Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation funds organizations working to improve the quality of direct care for individuals suffering from mental illness and supports efforts to stimulate education and research into various mental health fields, with a primary focus on depression and schizophrenia.
IP TAKE: This funder prioritizes efforts in the New York, Boston and St. Louis areas. While it tends to focus on its established partnerships, projects and organizations with innovative plans for improving the lives of people who suffer with mental illnesses are likely to gain this funder’s attention. Baer accepts letters of intent via an online form from December through May of each year and, if interested, will invite applicants to submit full proposals by the end of May.
PROFILE: The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation was established in 1999 to fund mental health initiatives. Baer was the grandson of Julius Baer, cofounder of the Stix, Baer & Fuller Department Store in St. Louis, later taken over by Dillard’s. Having struggled with mental illness, Sidney Baer “sought to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted with mental illness.” Upon his death in 2002, he left the remainder of his estate to the foundation, which seeks to “award grants to individuals, organizations, and institutions doing work that will have a tangible impact on the field of mental health.” The foundation supports mental health with funding in several focus areas: Education, Criminal Justice, Reintegration, Clinical Research and Social Support.
Grants for Mental Health
All of the Baer Foundation’s focus areas center around mental health. Education grants “afford individuals living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder the same opportunity at an education that Sidney received.” These grants support direct scholarships, as well as academic programs and resources for students who are returning to school after experiencing mental health issues. Criminal Justice grants support “organizations and individuals who are striving to make a difference in this area of the mental health field.” It aims to address issues such as the incarceration rate, recidivism rate, and inhumane treatment of mentally ill individuals in the justice system. Grants for Reintegration support programs that help individuals return to normal life during and after treatment for mental illness. It particularly promotes the “clubhouse model” of reintegration and continues to maintain the Fountain House in New York. Clinical Research grants support research into the “prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of schizophrenia,” especially in the fields of cognitive and behavioral science. Finally, Social Support grants promote efforts to eliminate misconceptions and social stigmas surrounding mental illness in order to “soften the blow of loneliness and shame.”
Grants for Criminal Justice
The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation funds some efforts in the field of criminal justice as part of its overall mental health mission. Criminal Justice grants support “organizations and individuals who are striving to make a difference in this area of the mental health field.” It aims to address issues such as the incarceration rate, recidivism rate, and inhumane treatment of mentally ill individuals in the justice system. Grants for Reintegration support programs that help individuals return to normal life during and after treatment for mental illness. It particularly promotes the “clubhouse model” of reintegration and continues to maintain the Fountain House in New York, as well as other groups such as Genesis Club House, Places for People, Venture House, Magnolia Clubhouse, and Club Nova Community. Other grantees include the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, Cases, and the Center for Reintegration.
Grants for Higher Education
The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation’s Education grants “afford individuals living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder the same opportunity at an education that Sidney received.” These grants support direct scholarships, as well as academic programs and resources for students who are returning to school after experiencing mental health issues. It funds a continuing scholarship program for members of Fountain House to continue their education, and recently helped Club Nova in North Carolina to buy several computers, software and printers, as well as set up a scholarship fund for members.
Important Grant Details:
The Baer Foundation made about $2.6 million in grants in a recent year. Grants generally range from $50,000 to $150,000. Though the foundation does not officially limit its grants to specific geographic locations, its grantmaking tends to center around Boston, New York and St. Louis. Organizations operating on a smaller scale might find their efforts are better spent seeking alternative funding, as a large chunk of new grants are awarded to mental health centers and large hospitals. To learn more about the organizations receiving Baer support, take a look at its impact or grants pages.
The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation accepts letters of intent from December 1 through March 1. Upon review, the foundation’s grants committee will invite select organizations to submit a full application by the end of May.
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