
Build Public Will
Supporting partners who elevate student, parent, and educator voices, experiences, and aspirations for the high schools in their communities.
We believe that the people most impacted by the policies and practices in high schools must have a voice in shaping those policies and practices, and that the results are more equitable and more impactful when they do.
That’s why, under our Build Public Will strategy, we seek to engage and support a range of stakeholders as advocates for transformed high schools. This includes parents, students, educators, business and civic leaders, and other residents dedicated to the belief that all students can achieve at high levels, and all students deserve a high school experience that helps them discover and actualize their unbounded potential.
Our Build Public Will grantmaking focuses on:
- Fostering a diverse, stable, and collaborative advocacy sector
- Shaping narratives through data analysis and storytelling to raise awareness of current inequities in high school experiences and outcomes and show what is possible
- Advance systemic change by investing in research and advocacy
Initiatives
Learn about ongoing work in Build Public Will.
-
The Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership
Fostering excellence and equity in education across the Commonwealth.
Read More Read More
Grantmaking in Build Public Will
MassPotential
To provide core support for MassPotential
- Award Date: 01/07/2025
- Amount: $300,000
- Term: 12 months
- Program:
- Strategy:
- Fiscal Sponsor: The Goodnation Foundation, Inc.
50CAN, Inc.
To support ConnCAN’s work with the New Teacher Track and Right to Read CT coalitions
- Award Date: 12/02/2024
- Amount: $45,000
- Term: 9 months
- Program:
- Strategy:
The Grade
To support The Grade’s continued independent analysis of media coverage of education news in New England
- Award Date: 12/02/2024
- Amount: $140,000
- Term: 24 months
- Program:
- Strategy:
- Fiscal Sponsor: Phi Delta Kappa
Grantmaking Inquiries
Grants awarded by the Barr Foundation originate in different ways.
The majority 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.

Build Public Will Team
Education Insights
View all View all blog posts
Five Questions with Natasha Ushomirsky, Program Officer, Education
Read More Click to Read More about Five Questions with Natasha Ushomirsky, Program Officer, Education
MCAS Question 2 Vote: Where We Go from Here
Read More Click to Read More about MCAS Question 2 Vote: Where We Go from Here