Barr Foundation

Barr's grantmaking focuses on three Program Areas: Arts & Creativity, Climate, and Education, complemented by grantmaking to strengthen New England’s social sector, and targeted, time-limited special initiatives.
Learn about different ways organizations receive funding from Barr, current and recent grants and grantee partners, and completed grantmaking.
The mission and values that guide all we do, how we approach philanthropy, our team, our home on the harbor in Boston's North End, and our financials.
Ideas, updates, lessons learned, stories and resources from Barr staff and partners.

Barr's grantmaking focuses on three Program Areas: Arts & Creativity, Climate, and Education, complemented by grantmaking to strengthen New England’s social sector, and targeted, time-limited special initiatives.
Learn about different ways organizations receive funding from Barr, current and recent grants and grantee partners, and completed grantmaking.
The mission and values that guide all we do, how we approach philanthropy, our team, our home on the harbor in Boston's North End, and our financials.
Ideas, updates, lessons learned, stories and resources from Barr staff and partners.

Mission & Values

Our mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts.

Marilyn Humphries

Our Mission

We aim to serve as both stewards and catalysts of the tremendous potential that is all around us. As stewards, we strive to nurture and enhance vital community assets in our region. As catalysts, we cultivate and advance breakthrough ideas that can shape our collective future.

Listen as Barr Foundation president and trustee, Jim Canales describes Barr's aspiration to serve as both stewards and catalysts of potential.

Our Values

Our founders and trustees defined seven core values that are fundamental to who we are and what we believe about effective philanthropy.

Someone getting on and off a city bus at a bus stop that has a painted elevated platform and bus shelter with colorful flowers

We aspire to advance ambitious solutions to big challenges.

A large group of artists sit together in a room. The space is warm and bright, and seems full of energy. Those seated on the floor, on pillows, and in chairs look excitedly at a central presenter, who faces the group and gestures openly like a conductor..

We support effective, visionary, collaborative leaders as they drive change.

A group of small business owners press into the doorway of the new Amplify Latinx office suite. With broad smiles, they use large scissors to cut a blue ribbon marking the opening of the space. A plaque to the left announces the space, and the right side of the frame is full of colorful celebratory balloons.

We aim to address structural racism, inequality, and power imbalances.

We recognize the privilege inherent to philanthropic work and trust our partners to lead.

During a climate protest in Springfield, MA, two older adults hold a very large red banner with a painted picure of earth that reads "Act Like You Live Here."

We consider how today’s decisions will impact future generations.

Jacob's Pillow

We accept that bold action requires comfort with the risk of failure.

A student and a teacher work in a classroom set up with recording equipment. The teacher wears headphones and types on a laptop connected to a large speaker. A student stands to his right, speaking into a professional microphone from the notebook he is holding.

We invite new perspectives to inform our work and to help us learn.