The Grantmaking Process

At Barr, grantmaking begins with strategy development. Typically a year-long process, this starts with work to clarify our goals. It ends with a set of strategies, logic models, and theories of change that we use to guide all of our efforts. For examples, visit our Strategies page. 

The Barr Foundation has a small staff and it reviews funding proposals by invitation only. This gives staff time to focus on understanding systems, identifying key players, and building networks. Drawing on this knowledge and these relationships, program officers invite nonprofits to complete concept papers – which are brief summaries of proposed work and intended outcomes. Staff review concept papers quarterly. They consider how closely the proposed work links to our strategies, and how well it would complement other efforts already underway. Some nonprofits are then invited to submit full proposals. These are considered – also quarterly – by Barr’s trustees, who make final decisions about whether or not to award funding. To peruse a collection of representative grants awarded by the foundation, visit our Typical Grants page.

While Barr does not accept unsolicited grant proposals, we welcome ideas for advancing our goals. If organizations wish to inform us about their work, the best approach is to send a brief e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). This is the most efficient way for us to collect new ideas.