Hear from staff and partners about aspirations, accomplishments, and lessons learned along the way.

Erin Long via Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Communications for Community

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Stefan Lanfer

Director of Communications

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

To meet this moment, how can foundations and nonprofits orient their communications to foster connections and build community?

November 21, 2024 | Category: Sector Effectiveness

Fellowships Address Barriers for People of Color in the Climate Field

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Emily Sidla

Climate Program Manager

[STAFF] Rory Neuner Photo 2022

Rory Neuner

Senior Learning Officer

Examining the early impact of three Barr-funded leadership development programs.

November 01, 2024 | Category: Climate

This Much We Know

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

We are on the cusp of a consequential presidential election. While we can’t predict the outcome, we can predict how the Barr Foundation will meet this moment.

October 21, 2024 | Category: From the President

Barr's Vice President for Strategy and Programs to Step Down in May 2025

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

After nine years of leadership during a transformational period for the foundation, Roger Nozaki will step down from his position in May 2025.

October 16, 2024 | Category: Barr News

Arts Leaders Team Up to Address Shared Challenges

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E. San San Wong

Director of Arts & Creativity

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Jamilah Bradshaw

Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

With new funds for collaboration, four pairs of grantee partners in Barr’s ArtsAmplified initiative pursue solutions to benefit their communities and the broader arts and nonprofit sectors.

October 11, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Announcing the 2024 Transformative Leaders of Massachusetts Fellows

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John Travis

Senior Program Officer, Education

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April McKoy

Guest Author · Senior Director, Springpoint

The call for transformative leadership went out, educators from across the state answered.

September 26, 2024 | Category: Education

Barr Awards $34.5 Million in Third Quarter of 2024

New grants will support community-based organizations advancing transportation and climate justice efforts across Massachusetts, literacy and youth leadership development programming for students, and art and cultural spaces that nurture community and connection.

September 24, 2024 | Category: Barr News

Strong Relationships with Grantees Are Essential to Effective Philanthropy

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Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Roger Nozaki

Roger Nozaki

Vice President for Strategy and Programs

What we learned from candid feedback from Barr’s grantees.

September 18, 2024 | Category: Learning and Evaluation

Our Last Stop on the Boston BRT: The Right Time to Step Away

[STAFF] Lisa Jacobson Brick Photo 2022

Lisa Jacobson

Senior Program Officer, Mobility

How we pivoted when the original vision wasn’t working. We thought we had a perfect plan to modernize Boston’s bus system — until it faced unanticipated roadblocks.

September 16, 2024 | Category: Climate

Exploring Arts Vibrancy in Massachusetts: Strengths and Opportunities

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Jen Benoit-Bryan

Guest Author · Director , SMU DataArts

Katie Ingersoll

Katie Ingersoll

Guest Author · Director of Communications, SMU DataArts

A new report and map produced by SMU DataArts for the Barr Foundation documents high levels of arts vibrancy across the state of Massachusetts and prompts an important conversation about who is included in arts datasets.

September 12, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity