Build Public Will

Community-led policy change for public education.

Students for Education Reform

We support partners who elevate student, parent, and educator voices, experiences, and aspirations for the high schools in their communities.

We believe that the people most impacted by the policies and practices in high schools deserve a voice in shaping those policies and practices, and that the results are more equitable and more impactful when they have that voice. That’s why, under our Build Public Will strategy, we seek to engage and support a range of stakeholders as advocates for transformed high schools.This includes parents, students, educators, business and civic leaders, and other residents dedicated to the belief that all students can achieve at high levels, and all students deserve a high school experience that helps them discover and actualize their unbounded potential.

Grantmaking priorities:

We focus our Build Public Will grantmaking on three approaches to building awareness, demand, and the underlying conditions that schools of excellence require:

Organizations that provide accessible and credible information about the current state of education and what’s possible
Education advocacy organizations that represent a range of stakeholders and communities, and that amplify their voices, concerns, and aspirations
Networks and intermediaries that enable coalition building and collective action

Grants & Grantees

It's not just what you learn, it's where and how you learn. Children's Investment Fund works to create safe physical learning environments for all young students.

Profile Website

Boston, MA

Arts & Creativity
Education
Adapting Boldly
Invest in Educators

Profile Website

Learn more about our Build Public Will grants and grantees.

Visit our grants database

News & Insights

Feb 01, 2024

Roger Nozaki

Barr’s VP of Strategy and Programs on why we seek (and share) grantee feedback on what it’s like to work with us.

Learning & Evaluation

Jan 17, 2024

Lisette Le

Future grantmaking to focus on supporting partners advancing racial wealth equity through transforming systems, policy, and narratives

Special Initiatives
Racial Wealth Equity Initiative

Jan 16, 2024

Roger Nozaki

Barr’s VP for strategy and programs talks about Barr’s approach to shaping and evolving strategy, centered on Barr’s values.

Learning & Evaluation

Jan 03, 2024

Jim Canales

A 2024 New Year’s message from Jim Canales, Barr’s president

From the President

Dec 20, 2023

Pam Jensen shares what led her to Barr, how a commitment to racial equity impacts HR, and advice for job seekers in the social sector.

Teachers work together at a round table.

Dec 20, 2023

New grants will help develop a community gathering space in Dorchester; cultivate youth leadership in the climate movement; and support efforts to expand diversity of Massachusetts’ educator workforce.

Grants Announcements

Dec 19, 2023

A series of listening sessions with leaders committed to building wealth highlight the importance of resilience, opportunity, and systems change.

Racial Wealth Equity Initiative

Four dancers with black pants and yellow turtlenecks, holding a pose - bent forward with arms extended and one foot raised up behind them, in a colorfully painted, bright city alleyway

Nov 15, 2023

Expanded initiative now includes eight community foundations. Next three years to feature new and deepened investments, experiments, and learning to advance more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable arts and creativity in communities across Massachusetts.

Arts & Creativity

A view of Boston's historic Pilot House from the harbor

Oct 25, 2023

Welcoming new additions to the Barr team and acknowledging colleagues assuming new responsibilities.

A blurry scene of performers in a public urban space with colorful confetti.

Oct 16, 2023

Mariella Puerto

Barr’s Climate Director shares the story and learnings behind our ongoing work to advance a more diverse, inclusive, and equity-centered climate movement.

Climate

Woman sitting in a wheelchair in front of a wall of artwork, smiling

Oct 03, 2023

Margaret Keller

How at the height of the pandemic, a Berkshire County arts organization defied the odds, expanding its services for people with disabilities.

Arts & Creativity

A diverse group of approximately 30 people smiling and posing in a conference room, standing in front of two projection screens with several additional people joining virtually.

Sep 27, 2023

New grants will assist superintendents with public engagement; support a transportation coalition pursuing a new vision; and activate community-based arts and economic activity in Massachusetts Gateway Cities.