Jim Canales to Conclude Tenure as Barr President by End of 2025

The Barr Foundation’s Board of Trustees announced today that Barr President Jim Canales, who has led the organization through a decade of extraordinary growth, will step into a new leadership role as Chair of the Board of Trustees by the end of 2025, upon selection and installation of a new president.

In assuming the volunteer chair of the board role, Canales, 58, will succeed founding board chair and Barr Foundation co-founder, Barbara Hostetter. During 2025, as she continues as board chair, Hostetter will lead the search for a new president. The board search committee will consist of Barr trustees Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, Mark Edwards, Tracy Palandjian, Caroline Walsh, and Jim Canales. The Board has retained the global executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates to guide a national search, which will launch later this month.

“For over a decade, Jim has brought his wisdom, integrity, and passion for effective philanthropy to the work of transforming the Barr Foundation into the organization it is today," said Barr Foundation Board Chair and Co-Founder Barbara W. Hostetter. "His leadership through this crucial phase of Barr’s evolution has significantly deepened our impact, while simultaneously weaving the Barr Foundation into the civic fabric of Boston and communities across the region.

“For over a decade, Jim has brought his wisdom, integrity, and passion for effective philanthropy to the work of transforming the Barr Foundation into the organization it is today.” - Barbara Hostetter, Board Chair and Co-Founder

"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. “As we look ahead to identifying Barr’s next president, with Jim continuing as our chair, the board’s steadfast commitment to building upon Barr’s existing work and upholding its values, in particular our emphasis on centering racial equity, continues with tremendous urgency. We are also resolved that Barr remains adaptive and responsive to new challenges and opportunities, and our new president will inherit a talented staff with deep, trusting relationships in communities where Barr works, and a well-resourced institution ready to meet this moment.”

“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," added Jim Canales, President and Trustee of the Barr Foundation.

“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.” - Jim Canales, President and Trustee

"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. Being entrusted with the leadership of the board at this juncture in Barr’s evolution is an honor. I join the full board in eagerly anticipating the arrival of Barr’s next President, who will no doubt lead an outstanding team of Barr colleagues to the next level of impact and effectiveness.”

Barr’s Continuing Evolution

The appointment of Canales to the role of board chair reflects a significant milestone in Barr’s ongoing evolution from a family to a legacy philanthropy. Since its founding in 1997, the Barr Foundation has been guided by the visionary leadership of Board Chair and Co-Founder Barbara W. Hostetter. As she hands off the chair role (and remains a trustee along with Barr Co-Founder Amos B. Hostetter, Jr.), Canales will become the first non-family member to serve as chair. Beginning in 2026, Canales will devote additional time to his existing responsibilities as a Managing Director of Pilot House Associates, the Hostetter’s family office.

To read the full press release, click here.

Jim has also shared a blog post with his reflections on his tenure at Barr, and we invite you to read that by clicking the button below:

Read Jim's blog post