The Barra Awards provide core support that acknowledge and advance organizations that exhibit qualities of leadership, performance and adaptability. These organizations have demonstrated that they are keeping pace with a changing environment and continually looking for ways to be more effective in strengthening the communities they serve.
This year, The Barra Foundation has awarded $2,150,000 to 43 exemplary organizations from across the field of Arts & Culture, Education, Health and Human Services.
In line with its mission to invest in innovation in the social sector, the Barra Awards provide $50,000 in unrestricted funding over a two-year period. Without unrestricted capital, nonprofit organizations have little margin for error or flexibility to innovate. In addition, awardee organizations’ leaders become members of a diverse network of entrepreneurial thinkers—their fellow awardees. This combination of flexible financial support and the opportunity to share ideas with other leaders from different disciplines and networks helps them discover new ideas and better solutions to problems.
To identify Awardees, Barra turns to the community. A new slate of nominators, selected each grant cycle from among previous awardees and other social sector leaders, recommends up to three organizations. Eligible nominated organizations are invited to apply and, ultimately, Awardees are approved by Barra’s Board of Directors.
Christine Simiriglia, Executive Director, Pathways to Housing PA, commented: “Barra’s trust in previous grantees shifts the balance of power to nonprofits, which is rare, but it makes a lot of sense. After all, we know first-hand how an unrestricted, multi-year gift can strengthen programming or enable us to try a new idea."
Visit the Barra Foundation's website to view the list of Awardees.
Related coverage: Barra Awards bring $2 million to arts, education, health and human services by by Peter Dobrin for the Philadelphia Inquirer (12/6/17)