Explore impacts and learnings from Barr's completed grantmaking initiatives.
Barr Fellowship
Beginning in 2005, Barr invited diverse classes of civic leaders to become Barr Fellows based on their leadership and contributions at their organizations and across our community.
A 10 year, $11 million initiative to accelerate progress in creating a fast and reliable bus system for Greater Boston – drawing inspiration from the best bus rapid transit systems in the world.
This Special Initiative built on a 2017 effort to be responsive to dramatic shifts in federal policymaking, increased polarization, and explicit discrimination and marginalization.
It focused specifically on supporting civil rights protections and a fair andaccurate 2020 Census count in New England.
Our grantmaking in response to COVID-19 focused on urgent needs in communities in Massachusetts – especially immigrant and Black communities that were disproportionately impacted. In deciding where to grant funds, we invested in organizations closest to those communities and most in touch with their needs.
Over a 20 year period, Barr invested over $47 million through its Early Education Program. Principally focused on Boston, with targeted statewide investments, the Foundation supported a set of partners advancing developmentally appropriate early learning and school readiness through practice and policy.
During this five-year initiative, our partners supported smallholder farmers to improve their crop yields and manage their natural resources; trained community health workers to improve the health of mothers and young children; and introduced business models that created sustainable markets for important household goods, such as solar lights and irrigation pumps.
