Barr Foundation

Offshore wind offers an enormous opportunity to build a renewable, reliable, and domestic electricity source. States and developers must also address its effects on local communities, especially those already burdened by climate change and fossil fuel emissions. Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) offers four recommendations for agencies when conducting community outreach: ⭐ Work with trusted partners to provide information on planning and decision-making processes ⭐ Create spaces where community members can share input and influence decisions ⭐ Secure funding for community organizations to meaningfully participate in planning and development ⭐ Ensure that long-term investments benefit the communities hosting major infrastructure Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVDRmzBM

"The arts shape how we see ourselves, how we govern, and how we build equitable futures." Boston Art Review launched Civil Culture, a new editorial vertical focused on arts policy and civic engagement in New England, led by Kim Córdova. Through reported stories, op-eds, and commissioned essays, this initiative will explore how cultural policy and public investment shape the arts, and how the arts strengthen democracy by creating opportunities for participation in civil society. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/em7Y3RFa

Each year, Boston’s waterfront spaces welcome over 12 million visitors. Thanks to work by Boston Harbor Now, there is now a clear picture of who they are, and who is missing. The goal is to use this information to direct investments toward efforts that make the city’s waterfront spaces more accessible to all. Read the full Waterfront Visitation & Equity Study: www.waterfrontboston.org

This year has emphasized the critical role nonprofits play in building thriving communities. We've observed grantees adapt their strategies, maximize shrinking resources, and expand essential services despite unprecedented challenges. This #GivingTuesday, we're thinking about how philanthropy can better support the nonprofit sector in meeting those challenges: unrestricted, multi-year commitments, capacity-building investments, and genuine relationships can make a huge difference. In 2023, grants from private foundations were the most common type of philanthropy to Massachusetts nonprofits, with 75 percent of organizations reporting receiving them according to new Urban Institute research from the Nonprofit Trends and Impacts Study. How has trust-based philanthropy made a difference for your org?

Change brings opportunity. We're looking forward to working with our new president to build on our strengths and address the challenges ahead. Welcome to the Barr community, Ali Noorani!

Today, we're sending gratitude to our grantees and those who support them. Thank you for leading the way and making a difference.

Barr Fellows, partners, and stakeholders told us that social change leaders need new kinds of support to navigate today's challenges. In response, we developed two new initiatives to support them as they build strong, compassionate, and sustainable organizations: Resilient Leaders: Resources for leaders to take time away from their day-to-day roles to reflect on strategy, hone skills, and recharge for the work ahead. These funds are complemented by support for their organizations to integrate policies that promote staff-wide resilience and wellness. Reimagined Barr Fellowship: Small cohorts of leaders coming together to deepen cross-sector relationships, promote well-being, and build capacities. Read more about these efforts: https://lnkd.in/esmxcBHC

How can funding organizations amplify their impact? By supporting communications activities for their grantees, including in media relations. The results we've seen are increased mainstream science communications and action around #extreme_heat resilience in vulnerable communities. Great conversation led by Kalila Barnett and Mary Chalifour from Barr Foundation with members of The Funders Network. Barr funds the C-HEAT study, a project Madeleine Scammell and I co-lead at Boston University School of Public Health, in collaboration with GreenRoots, Inc.

This Friday, we’re sharing three impactful ideas from our program areas. Dive deeper in the comments. 🎭: Many foundations are broadening their horizons when funding the performing arts. In American Theatre Magazine, SueEllen Kroll, Senior Program Officer for Arts + Creativity, talks about the Arts program’s renewed focus on smaller orgs with bold approaches. She describes grantee Double Edge Theatre as moving beyond a typical arts producer to “thinking of themselves as a rural economic developer and a civic agent for the town.” 🌎: This week, Massachusetts released the ResilientCoasts initiative, a 50-year plan to fortify the state's coastal communities against the effects of climate change. The plan prioritizes environmental justice communities like Chelsea and East Boston. “Every community has needs,” says Roseann Bongiovanni of Climate grantee GreenRoots, Inc. “But some areas are more vulnerable than others." 🍎: John Travis, Senior Program Officer for Education acknowledges that school superintendents have inherently complex roles. “They must hold many stakeholder perspectives all while strengthening public trust.” Leading Now is helping superintendents face the mounting challenges of district-wide leadership through a six-month, no-cost development experience. Trainings focus on strategic communications, trust-building, and public engagement skills with access to a national community of peers.

Capacity builders are essential parts of Greater Boston’s social sector. They help nonprofits solidify operations, sharpen strategies, and navigate change. In this time of constant change, the Reimagining Capacity Building Pilot Projects Cohort is an investment in eight organizations testing fresh ideas to provide more responsive and inclusive support to local nonprofits. Read more about six proposed projects from Boston Society for Architecture, EdVestors, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Movement Sustainability Commons, Opportunity Communities, LLC, and a collaboration between SOAR Management Consulting Group, Social Innovation Forum, and YW Boston. https://lnkd.in/eWdBr2vN