Barr Foundation
Barr Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It supports efforts to ignite creativity, protect the planet, and equip people with knowledge and skills to build a more equitable and sustainable world, with grantmaking focused on Arts + Creativity, Climate, Education, Sector Effectiveness, and targeted Special Initiatives.
Barr Foundation at a glance
In short: Barr Foundation gave $123.2M across 903 grants in 2024 (avg $136K), mostly in Massachusetts. >99% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $123,235,702
- +15.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 903
- +7.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $136,474
- +7.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $1,906,661,280
- +0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- >99% first-time grantees (897 of 903, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Barr Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website describes inquiries through program pages as another pathway for potential new partners, and says RFP opportunities are announced occasionally through its newsletter.
- Contact
Mailing address: Two Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 854-3500
Website: https://barrfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Barr Foundation
Barr Foundation Grants
Barr Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling
Barr Foundation: Arts & Creativity Program Grant
Barr Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Barr Foundation: Climate Grants
Barr Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Barr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was (855) United States Energy Foundation ($3.3M). Together the top 10 received $15.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
3,948 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,634 grants of 3,948 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its investments as focused on New England. In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 70% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 7%, California at 6%, Washington, DC at 4%, and Rhode Island at 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 903 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Barr Foundation open to new grantees?
>99%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 897 of 903 grantees (>99%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $136K; repeat grants $214K. How we count
Medians: $80K first-time, $175K repeat.
- <1% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $87.7M (2020) to $123.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 903 grants totaling $123.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| (855) United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | To accelerate the transition to clean energy in the northeast | $3,275,000 |
| (219) Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Springfield, MA | To Support the Valley Creates Initiative | $2,900,000 |
| (552) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc New York, NY | To continue to lead the technical assistance for the schools in the beyond ene (engage new england) cohort | $1,550,000 |
| (126) Boston Ujima Project Inc Boston, MA | To Provide Core Support | $1,200,000 |
| (551) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc New York, NY | To build organizational capacity to scale school observation visits and to provide capacity-building support for barr grantee school leaders | $1,180,000 |
| (239) Conservation Law Foundation Inc Boston, MA | To provide core support for the transportation for Massachusetts coalition | $1,100,000 |
| (735) Sri International Menlo Park, CA | To continue the developmental evaluation and conduct an efficacy study of the beyond engage new england initiative | $1,100,000 |
| (238) Conservation Law Foundation Inc Boston, MA | To provide core support for the transportation for Massachusetts coalition | $1,000,000 |
| (263) Double Edge Theatre Productions Inc Ashfield, MA | To Participate in Barr's Cultural Evolution Grants Program | $1,000,000 |
| (490) Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Boston, MA | To support real estate and capital investments in transformative development initiative districts | $1,000,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Barr Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,906,661,280 | $191,760,040 | $191,602,729 | $123,235,702 | 903 | $156,675,817 | $158,101,925 | $131,201,361 |
| 2023 | $1,904,073,923 | $153,286,565 | $178,381,135 | $106,878,904 | 844 | $136,270,623 | $106,851,112 | $126,279,129 |
| 2022 | $1,929,105,176 | $269,268,699 | $166,445,939 | $108,480,933 | 773 | $131,310,006 | $211,456,931 | $139,897,195 |
| 2021 | $1,838,977,066 | $449,148,867 | $157,493,185 | $100,253,934 | 724 | $117,841,462 | $400,659,823 | $153,787,836 |
| 2020 | $1,544,083,441 | $284,380,586 | $266,366,535 | $87,722,987 | 704 | — | $235,138,829 | $107,466,079 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $131.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it invests in human, natural, and creative potential. Its largest areas of grantmaking are Arts + Creativity, Climate, and Education, complemented by support for New England’s social sector and time-limited Special Initiatives.
In Climate, the foundation describes work across clean energy, climate resilience, and mobility, with an emphasis on equitable local solutions and the leadership of communities most affected by climate change. Its Education program focuses on transforming public high schools in New England around excellence and equity, including through new learning models, educator support, and efforts to build public will.
Examples in the 2024 filing include grants for clean-energy transition, arts-based economic development, school-leader support, and core organizational support. The grantees’ stated purposes include supporting the Valley Creates initiative, providing core support to Boston Ujima Project, and participating in Barr’s Cultural Evolution Grants Program.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Barr reported 903 grants totaling $123,235,702. Awards ranged from $100 to $3,275,000, with a median of $80,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $3,275,000 to United States Energy Foundation to accelerate the transition to clean energy in the Northeast; $2,900,000 to Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts to support the Valley Creates initiative; and $1,550,000 to National Center for Civic Innovation to continue technical assistance for schools in the Beyond ENE cohort. Other large awards included $1,200,000 to Boston Ujima Project for core support and $1,100,000 to Conservation Law Foundation for core support for the Transportation for Massachusetts Coalition.
Barr says most grants support organizations it has funded before, while 15% to 30% in a typical year go to organizations it has not previously supported. Grants may build on existing partnerships, follow staff invitations to submit proposals, or result from occasional open requests for proposals. The foundation also says potential new partners may submit inquiries through relevant program pages. It does not fund individuals or scholarships and rarely funds capital projects or event sponsorships, except occasionally for longstanding partners.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara W. Hostetter as chair and trustee, and James Canales as president and trustee. It also lists Amos B. Hostetter Jr., Dr. M. Lee Pelton, Sue Tierney, Caroline H. Walsh, Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, Mark Edwards, and Tracy Palandjian as trustees.
Barr Foundation is led by James Canales - See Statement, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Canales - See Statement
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$653K (2020) → $820K (2024)
Barbara W. Hostetter
Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amos B. Hostetter Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline H. Walsh
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
M. Lee Pelton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Tierney
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Calderon-Rosado
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Edwards
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Palandjian
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $820K, to James Canales - See Statement 16 (President and Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Barr Foundation
How much does Barr Foundation give each year?
Barr Foundation gave $123.2M across 903 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $106.9M across 844 grants.
What is Barr Foundation's typical grant size?
Barr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $80,000, and its average grant was $136,474, across 903 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Barr Foundation that year got $136K on average.
Where does Barr Foundation give grants?
Barr Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (7%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (264 grants), Washington, DC (57 grants), New York, NY (35 grants) and Cambridge, MA (26 grants).
Does Barr Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of Barr Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (267 of 903) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "To Support 2024 Barr Foundation Membership Dues" (16 grants), "To Participate in Barr's Cultural Evolution Grants Program" (8 grants) and "To Support PMC Rider Erica Quirk" (5 grants).
Who are Barr Foundation's largest grantees?
Barr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include (855) United States Energy Foundation ($3,275,000), (219) Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts ($2,900,000) and (552) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc ($1,550,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Barr Foundation?
Barr Foundation reported $1.9B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $156.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $131.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Barr Foundation fund?
The foundation says it invests in human, natural, and creative potential. Its largest areas of grantmaking are Arts + Creativity, Climate, and Education, complemented by support for New England’s social sector and time-limited Special Initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barr Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Barr Foundation's EIN?
Barr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6579815. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Barr Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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