Baird Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Baird Foundation mainly supports organizations with which its employees are involved. Its giving areas include education, arts and culture, human services and health.
IP TAKE: This is a low-profile corporate funder that mainly gives to organizations supported by its employees. Giving clusters around the foundation’s hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but the foundation does not name geographic restrictions to its giving and has supported nonprofits and schools in many other areas of the U.S. Without an employee to speak on your behalf, it will be difficult to gain this foundation’s attention. The Baird Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding at this time.
PROFILE: Established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1967, the Baird Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the financial services firm Robert W. Baird and Company. The foundation has is committed to “equality and opportunity for all and supports nonprofit organizations focusing on health, human services, the arts, education and diversity.” Giving consists mainly of matching gifts and donations to “organizations where our associates are actively involved.” A significant portion of this funder’s grantmaking serves the Milwaukee area in Wisconsin.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
The Baird Foundation does not name specific goals for its education grants, but it mainly support private and charter schools at the K-12 level, as well as some large organizations aimed at improving educational outcomes and teacher performance.
Recent grants have gone to Christo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School, Chicago’s Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy in Milwaukee and the Nativity Academy at Boniface in Louisville, Kentucky.
Grants for Arts and Culture
Baird’s arts and culture grantmaking mainly stays in the Milwaukee area. Recent grants have supported Milwaukee’s United Performing Arts Fund, the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Grants for Economic Development
This funder has demonstrated commitment to work and economic opportunity, especially in the Milwaukee area. Its largest recipient in recent years has been the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. It has also supported the United Way of Greater Chicago and the Metro United Way of Louisville Kentucky.
Grants for Public Health
Public health appears to be a priority of the Baird Foundation, although only a few grants each year support health organizations and initiatives. Recently, Baird has given to the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital Foundation, the OSF Healthcare Foundation in Illinois and the Intermountain Healthcare System of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Important Grant Details:
Baird’s grants mainly from $500 to about $450,000.
Grantmaking prioritizes organizations with which its parent company’s employees maintain involvement and interest.
A significant portion of its giving stays in the Milwaukee area.
This funder does not run an open application program. Connection to a Baird Employee is necessary here. The names of the company’s leadership team are provided on the website, and the foundation may be contacted via Baird’s contact page.
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