The Barr Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, and one of New England's largest philanthropic institutions. Founded in 1988 and tax-exempt since June 1988, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization committed to enhancing quality of life through strategic grantmaking and partnerships.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9B
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$123.2M
+15.3% YoY
Grant Count
903
+7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$136K
+7.8% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. The foundation supports efforts that "ignite creativity, protect the planet, and equip individuals with knowledge and skills to build a more equitable and sustainable world."
The foundation apportions grant resources across five primary program areas:
- Arts & Creativity — Elevating the arts and enabling creative expression to engage and inspire a dynamic, thriving Massachusetts
- Climate — Advancing solutions for climate change
- Education — Connecting all students to success in high school and beyond
- Sector Effectiveness — Strengthening the effectiveness of the nonprofit sector
- Special Initiatives — Strategic, targeted investments aligned with foundation priorities
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses primarily on Massachusetts and New England, with selective national engagement. Grantmaking emphasizes work in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving:
- Total assets: $1,906,661,280 (2024)
- Total revenues: $191,760,040 (2024)
- Total expenses: $191,602,729 (2024)
- Total grant payments: $123,587,074 (2024)
- Management and general expenses: $14 million (2024)
Historical Context: Since 1999, the foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to charitable causes. The foundation was founded by Amos and Barbara Hostetter.
Financial Transparency: The foundation publishes audited financial statements annually and files Form 990-PF tax returns with the IRS. Recent tax returns (2022-2024) are available on the foundation's website.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,906,661,280 | $1,904,073,923 | $1,929,105,176 |
| Revenue | $191,760,040 | $153,286,565 | $269,268,699 |
| Expenses | $191,602,729 | $178,381,135 | $166,445,939 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $156,675,817 | $136,270,623 | $131,310,006 |
| Net Investment Income | $158,101,925 | $106,851,112 | $211,456,931 |
| Distributable Amount | $131,201,361 | $126,279,129 | $139,897,195 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Barr Foundation
Barr Foundation: Arts & Creativity Program Grant
BARR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Barr Foundation: Climate Grants
BARR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Barr Foundation: Education Program Grant
BARR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include (9) Acadia Center ($405,000), (7) Abundant Housing Massachusetts ($400,000), (26) Alternatives for Community and Environment Inc ($373,680).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| (1) 350VERMONT INC BURLINGTON, VT | TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ENERGY AFFORDABILITY IN VERMONT | $65,000 |
| (2) 50CAN INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT CONNCAN'S WORK WITH THE NEW TEACHER TRACK AND RIGHT TO READ CT COALITIONS | $45,000 |
| (3) 50CAN INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO PROVIDE CORE SUPPORT TO CONNECTICUT COALITION FOR ACHIEVEMENT NOW (CONNCAN) | $150,000 |
| (4) 50CAN INC WASHINGTON, DC | TO PROVIDE CORE SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLFACTS BOSTON | $200,000 |
| (5) A BETTER CITY INITIATIVE INC BOSTON, MA | TO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY AND MOBILITY ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS | $100,000 |
| (6) A BETTER CITY INITIATIVE INC BOSTON, MA | TO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY AND MOBILITY ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS | $80,000 |
| (7) ABUNDANT HOUSING MASSACHUSETTS JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | TO SUPPORT MBTA COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNICATIONS | $400,000 |
| (8) ACADIA CENTER ROCKPORT, ME | TO ADVANCE ENERGY AND BUILDING DECARBONIZATION POLICIES IN NEW ENGLAND, THROUGH RESEARCH AND NON-PARTISAN ANALYSIS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION, AND REGULATORY ACTIVITIES | $215,000 |
| (9) ACADIA CENTER ROCKPORT, ME | TO ADVANCE ENERGY AND BUILDING DECARBONIZATION POLICIES IN NEW ENGLAND, THROUGH RESEARCH AND NON-PARTISAN ANALYSIS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION, AND REGULATORY ACTIVITIES | $405,000 |
| (10) ACCION LATINA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT EL TECOLOTE | $150 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jim Canales — President (2014-2025)
Under his leadership, annual grantmaking has tripled from $55 million to $130 million, and staff has more than doubled from 19 to 71 employees.
Staff:
- Lynn Harwell — Vice President for Administration ($382,062 compensation, 2024)
- Pamela Jensen — Vice President of Human Resources ($340,417 compensation, 2024)
- Total staff: 59-71 employees
Compensation: For 2024, President Jim Canales earned $820,269 in salary, $23,879 in matching contributions to his 401(k) retirement account, and $27,355 in contributions to medical and other benefits.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMOS B HOSTETTER JR | TRUSTEE | 6 | — |
| BARBARA W HOSTETTER | CHAIR AND TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| JAMES CANALES - SEE STATEMENT 16 | PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE | 36 | $820,269 |
| DR M LEE PELTON | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| SUE TIERNEY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CAROLINE H WALSH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| VANESSA CALDERON-ROSADO | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| MARK EDWARDS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TRACY PALANDJIAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced significant grant distributions in recent quarters:
Barr Foundation awards MBTA Advisory Board grant to support ...Fourth quarter 2024: $40.7 million in grants
Barr Awards $12.9 Million in First Quarter of 2025The foundation maintains an active grants database accessible to the public, allowing prospective grantees and researchers to explore current and past funding partnerships.
Grants Database - Barr FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barr Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. The foundation supports efforts that "ignite creativity, protect the planet, and equip individuals with knowledge and skills to build a more equitable and sustainable world." The foundation apportions grant resources across five primary program areas: • **Arts & Creativity** — Elevating the arts and enabling creative expression to engage and inspire a dynamic, thriving …
How do I apply for a grant from Barr Foundation?
**Grant Ranges and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $2,800,000 • Median grant amount: $53,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $123-130 million **Recent Grant Activity:** • In 2024, the foundation made grant payments of $123 million • Fourth quarter 2024: $40.7 million in grants awarded • First quarter 2025: $12.9 million in grants awarded **Application Process:** • Decision timeline: 4-6 months from initial conversation to payout • Program-specific contacts available: • Ar…
Where does Barr Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses primarily on Massachusetts and New England, with selective national engagement. Grantmaking emphasizes work in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders.
What size grants does Barr Foundation award?
In 2024, Barr Foundation awarded 903 grants totaling $123.2M — an average of about $136K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Barr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Barr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $131.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barr Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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