The Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska, established in 1951 by E. John Brandeis. The foundation makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations across the United States. It is now managed by third and fourth generation family members, including Ted Baer, Kathy Baer, and Zac Baer.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
-16.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$215K
+20.3% YoY
Grant Count
54
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+6.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports charitable organizations in the following areas:
- Academic, Athletic, Recreation and Social Programs
- Medical, Health and Human Services
- Religious Organizations
- Arts and Culture
- Civic Projects
Historical grant distribution shows approximately 35% of giving supports Education, 12% supports Arts & Culture, and 10% supports Social & Human Services.
Grantmaking
The foundation's average gift ranges from $1,000 to $1,500. Recent grants have included awards such as $21,200 to the University of Nebraska Foundation, $10,000 to Valley Hope Association Foundation, $5,500 to Christ the King Church, $5,000 to Elkhorn Public Library Foundation, $5,000 to Durham Museum, $2,500 to Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, $5,000 to Christ Child Society of Omaha Nebraska, and $3,500 to Great Plains Paralyzed Vets.
Grant Range
& Frequency**
Review Cycle
for requests is May 31st. Grants are not made to individuals or international organizations.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 60% of grants remain in Nebraska. Four other states receive a large number of grants: Iowa, California, Illinois, and Missouri. The foundation also provides funding to organizations in Kansas and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $3,292,908 (as of most recent filing)
- Total Annual Giving: $178,950
- Total Expenses: $503,815
- Revenue: $150,924
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,748,334 | $3,292,908 | $3,614,657 |
| Revenue | $41,947 | $150,924 | $1,107,009 |
| Expenses | $530,307 | $503,815 | $525,586 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $421,214 | $385,738 | $434,316 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $55,893 | $1,029,694 |
| Distributable Amount | $221,114 | $206,014 | $185,956 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
232 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Lincoln Bowling Association ($15,000), Christ the King Church ($10,000), Madonna School ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $500 |
| ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| ALLIANCE FRANCAISE D'OMAHA OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| BEMIS CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| BLUE BARN THEATRE OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| CASA DOUGLAS COUNTY OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| CENTER FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION ASSISSTANCE LINCOLN, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY OF OMAHA NEBRASKA OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| CHRIST THE KING CHURCH OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITY ALLIANCE OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Theodore Baer – President (serves without compensation)
- Kathy Baer – Vice President/Secretary (compensation: $81,818)
- Zac Baer – Board Member (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THEODORE BAER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KATHY BAER | VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | 10 | $79,352 |
| ZAC BAER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to support a diverse range of organizations. Recent grants include $46,200 to the University of Nebraska Foundation and $20,000 to Valley Hope Association Foundation. The foundation has also provided support to Madonna School and Community Based Services and numerous other charitable organizations across its focus areas.
Saks Institute Receives $225,000 Grant from Baer Foundation | USC Gould SchoolSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation fund?
The foundation supports charitable organizations in the following areas: • Academic, Athletic, Recreation and Social Programs • Medical, Health and Human Services • Religious Organizations • Arts and Culture • Civic Projects Historical grant distribution shows approximately 35% of giving supports Education, 12% supports Arts & Culture, and 10% supports Social & Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation?
**Grant Size & Frequency** The foundation's average gift ranges from $1,000 to $1,500. Recent grants have included awards such as $21,200 to the University of Nebraska Foundation, $10,000 to Valley Hope Association Foundation, $5,500 to Christ the King Church, $5,000 to Elkhorn Public Library Foundation, $5,000 to Durham Museum, $2,500 to Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, $5,000 to Christ Child Society of Omaha Nebraska, and $3,500 to Great Plains Paralyzed Vets. **Application Process** Reque…
Where does Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation make grants?
Approximately 60% of grants remain in Nebraska. Four other states receive a large number of grants: Iowa, California, Illinois, and Missouri. The foundation also provides funding to organizations in Kansas and Texas.
What size grants does Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation award?
In 2025, Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $215K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation's EIN?
Alan & Marcia Baer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6032560. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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