Posts by Jim Canales

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim was named president and a trustee of the Barr Foundation in May 2014. Since his arrival, Barr has experienced significant growth. Annual grantmaking has tripled and the staff has more than doubled in size. Prior to Barr, Jim spent over two decades at The James Irvine Foundation, including service as president and CEO from 2003 through 2014. Before working in philanthropy, Jim was a high school English teacher. Jim currently serves as vice chair of the Kaiser Family Foundation and as a trustee of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston Public Library, and Eastern Bank Foundation. Jim’s prior board service includes a ten-year term as a Stanford University trustee and as chair of the boards of the College Futures Foundation, KQED Public Broadcasting, Stanford Alumni Association, and Larkin Street Youth Services, and as vice chair of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Jim’s writings on a range of topics have appeared in the Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Stanford Social Innovation Review, among other outlets. And he has been a featured speaker, panelist, moderator, or guest at a variety of forums dedicated to a stronger social sector, including the Center for Effective Philanthropy, Communications Network, PEAK Grantmaking, and Inside Philanthropy.

A Time for Aspiration

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Amidst turbulent times and daunting challenges, we all must commit to greater ambition, bolder action, and impatience with the status quo.

January 30, 2019 | Category: From the President

We All Must Stand Up

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Stand up. Stand with. Stand for. Do.

October 30, 2018 | Category: From the President

29 Foundations Pledge Over $4 Billion to Address Climate Change

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Barr commits at least $100 million over the next five years, joining the largest-ever philanthropic investment in climate change mitigation.

September 14, 2018 | Category: Climate

Barr Awards $1.26 Million for New England Civil Rights Fund

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Fourteen organizations supported as part of 2018 Special Initiative.

August 23, 2018 | Category: From the President

Barr Announces $1-Million Response to “Zero-Tolerance” Policies & Family Separations

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Support combines $500,000 in grants from the Foundation with $500,000 in personal gifts from Barr’s founding trustees.

July 09, 2018 | Category: From the President

“Typical” Isn’t Good Enough

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Roger Nozaki

Roger Nozaki

Vice President for Strategy and Programs

We asked our grantees what it’s like to work with Barr. Here’s what we learned and what we’re doing about it.

June 12, 2018 | Category: Learning and Evaluation

Supporting New England Communities Under Threat and Ensuring a Fair and Accurate 2020 Census Count

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Barr announces $3-million expansion of 2017 Special Initiative, including an open request for proposals to fund efforts throughout New England.

May 31, 2018 | Category: From the President

Investing in Arts Organizations as Leaders

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

In partnership with 15 Massachusetts arts organizations, Barr launches a $30 million, six-year effort to amplify their leadership in changing communities.

May 01, 2018 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Board Time: Three Keys to Strategic Engagement

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

Jim Canales contributes to a new blog series on effective foundation governance.

March 14, 2018 | Category: Sector Effectiveness

10 Foundation Presidents Urge Preservation of Vital Federal Investments in Communities

Man smiling and looking at the camera in front of a colorful painting.

Jim Canales

President & Trustee

ArtPlace America and its foundation partners respond to the President’s 2019 Federal Budget Request that proposes cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, among other federal agencies.

February 27, 2018 | Category: Arts & Creativity