Mariella Puerto Named Barr Foundation Climate Program Director

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mariella Puerto to lead the Barr Foundation’s climate portfolio as Director of Climate, effective Monday, February 1. Building on her long track record of strategic thinking, partnership, and focus on equity, in this role, Mariella will oversee all of Barr’s climate initiatives and a grantmaking budget for 2021 of $34 million.

A member of the Barr Foundation team since 2001, Mariella was instrumental in shaping Barr’s earliest climate strategies – evolving what had been a broad environmental portfolio into one focused on addressing climate change by advancing equitable solutions in three focus areas: clean energy, mobility, and resilient communities.

Until recently, Mariella served, with Mary Skelton Roberts, as Climate Co-Director, focusing on clean energy and (jointly with Mary) resilience. With Mary leaving Barr for the Energy Foundation, we wanted to consider how best to structure our team for the urgency and opportunities ahead in climate. With great confidence in Mariella’s leadership and the prospect of greater integration across our climate focus areas, we decided to bring all aspects of our work under one director.

In addition to her work at Barr, Mariella serves as Chair of the board of the Environmental Grantmakers Association. She is also a former co-chair of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities’ GREEN! Working Group.

Barr remains fully committed to all three of areas of our climate work, with a deepened focus on racial equity across all. Lisa Jacobson, our Senior Program Officer in Climate, will remain the primary contact for our mobility partners.

Please join us in congratulating Mariella. We are so grateful for her willingness to step up to this new opportunity at such a pivotal and hopeful moment for the entire climate movement. We look forward to her leadership and to opportunities for new synergy and impact across Barr’s focus areas.

Published 01.29.2021