Social Change Leaders

Capacity Building Table

Sector Effectiveness | Strategy

Investing in civic leaders who inspire, center equity, and advance positive change

To “invest in leaders” is a core value at Barr across all of our focus areas. Within our Social Change Leaders strategy, we strive to complement and reinforce those investments.

We invest in highly capable leaders who think strategically, develop new approaches, and collaborate to drive change. We envision a flourishing ecosystem for leadership throughout Massachusetts, where diverse networks of boundary-crossing, intergenerational changemakers are working together to create a more equitable, vibrant, and thriving Commonwealth.

Barr’s grantmaking in leadership centers on:

The development of leadership cohorts to pilot new ways of working and leading that incorporate rest and renewal as foundational tools for effective leadership.

Other networks of diverse cross-sector leaders in the region who reflect a shared interest to work together to create a more equitable, vibrant, and thriving Commonwealth.

Field research and targeted national efforts that advance these priorities and benefit our region.

“Effective leadership requires rest and reflection. Our communities need the expertise of our nonprofit leaders now more than ever, and we’re committed to supporting them.”

Kimberly Haskins, Senior Program Officer, Sector Effectiveness

Our Approach

We recognize that leaders must lead within the context of ‘now’. The unprecedented convergence of a global pandemic, national racial reckoning, a more visible climate emergency, and federal turbulence has resulted in profound changes to the contexts organizations are operating in. There is no going back. Programming to support the sector must be easily adaptable to suit evolving needs.

Our approach takes into account today’s context, our findings, and reflections from 20 years of investing in leaders through the Barr Fellowship and other programs.

We learned that leaders come from everywhere, hold many different titles, and need a wide range of resources and supports to grow and thrive. Solutions work best when they are closely aligned with a leader’s present needs and aspirations, not one-size-fits-all. For these solutions to truly take root, organizations need to incorporate policies and ways of working that integrate resilience and wellness in support of all staff members. Resilience requires access to resources, a clear sense of purpose, the ability to meaningfully contribute to an organization’s mission, and supportive practices and policies.

This strategy aims to provide support for the sector to help advance healthier operating conditions and resilient leadership.

Grants awarded by the Barr Foundation originate in different ways. The majority of our grants are initiated by our staff based on their ongoing engagement with grantee partners and the broader field. Additionally, given the value we place on long-term partnerships, many grants are renewed for current grantees. 

However, we welcome inquiries from those who feel their work may align with Barr’s priorities and who wish to introduce themselves to us. The best approach is to email SectorEffectiveness@barrfoundation.org with a brief description (we suggest 300–400 words) of your organization and the funding opportunity you would like us to consider.