News & Notes

At our December meeting, the Barra Board of Directors voted to approve two additional Meeting the Moment grants addressing both the immediate and longer term needs of the sector.

The intersection of federal SNAP cuts, the recent government shutdown, and a surge in food insecurity are currently placing unprecedented strain on families and frontline food access organizations. In our commitment to meeting the moment and the impact of these actions, Barra distributed $500,000 across key sector partners to bolster emergency food support efforts and increase access to quality food.

At our September meeting, the Barra Board of Directors voted to approve four new Meeting the Moment grants that contribute to emerging collaborative funding efforts that are strengthening the broader nonprofit ecosystem at this time.

To respond to the current moment, Barra will remain committed to our philanthropic approach and principles, disburse small unrestricted grants to our Catalyst Fund and Mission-Aligned Investing partners, and contribute to emerging collaborative funding efforts to strengthen the broader nonprofit and impact investing ecosystems.

Adriana Abizadeh of KCT, a Barra impact investing and grantee partner, penned an op-ed on the need for community-led development, neighborhood wealth building, and long-term infrastructure that centers residents, entrepreneurs, and organizers who have been there doing the work.

Barra recognizes the uncertainty and fear of this current moment for our grantees, partners, and communities. We are trying to prepare as best we can for what comes next by thinking about actions we can take to support our communities. Read on for some helpful resources.

Since 1963, The Barra Foundation has invested in innovation to inspire change and strengthen communities in the Greater Philadelphia region. But, our strategy has evolved over time. Watch this 3-minute video to learn more about Barra’s particular approach to supporting innovation in the region.

The fellowships recognize and reward the efforts of Philadelphia-based BIPOC artists who make a difference in their communities above and beyond the challenging work of sustaining their own careers.

We love to feature Barra grantees that continue to innovate and transform communities in Greater Philadelphia. Learn what Oscar and his team have been up to lately.

Check out Vision Philadelphia’s latest paper on six collaborative actions for Board and staff to improve nonprofit financial resilience.