barton's campaign organizations. Reporting also raised questions about the foundation's grant commitments and administrative spending. The organization pledged $400,000 toward a $1.2 million Boys & Girls Club clubhouse, but later reporting stated that only $90,000 had been provided by the foundation for that project. The foundation also pledged $500,000 for a local Meals on Wheels organization; instead of a direct foundation gift, Energy Future Holdings and BNSF Railway were reported to have contributed $35,000 in the foundation's name. From 2005 through 2008, the foundation was reported to have spent $130,000 on overhead and made $90,000 in donations. The corporate-donor relationships led to a 2009 investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics. The investigation examined whether Barton's conduct involving the foundation and its donors violated congressional ethics rules. Barton was cleared of unethical-conduct charges. Available reference material provides limited information about the foundation's later operations, current leadership, assets, grant portfolio, or continued activity, so its present status cannot be confirmed from the supplied sources.

The Barton Family Foundation was established in 2005 by Joe Barton, then a U.S. congressman representing Texas's 6th congressional district. Its stated purpose was to assist selected charitable organizations in the district. The organization was structured as a family-associated philanthropic vehicle, with Barton's daughter-in-law, Amy Barton, serving as executive director. During its early years, the foundation supported or sought to support local community projects. It pledged $400,000 toward construction of a $1.2 million clubhouse for a local Boys & Girls Club. Later reporting stated that the foundation ultimately provided $90,000 for that project. It also pledged $500,000 to a local Meals on Wheels group, although the available account says that no direct gift was made to the charity; instead, Energy Future Holdings and BNSF Railway contributed $35,000 in the foundation's name. The foundation's finances and donor base became controversial because major energy corporations supplied significant gifts. In June 2008, while Barton was sponsoring legislation related to the recycling of spent nuclear fuel, he solicited a $25,000 foundation donation from Exelon Corporation, a Chicago-based nuclear-energy company. Exelon had also donated $80,000 to Barton's campaign funds. The overlap between corporate philanthropy, a sitting legislator's policy activity, and political fundraising led to concerns about the appearance of influence and about whether the foundation was being used as an intermediary for corporate relationships. The New York Times brought national attention to the foundation's activities, while later reporting questioned the relationship between its public pledges and actual disbursements. For the period from 2005 through 2008, the foundation was reported to have incurred $130,000 in overhead and made $90,000 in donations. These figures contributed to scrutiny of its operating efficiency and charitable impact. In 2009, the Office of Congressional Ethics investigated whether Barton's conduct involving the foundation and its corporate donors breached congressional ethics standards. The investigation did not result in a finding of unethical conduct against Barton. The supplied reference material does not establish the foundation's subsequent grantmaking, leadership, website, assets, or current legal status. Accordingly, the organization should be understood primarily through its documented early activities and the controversy surrounding its donor relationships.

• 2009

  Ethics investigation concludes with Barton cleared

  [1]Barton Family Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Office of Congressional Ethics investigated the foundation's corporate-donor relationships and cleared Barton of unethical-conduct charges.

• 2008

  Corporate donations and grant commitments receive scrutiny

  [1]Barton Family Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  National reporting examined corporate gifts to the foundation, its commitments to local community projects, and its spending and donation totals from 2005 through 2008.

• 2005

  Foundation established

  [1]Barton Family Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Joe Barton established the foundation to support selected charitable organizations in Texas's 6th congressional district.

A locally focused family foundation intended to support selected charitable organizations in Texas's 6th congressional district.

• Philanthropic grantmaking · 2005

  Community charitable grants

  The foundation's principal activity was raising and distributing charitable support for selected organizations serving communities in Texas's 6th congressional district. Documented recipients or intended beneficiaries included youth-development services through a local Boys & Girls Club and senior-support services through a Meals on Wheels organization. The available material does not provide a complete grant list or establish the foundation's current program portfolio.

• 2008

  Energy-company donations and congressional policy questions

  The foundation faced scrutiny after reporting connected large gifts from energy corporations with Joe Barton's legislative activities and campaign contributions. In one cited case, Barton solicited a $25,000 donation from Exelon while sponsoring legislation concerning spent-nuclear-fuel recycling; Exelon had also supported his campaign funds.

  Source

• 2008

  Questions about pledges, donations, and overhead

  Reporting questioned the difference between the foundation's announced commitments and documented payments, including support for a Boys & Girls Club clubhouse and a Meals on Wheels organization. The foundation was also reported to have spent $130,000 on overhead and made $90,000 in donations between 2005 and 2008.

  Source

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• 2009

  Response to Office of Congressional Ethics investigationOther

  Background

  Corporate contributions to the foundation raised questions about possible conflicts or the appearance of influence involving Barton’s official and political activities.

  Action taken

  The Office of Congressional Ethics investigated the matter.

  Aftermath

  Barton was cleared of unethical-conduct charges according to the available reference.

  Source

• 2008

  Solicitation of an Exelon foundation donationOther

  Background

  Joe Barton had introduced legislation intended to assist corporations with recycling spent nuclear fuel, while Exelon operated in the nuclear-energy sector and had also contributed to Barton's campaigns.

  Action taken

  Barton solicited a $25,000 contribution to the foundation from Exelon.

  Aftermath

  The solicitation became part of public scrutiny and the subsequent congressional-ethics review.

  Solicited foundation donation. $25,000 (June 2008)

  Source

• 2005

  Focus philanthropy on Barton's congressional districtStrategy

  Background

  The foundation was created to support selected charitable organizations in Texas's 6th congressional district.

  Action taken

  It adopted a locally targeted charitable-support model rather than a broad national grantmaking remit.

  Aftermath

  Its local focus shaped later commitments involving a Boys & Girls Club and a Meals on Wheels organization.

  Source

1. 1Barton Family Foundationen.wikipedia.org