Barr Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $130 million
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (15-30% of grants go to first-time grantees)
Decision Time: 4-6 months from initial conversation to payout
Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,800,000
Median Grant: $53,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily Massachusetts and New England, selective national engagement
Total Assets: $2.8 billion

Contact Details

Address: Two Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110

Phone: (617) 854-3500

Website: https://www.barrfoundation.org/

Program-Specific Contacts:

Climate: climate@barrfoundation.org
Education: education@barrfoundation.org
Arts & Creativity: Submit inquiry via program page forms

Staff Directory: https://www.barrfoundation.org/about/people/

Overview

Founded by Amos and Barbara Hostetter, the Barr Foundation is one of New England's largest private foundations with assets of nearly $2.8 billion. Since 1997, Barr has contributed more than $1.5 billion to charitable causes. Under the leadership of President Jim Canales (2014-2025), annual grantmaking has tripled from $55 million to $130 million, while staff has more than doubled from 19 to 71 employees. The foundation's mission is to support efforts through grants and partnerships that "ignite creativity, protect the planet, and equip individuals with knowledge and skills to build a more equitable and sustainable world." The foundation now apportions grant resources roughly equally across three core program areas: Arts + Creativity, Climate, and Education, complemented by grantmaking to strengthen New England's social sector through Sector Effectiveness, and targeted Special Initiatives. Barbara Hostetter praised Jim Canales' leadership for bringing "deep humility, authenticity, and care" to the foundation's stewardship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Arts + Creativity

Goal: Elevate the arts and enable creative expression to engage and inspire a dynamic, thriving Massachusetts
Creative Commonwealth Initiative: Multi-year partnerships with community foundations to strengthen local arts ecosystems across Massachusetts
Grant Examples: $1 million to United States Artists fellowship program; $1 million to City of Boston for Cultural Access Program; $2 million to National Arts Strategies for Creative Community Fellows New England
Application: Submit inquiry via program page forms

Climate

Goal: Address climate change by advancing solutions for clean energy, mobility, and resilient communities
Focus Areas:
- Build awareness of climate impacts, risks, and resilience strategies
- Mobilize key constituencies to advance policy and implement resilience plans
- Support demonstration projects that integrate resilience into cities
Geographic Scope: Northeast (New England plus New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania)
Grant Examples: $700,000 to Essex County Community Foundation for regional climate resilience; $675,000 to TransitMatters for MBTA transformation; $420,000 to Springfield No One Leaves for transportation and climate justice
Application: Contact climate@barrfoundation.org or submit inquiry via program page

Education

Goal: Help more young people succeed across New England
Focus Areas:
- Catalyze new models, build public will, and invest in educators
- Provide risk capital and technical support for educational innovators
- Foster expansion or replication of models with demonstrated positive impact
Geographic Scope: New England
Grant Examples: $500,000 to Portland Public Schools for high school excellence and equity; $200,000 to Rhode Island KIDS COUNT for general operating support
Application: Contact education@barrfoundation.org with 300-400 word description of organization, funding opportunity, and strategy alignment

Sector Effectiveness

Grant Examples: $1.5 million to Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center for Delivering on Equity Collective; $300,000 to Institute for Nonprofit Practice for Black Leadership Institute; $125,000 to Executive Service Corps of New England Catalyst initiative

Priority Areas

Geographic: Primarily Massachusetts and New England; selective national engagement
Grant Size: Wide range from a few thousand to over $1 million; most grants remain under $150,000
Partnership Approach: Emphasis on long-term relationships with multi-year commitments without set term limits
Innovation: 15-30% of grants support organizations never funded before
Equity Focus: Strong commitment to racial equity, environmental justice, and equitable policy-making

What They Don't Fund

Grants to individuals
Scholarships
Capital projects (except for longstanding partners)
Event sponsorships (except for longstanding partners)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Barbara Hostetter - Co-founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees (through February 2026)
Amos Hostetter - Co-founder, Trustee, and Chairman/CEO of Pilot House Associates, LLC
Jim Canales - President (May 2014-November 2025); Chair of the Board (effective February 2026)
Vanessa Calderón-Rosado - Trustee
Mark Edwards - Trustee
Tracy Palandjian - Trustee
Caroline Hostetter Walsh - Trustee and Vice President of Solutions at Catalant Technologies
Dr. M. Lee Pelton - Trustee (elected 2017)
Dr. Susan Tierney - Trustee (elected 2017)

The board has evolved to include a majority of non-family members and provides strategic direction for all aspects of the foundation's work.

Leadership Quotes

Jim Canales on his tenure: "It has been an enormous privilege to lead the Barr Foundation during the past decade, working closely with Barbara and Amos Hostetter to ensure that Barr fulfilled the promise of their vision for Barr's impact. I have especially valued the opportunity to learn from Barr's many partners, whose commitment is inspiring and whose work makes a difference in our communities."

Barbara Hostetter on Canales' leadership: "What fellow trustees and I have valued the most about Jim's leadership is the deep humility, authenticity, and care he brings to his stewardship of the Barr Foundation."

Phil Buchanan, Center for Effective Philanthropy: "In the face of backlash and pushback nationally, he's been a really eloquent voice for justice and an advocate for nonprofits."

Staff

Barr's staff consists of approximately 71 employees across ten teams who bring diverse interests, skills, and experiences to the foundation's work. The foundation provides email addresses and LinkedIn profiles for staff members on their People page.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Barr Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, there are four primary pathways to funding:

Building on Existing Partnerships: In most years, the majority of grants support previously funded organizations. Many grants are multi-year commitments without set term limits.
Staff-Initiated Invitations: Foundation staff spend significant time in communities engaging with leaders, residents, and experts. Conversations with Barr staff can lead to invitations to submit grant proposals.
Requests for Proposals (RFPs): On occasion, Barr issues open RFPs "to provide broad access to opportunities, and to help us stay curious and open to new ideas and possibilities." To learn about RFP opportunities, subscribe to their newsletter at barrfoundation.org.
Direct Inquiries: Barr welcomes inquiries from organizations who have reviewed their goals and strategies and want to introduce themselves to relevant team members. Review program pages and submit inquiries via the forms found there, or contact:
- Climate: climate@barrfoundation.org
- Education: education@barrfoundation.org (include 300-400 word description)
- Arts & Creativity: Use inquiry forms on program pages

For current RFPs, applicants are encouraged to sign up for office hours to discuss questions or proposals with a Barr Foundation team member.

Decision Timeline

Typical timeframe: 4 to 6 months from initial conversation to payout

The foundation updates their grants database monthly with all grants from the past five years, providing transparency into recent funding decisions.

Success Rates

While specific application-to-award percentages are not publicly disclosed, the foundation notes that:

In most years, the majority of grants support previously funded organizations
15% to 30% of Barr grants help fund organizations they've never supported before
The foundation awarded 844 grants in 2023

Reapplication Policy

For declined grant proposals, there is no appeal process at the board level. The foundation delegates principal authority to staff for grant review.

However, even when grants are not renewed, the foundation remains in close contact and looks for new opportunities to continue partnerships in the future. Organizations are welcome to submit new inquiries after reviewing updated program strategies and goals.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Partnership Philosophy: Barr considers "deep partnerships essential to making a positive difference," prioritizing long-term relationships with organizations that share their vision and make clear impact year-to-year. As Jim Canales noted, they see themselves as both "stewards" who "bring commitment to stick with complex challenges over the long term" and "catalysts" who "embrace risk and opportunities to invest in breakthrough ideas."

Core Values:

Flexibility and nimbleness in grantmaking approach
Knowledge and learning from grantees and the field
Openness and transparency in processes and decision-making
Active collaboration with nonprofits, foundations, public sector, and civic/business leaders

Program-Specific Success Factors

Education Program:

Demonstrate a student need that warrants substantial investment to transform for equity
Be open to considering new possibilities for fundamental change at both the high school and school system levels
Bring a learner's mindset rather than a predetermined set of solutions
Focus on student-centered school models grounded in youth development theory
Demonstrate understanding of local context and community
Show capacity to do transformational work

Arts & Creativity:

Align with goal to make arts "a living, breathing force, constantly evolving and igniting our collective imagination"
Invest in bold ideas and leaders
Strengthen local arts ecosystems and community connections

Climate:

Advance awareness of climate impacts and resilience strategies
Mobilize constituencies to advance policy and implementation
Demonstrate integration of resilience into community fabric

Strategic Guidance

Review alignment carefully: Before inquiring, thoroughly review the foundation's program pages, goals, and strategies to ensure strong alignment
Be specific about need: Articulate the specific community need and how your approach addresses it
Demonstrate capacity: Show your organization's ability to achieve meaningful impact
Embrace learning: Present your organization as open to new ideas and willing to learn
Think long-term: Position your work within the context of long-term systemic change
Consider regional context: Understand how your work fits within Massachusetts/New England landscape
Engage early: For RFPs, sign up for office hours to discuss your approach before submitting

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No unsolicited proposals: You must either receive a staff invitation, respond to an RFP, or submit a preliminary inquiry through program-specific channels—full proposals are by invitation only
Relationship-focused: The foundation prioritizes long-term partnerships, with most funding going to previous grantees, but 15-30% of grants support first-time grantees each year
Regional focus essential: Must be based in or primarily serve Massachusetts/New England (Northeast for Climate program); selective national engagement only
Multi-year thinking: Position your work for long-term partnership potential; many grants are multi-year commitments without set term limits
Staff engagement is key: Foundation staff spend significant time in communities—connecting with relevant program officers through inquiry forms or at sector events can lead to funding conversations
Learning mindset valued: Demonstrate openness to new approaches and collaboration rather than presenting predetermined solutions
Equity-centered: Strong alignment with racial equity, environmental justice, and equitable policy-making will strengthen your case
Be patient with process: Expect 4-6 months from initial conversation to payout; this is a relationship-building foundation, not a quick-grant funder

References

Barr Foundation. "Homepage." https://www.barrfoundation.org/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Our Process and Approach." https://www.barrfoundation.org/grantmaking/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Grants Database." https://www.barrfoundation.org/grantmaking/grants (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Our Strategies." https://www.barrfoundation.org/grantmaking/our-strategies (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Team Member Archive." https://www.barrfoundation.org/about/people/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Jim Canales to Conclude Tenure as Barr President by End of 2025." https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/jim-canales-to-conclude-tenure-as-barr-president-by-end-of-2025/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Barr Awards $40.7 Million in Fourth Quarter of 2024." https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/barr-awards-40-7-million-fourth-quarter-of-2024/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Barr Awards $34.5 Million in Third Quarter of 2024." https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/barr-awards-34-5-million-in-third-quarter-of-2024/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Barr Awards $34.9 Million in First Quarter of 2024." https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/barr-awards-34-9-million-first-quarter-2024/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Resources for Grant Seekers." https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/resources-for-grant-seekers/ (Accessed December 2024)
Instrumentl. "Barr Foundation | Boston, MA | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/barr-foundation-af2c9287-ae38-4910-b3e0-d8ff9d80fed2 (Accessed December 2024)
Cause IQ. "Barr Foundation | Boston, MA." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/barr-foundation,046579815/ (Accessed December 2024)
Inside Philanthropy. "Barr Foundation." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-b/barr-foundation (Accessed December 2024)
Inside Philanthropy. "The Barr Foundation's growth and evolution." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/barbara-hostetter-on-the-barr-foundations-growth-and-evolution (Accessed December 2024)
Chronicle of Philanthropy. "Jim Canales Made the Barr Foundation an Institutional Powerhouse." https://www.philanthropy.com/news/jim-canales-made-the-barr-foundation-an-institutional-powerhouse/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "What We're Learning from a Regional Approach." https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/learnings-from-a-regional-approach-to-philanthropy/ (Accessed December 2024)
Barr Foundation. "Policies." https://www.barrfoundation.org/how-we-work/policies (Accessed December 2024)