Barr Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Barr Foundation is a private foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. In tax year 2024 it gave $123 million in 903 grants; the typical grant was $80,000 and the largest $3.3 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$123 million
- Number of grants903
- Typical grant$80,000
- Largest grant$3.3 million
- Assets$2.8 billion
- New grantees100%
Giving in 2024 was up from $107 million the year before.
100% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $107 million | 844 | $2.6 billion |
| 2024 | $123 million | 903 | $2.8 billion |
How to apply
Barr Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Barr Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 31 states, the most to Massachusetts.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 588 | $86.8 million |
| New York | 48 | $8.2 million |
| California | 36 | $7.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 57 | $5.4 million |
| Rhode Island | 29 | $2.6 million |
| New Hampshire | 17 | $2.1 million |
| Maine | 22 | $1.9 million |
| Connecticut | 17 | $1.6 million |
| Illinois | 12 | $1.6 million |
| Virginia | 10 | $1.5 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| (855) United States Energy Foundation | To accelerate the transition to clean energy in the northeast | $3.3 million |
| (219) Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts | To support the valley creates initiative | $2.9 million |
| (552) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc | To continue to lead the technical assistance for the schools in the beyond ene (engage new england) cohort | $1.6 million |
| (126) Boston Ujima Project Inc | To provide core support | $1.2 million |
| (551) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc | To build organizational capacity to scale school observation visits and to provide capacity-building support for barr grantee school leaders | $1.2 million |
| (239) Conservation Law Foundation Inc | To provide core support for the transportation for massachusetts coalition | $1.1 million |
| (735) Sri International | To continue the developmental evaluation and conduct an efficacy study of the beyond engage new england initiative | $1.1 million |
| (238) Conservation Law Foundation Inc | To provide core support for the transportation for massachusetts coalition | $1.0 million |
| (263) Double Edge Theatre Productions Inc | To participate in barr's cultural evolution grants program | $1.0 million |
| (490) Massachusetts Development Finance Agency | To support real estate and capital investments in transformative development initiative districts | $1.0 million |
| (896) World Music Inc | To participate in barr's cultural evolution grants program | $1.0 million |
| (489) Massachusetts Development Finance Agency | To support intensive arts-based economic development programming in transformative development initiative districts | $805,000 |
| (245) Creative Hub Worcester | To support the first phase of construction of the creative hub worcester community arts center | $750,000 |
| (482) Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Inc | To provide continued support for the delivering on equity collective | $750,000 |
| (576) New England Foundation for the Arts Inc | To further instill a spatial justice lens in the public art programs | $750,000 |
| (853) United States Artists Inc | To support the 2025 fellowship program and continue trestle and policy research, discovery, and planning efforts in new england | $750,000 |
| (240) Conservation Law Foundation Inc | To support advocacy and communications efforts to achieve an accessible, equitable, and climate-resilient boston waterfront | $705,000 |
| (415) Institute for Nonprofit Practice Inc | To provide core operating support during multi-year growth | $650,000 |
| (575) New England Foundation for the Arts Inc | To support strategic planning and early implementation | $650,000 |
| (587) New Venture Fund | To provide core support to leading now to provide programming to superintendents in new england | $650,000 |
| (357) Greater Worcester Community Foundation Inc | To support the creative worcester initiative | $600,000 |
| (414) Institute for Nonprofit Practice Inc | To provide core operating support during multi-year growth | $600,000 |
| (763) the Education Trust | To provide core support for the organization's massachusetts work | $600,000 |
| (328) Friends of the Lynn Historical Society Inc | To support the lynnarts infrastructure and renovation project | $580,000 |
| (579) New England Grassroots Environment Fund Inc | To support a regional federal funding resource hub | $565,000 |
| (177) City of Boston | To support the cultural access program ("museum sundays"): 60% to innovation fund and 40% to unrestricted project expenses | $500,000 |
| (410) Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion Inc | To support the campaign and construction of la casa: the center for arts, self-determination, and activism | $500,000 |
| (496) Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc | To support the first phase of long-term planning, community development, and sustainability initiatives | $500,000 |
| (499) Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc | To support the second phase of its community development and sustainability initiatives strategy | $500,000 |
| (522) Metropolitan Area Planning Council | To support mobility, clean energy, and climate resiliency planning | $500,000 |
| (544) National Arts Strategies Inc | To support the implementation phase of the project pilot | $500,000 |
| (567) Nectar Community Investments Inc | To support community and economic development programming | $500,000 |
| (669) PRX Inc | To support strategic planning | $500,000 |
| (721) Smart Growth America | To inform federal transportation policy and educate and engage massachusetts stakeholders | $500,000 |
| (757) the Center for Cultural Innovation | To support ambitious and research 2 impact | $500,000 |
| (854) United States Artists Inc | To support the 2024 fellowship program and trestle research, discovery, and planning efforts in new england | $500,000 |
| (505) Massachusetts School Administrators Association Inc | To continue support for the implementation of m.a.s.s.'s strategy for advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, including the new superintendents' induction program | $475,000 |
| (92) Boston Foundation Inc | To provide core support to the aapi arts & culture collaborative program | $450,000 |
| (208) College Bound Dorchester Inc | For unrestricted core support for new england work and system strengthening | $450,000 |
| (566) Nectar Community Investments Inc | To support community and economic development programming | $450,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Amos B Hostetter Jr
- Barbara W Hostetter
- James Canales - See Statement 16
- Dr M Lee Pelton
- Sue Tierney
- Caroline H Walsh
- Vanessa Calderon-Rosado
- Mark Edwards
- Tracy Palandjian
Questions people ask
Does Barr Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Barr Foundation give?
$123 million in tax year 2024, across 903 grants, with a typical grant of $80,000.
Who runs Barr Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Amos B Hostetter Jr (Trustee), Barbara W Hostetter (Chair and Trustee), James Canales - See Statement 16 (President and Trustee) and Dr M Lee Pelton (Trustee) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does Barr Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, arts and culture and environment and conservation.