Build Public Will

Education | strategy

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

Grantmaking in Build Public Will

Friends of St. Stephens Youth Programs Inc.

To support efforts to improve support for multilingual learners in Boston Public Schools

Award Date: 04/01/2025
Amount: $100,000
Term: 12 months
Program:
Education Click to see more of the Education program
Strategy:
Build Public Will Click to see more of the Build Public Will strategy

Seek Common Ground

To provide support for Seek Common Ground’s Project for Adolescent Literacy

Award Date: 04/01/2025
Amount: $100,000
Term: 12 months
Program:
Education Click to see more of the Education program
Strategy:
Build Public Will Click to see more of the Build Public Will strategy
Fiscal Sponsor: New Venture Fund

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MassPotential

To provide core support for MassPotential

Award Date: 01/07/2025
Amount: $300,000
Term: 12 months
Program:
Education Click to see more of the Education program
Strategy:
Build Public Will Click to see more of the Build Public Will strategy
Fiscal Sponsor: The Goodnation Foundation, Inc.

More Build Public Will Grants

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.

Submit an Inquiry