Barr Foundation
Boston, Massachusetts · EIN 046579815 · Private foundation
Barr Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $87.7M in grants paid and $1.54B in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 3,224 individual grants from this funder — $426.3M awarded across 2020–2024 — including its support for adult education. Below is its full funding profile.
What Barr Foundation funds
Barr Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, criminal justice, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, children, families, foster youth, hispanic communities, homeless population.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Barr Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| (298) United States Energy Foundation CLIMATE: TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY IN THE NORTHEAST | San Francisco, CA | $3.4M | 2023 |
| (855) United States Energy Foundation TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY IN THE NORTHEAST | San Francisco, CA | $3.3M | 2024 |
| (220) United States Energy Foundation CLIMATE: TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY IN THE NORTHEAST | San Francisco, CA | $3.3M | 2020 |
| (245) United States Energy Foundation CLIMATE: TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY IN THE NORTHEAST | San Francisco, CA | $3.3M | 2022 |
| (219) Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts TO SUPPORT THE VALLEY CREATES INITIATIVE | Springfield, MA | $2.9M | 2024 |
| (42) Massachusetts Development Finance Agency ARTS & CREATIVITY: TO SUPPORT ART-BASED STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS IN TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (TDI) DISTRICTS | Boston, MA | $1.8M | 2022 |
| (430) Tntp Inc EDUCATION: TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES ENGAGED IN THE DRIVING TOWARDS DIVERSITY COHORT | New York, NY | $1.6M | 2023 |
| (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 | New York, NY | $1.6M | 2024 |
| (87) New Venture Fund ARTS & CREATIVITY: TO SUPPORT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY POWERING COMMUNITY CHANGE, AN INITIATIVE OF A FUNDER COLLABORATIVE OF BARR, KRESGE, AND | Washington, DC | $1.5M | 2023 |
| (58) New Venture Fund ARTS & CREATIVITY: TO SUPPORT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY POWERING COMMUNITY CHANGE, AN INITIATIVE OF A FUNDER COLLABORATIVE OF BARR, KRESGE, AND | Washington, DC | $1.5M | 2022 |
| (373) Tntp Inc EDUCATION: TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING PHASE FOR GRANTEES IN THE DRIVING TOWARDS DIVERSITY COHORT | New York, NY | $1.5M | 2022 |
| (328) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc EDUCATION: TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THE ENGAGE NEW ENGLAND COHORT | New York, NY | $1.5M | 2022 |
| (298) National Center for Civic Innovation Inc EDUCATION: TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THE ENGAGE NEW ENGLAND COHORT | New York, NY | $1.5M | 2020 |
| (339) Tides Center EDUCATION: TO SUPPORT NEW ENGLAND LEARNING EXCURSIONS TO EXEMPLARY SCHOOL MODELS | San Francisco, CA | $1.3M | 2020 |
| (179) Institute for Transportation and Development Policy CLIMATE: TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT IN GREATER BOSTON | New York, NY | $1.2M | 2022 |
Barr Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Barr Foundation
Barr Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at barrfoundation.org.
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Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Barr Foundation
- Does Barr Foundation accept grant applications?
- Barr Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Barr Foundation fund?
- Barr Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include (298) United States Energy Foundation, (855) United States Energy Foundation, (220) United States Energy Foundation. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Barr Foundation give in grants?
- Barr Foundation reported $87.7M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $426.3M over 3,224 grants.
- Where is Barr Foundation located?
- Barr Foundation is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 046579815.
- How can I find foundations similar to Barr Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Barr Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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