Barr Awards $20.9 Million in First Quarter of 2023

The Barr Foundation Board of Trustees met this March and approved grants totaling $5.1 million, in addition to nearly $15.8 million in new grants approved since the December 2022 board meeting, for a total of $20.9 million this quarter. Learn more about some of our partners and their work below.

In Arts & Creativity, Barr awarded eight grants totaling $3.3 million. A $525,000 grant to American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) will support A.R.T.'s Arts and Cultural Organization Management program and the Arts and Cultural Organization Management Alumni Network. These programs provide leadership development, connection, and community for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color-identifying arts leaders. A $1 million grant to Boston Cultural Leaders Coalition (fiscal sponsor is Third Sector New England, Inc.) will support local leaders of arts and cultural organizations to foster collaboration and promote equity across the sector. A $1 million grant to New Bedford Economic Development Council, Inc. will provide core support to New Bedford Creative to strengthen organizational capacity, sharpen a communications strategy, and foster greater cross-sector connectivity for creative enterprises and artists.

In Climate, Barr awarded 17 grants totaling almost $9 million. A $825,000 grant to Climate Justice Alliance will provide general operating support for its work serving frontline environmental justice communities. A $925,000 grant to the Chisholm Legacy Project (fiscal sponsor is Community Initiatives) will support community-based leaders in New England to advance equity-centered climate solutions. The Chisholm Project launched in 2021 and is inspired by the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to U.S. Congress. A $250,000 grant to the Institute for Sustainable Communities will create a Partnership for Resilience Communities (PRC) in Massachusetts. The Institute first launched PRC in 2016 to ensure that leaders of color and community-based organizations are full participants in climate resilience planning and decision-making.

In Education, Barr awarded 10 grants totaling $4.6 million. A $1.7 million grant to TNTP will support the implementation plan for the local education agencies engaged in the Driving Toward Diversity Cohort. A $450,000 grant to Central Falls School District (CFHS) will develop an instructional coaching model and teacher capacity building efforts. A $330,000 grant to Digital Ready will scale pilot programming and sustainability planning for the organization and its Boston-area school partners. CFHS and Digital Ready are part of the Education Program's Catalyze New Models strategy to transform school experiences for their students.

In Sector Effectiveness, Barr awarded seven grants totaling $2.2 million. A $150,000 grant to Borealis Philanthropy will support a fifth round of the REACH fund, a funder collaborative aimed at advancing racial and intersectional equity and inclusion in the nonprofit sector. A $1 million grant to Third Sector New England, Inc. will support the organization’s efforts to strengthen its cohort-based programming and create an alumni network for nonprofit leaders and consultants.