It was a year of mass action.
Visitors entering Barr's offices are greeted by an art installation created by Jamaican-born, Harlem-based artist Nari Ward. Over 1,000 shoelaces—of every color and pattern imaginable—form the words, "mass action." Nari’s creation offers us both inspiration and a call for aspiration.
“mass action” serves as a daily reminder that our ability to have impact as a foundation only occurs in partnership with others: those organizations and leaders we are privileged to support, our partners in the public and private sectors, our funder colleagues, and everyday citizens who lend their support to the causes we advance. Nari’s work also reminds us of the power of the arts to give voice and to stimulate action.
2017 has been a busy and active year at the Barr Foundation—one of growth, evolution, and change, as we have sought to balance focus and staying power on a set of critical issues with an ability to adapt and respond to tumult and new challenges in the broader context of our work.
This page is our effort to capture a snapshot of a year of mass action, with a curated selection of writings by Barr staff and guest authors on progress, impacts, and learning on many fronts. We invite you to explore, to comment, and to share.
We remain ever grateful for your interest and partnership and look forward to pushing ahead on our shared goals in 2018 and beyond.
We invite you to explore some of the highlights from this past year. In 2017…
We increased our grantmaking.
Barr's grantmaking budget increased from $55 million in 2015 to over $79 million in 2017. As we we look ahead to 2018, with a budget of $85 million, it's clear there's a lot to be excited about.
Grantmaking in 2017 totaled over $79 million.
Total
$79,263,000This year, Barr awarded over $79 million in grants to advance our priority areas of Arts & Creativity, Climate, and Education.
PRIORITY AREA
Arts & Creativity
$14,044,000In Arts & Creativity, Barr awarded over $14 million.
View all 2017 Arts & Creativity grants PRIORITY AREA
Education
$24,760,000This year, Barr awarded over $24 million in Education grants.
View all 2017 Education grants PRIORITY AREA
Climate
$23,360,000This year, Barr awarded over $23 million in Clean Energy and Mobility grants.
View all 2017 Climate grants PRIORITY AREA
Cross-Programs Initiatives
$6,155,000This year, Barr awarded over $6 million in Cross-Program Initiatives grants.
View all 2017 Cross-Program Initiatives grants PRIORITY AREA
Special Initiatives
$6,835,000This year, Barr awarded over $6.8 million in Special Initiatives grants.
View all 2017 Special Initiatives grants PRIORITY AREA
Other
$4,183,000This category includes direct charitable expenses, organizational development, memberships & sponsorships, and employee gift matching.
We expanded our board of trustees, continuing our evolution from family philanthropy to a legacy foundation.
In an uncertain national context, we joined other philanthropies in standing up for our values.
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Blog Post
In Changing Times, Philanthropy Must Adapt
Amidst rapid change, uncertainty, and urgent calls for action, how should a foundation balance a commitment to strategy with a capacity to adapt?
Read the blog post
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Blog Post
Unwavering Resolve to Advance Solutions for Climate Change
Recent remarks from Barr’s president reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to advance ambitious goals, in partnership with others continuing to lead.
Read the blog post
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Blog Post
We Must All Speak Out
Together, we must ensure that hate does not prevail.
Read the blog post
We launched new efforts, balancing focus and flexibility.
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Blog Post
New Initiative Seeks to Protect Civil Liberties, Informed Democracy
First grants of 2017 Special Initiative aim to bolster organizations’ capacity to respond to growing demand and to extend their reach.
Read the blog post
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Barr Foundation Expands Climate Program
With an initial $5 million commitment for 2018, Barr Foundation adds climate resilience as a third priority of its Climate program.
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Blog Post
The Arts Mean Business
New report shows the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry across the country and in six Massachusetts communities.
Read the blog post
We witnessed the power of unlikely partnerships.
We supported the reimagination of what's possible.
We connected with new partners.
We introduced the newest class of Barr Fellows.
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Beth Anderson Bio of Beth AndersonBeth Anderson Bio of Beth Anderson
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Chaplain Clementina M. Chéry Bio of Chaplain Clementina M. ChéryChaplain Clementina M. Chéry Bio of Chaplain Clementina M. Chéry
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Reverend John Finley Bio of Reverend John FinleyReverend John Finley Bio of Reverend John Finley
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Giles Li Bio of Giles LiGiles Li Bio of Giles Li
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Darlene Lombos Bio of Darlene LombosDarlene Lombos Bio of Darlene Lombos
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Ayele Shakur Bio of Ayele ShakurAyele Shakur Bio of Ayele Shakur
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Colby Swettberg Bio of Colby SwettbergColby Swettberg Bio of Colby Swettberg
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Yusufi Vali Bio of Yusufi ValiYusufi Vali Bio of Yusufi Vali
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Dania Vázquez Bio of Dania VázquezDania Vázquez Bio of Dania Vázquez
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David Waters Bio of David WatersDavid Waters Bio of David Waters
We invested in learning opportunities for our partners.
We celebrated forward progress and positive change.
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Northeast States Extend Leadership on Clean Energy
On August 23, the RGGI states announced the good news that they would extend and strengthen RGGI, reducing power plant emissions by another 30 percent from 2020 to 2030.
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IT’S HAPPENING HERE: Public art lifts the Lynn community
A Barr-supported public art initiative helps to transform downtown Lynn.
Thank you.
We're grateful for our many partners who made this work possible. Building on your achievements in 2017, we look forward to the new year.