Barr Awards $43.2 Million in Fourth Quarter of 2021

The Barr Foundation Board of Trustees met virtually this December and approved grants totaling nearly $12 million, in addition to $31.3 million in new grants approved since the September 2021 board meeting totaling $43.2 million this quarter. Learn more about some of our partners and their work below.

In Arts & Creativity, Barr awarded 40 grants totaling $20.4 million. A $2.6 million grant to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment) will support artist-led community-based projects and strengthen infrastructure to grow creative economies in Gateway Cities through its Transformative Development Initiative (TDI). A $460,000 grant to the Cultural Equity Incubator (through fiscal sponsor Arts Connect International), a collective action shared workspace in Boston designed by and for arts leaders to collaborate, build community, and hold space for collective action toward equity and justice.

In Climate, Barr awarded 30 grants totaling over $5 million. A $80,000 grant to Health Resources in Action, Inc. will support an equitable community engagement process in the City of Chelsea for use of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. A $125,000 grant to the University of Massachusetts Foundation will provide funds to the Mass Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network to expand learning networks for climate resilience and community engagement. A $450,000 grant to Racial and Environmental Justice Committee of Providence (fiscal sponsor is One Square World) will build its capacity to become an independent organization and sustainable business model. A $400,000 grant to Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) will support a pilot cohort of six climate fellows in New England as part of ELP’s RAY Diversity Fellowship program. A $280,000 grant to CultureHouse Incorporated will support its work with Massachusetts communities to develop pop-up spaces to foster walkable communities. A $175,000 grant to Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) (fiscal sponsor is Third Sector New England) will provide program support for MFFC’s mission to promote health for Mattapan residents.

In Education, Barr awarded 35 grants totaling $12.3 million. A $350,000 grant to Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (fiscal sponsor is University of Massachusetts) will support its racial equity, diversity, and inclusion project for anti-racist leadership and deepen the capacity of its New Superintendent Induction Program. A $2.8 million grant to Springpoint (fiscal sponsor is National Center for Civic Innovation) will support the implementation of a new two-year teacher to leader fellowship to prepare future school leaders to lead for equity by reimagining high school.

In Sector Effectiveness, Barr awarded eight grants totaling $2.6 million. A $800,000 grant to Project Evident will support its Equitable Recovery Wallet program. This program will provide technical assistance for evidence building to BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations in New England. A $1,000,000 grant to the Institute for Nonprofit Practice will support the design and launch of its Black Leadership Institute. This national leadership development program will seek to address the unique systemic challenges that Black leaders across sectors face, and will provide the necessary space, resources, content, and support that Black social sector leaders need to thrive.