Baker Charitable Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Columbia, SC EIN: 23-7248956

Baker Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Columbia, South Carolina. Its 2021 IRS filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.

Key facts about Baker Charitable Trust

In short: Baker Charitable Trust gave $114K across 14 grants in 2021 (avg $8K), top state South Carolina. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
23-7248956
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2021
Annual giving (2021)
$113,943
Grants made (2021)
14
Average grant
$8,139
Median grant
$4,984
Primary geography
South Carolina (40% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2021 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$114K

+3078.3% YoY

Grant Count

14

+600.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

+354.0% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The available grant records show support for religious institutions, civil liberties and legal research, education, environmental research and education, and charitable services. The ACLU describes its mission as advancing civil liberties and rights; the Sierra Club Foundation says it works to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the trust.

Grantmaking

In 2021, the trust reported 14 grants totaling $113,943. Grant amounts ranged from $340 to $19,526, with a median of $4,984. Notable grants included $19,526 to Beth Shalom Synagogue, $19,467 to the American Civil Liberties Union, $13,103 to Temple of Israel, $12,931 to Southern Poverty Law, and $12,773 to the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation.

How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2021, recipients in South Carolina received 40% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 20%, North Carolina and Alabama at 11% each, and Maryland at 6%. Grants also went to organizations in California, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

ColumbiaNew YorkCharlottesvilleMontgomeryOaklandSilver SpringWahingtonWashingtonWilmington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K2 grants2020 14 grants2021

From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2020) to $114K (2021). In 2021 it made 14 grants totaling $114K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2021

Beth Shalom Synagouge: $20KBeth Shalom Synagouge$20KAmerican Civil Liberties Union: $19KAmerican Civil Liberties Union$19KTemple of Israel: $13KTemple of Israel$13KSouthern Poverty Law: $13KSouthern Poverty Law$13KUniversity of SC Educational Foun: $13KUniversity of SC EducationalFoun$13KColumbia Jewish Federation: $10KColumbia Jewish Federation$10KHebrew Immigrant Aid Society: $7KHebrew Immigrant Aid Society$7KSierra Club Foundation: $3KSierra Club Foundation$3KOceana Inc 501(C)(3): $3KOceana Inc 501(C)(3)$3KNatural Resources Defense Council: $3KNatural Resources DefenseCouncil$3K

The largest 2021 recipient was Beth Shalom Synagouge ($20K). Together the top 10 received $104K.

Grant Size Distribution

16 grants across all recorded years

16<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 16 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Beth Shalom Synagouge Columbia, SCJewish House of Worship$19,526
American Civil Liberties Union New York, NYLegal Research and Education$19,467
Temple of Israel Wilmington, NCReligous Institution$13,103
Southern Poverty Law Montgomery, ALEducation, Research$12,931
University of SC Educational Foun Columbia, SCEducation$12,773
Columbia Jewish Federation Columbia, SCEleemosynary$9,816
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Silver Spring, MDEleemosynary$6,523
Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CAResearch, Education$3,445
Oceana Inc 501(C)(3) Washington, DCResearch, Education$3,218
Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NYResearch, Education$3,218

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count Assets
2021 $2,972 $117,039 $113,943 14 —
2020 $5,345 $5,206 $3,585 2 $114,067
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K2020 2021
Metric20212020
Total Assets—$114,067
Revenue$2,972$5,345
Expenses$117,039$5,206
Qualifying Distributions$113,943—
Net Investment Income—$4,297
Distributable Amount—$7,766

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Sam Baker was listed as trustee on the 2021 filing.

Baker Charitable Trust is led by Sam Baker, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2021 filing

  • Sam Baker

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 25710, Columbia, SC 29224-7510
Phone: (803) 787-4332

Frequently asked questions about Baker Charitable Trust

How much does Baker Charitable Trust give each year?

Baker Charitable Trust gave $114K across 14 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $4K across 2 grants.

What is Baker Charitable Trust's typical grant size?

Baker Charitable Trust's median grant in 2021 was $4,984, and its average grant was $8,139, across 14 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Baker Charitable Trust give grants?

Baker Charitable Trust's top state is South Carolina, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (20%) and North Carolina (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia, SC (5 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Baker Charitable Trust give general operating support?

Not in 2021: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Baker Charitable Trust's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research, Education" (4 grants).

Who are Baker Charitable Trust's largest grantees?

Baker Charitable Trust's largest 2021 grantees include Beth Shalom Synagouge ($19,526), American Civil Liberties Union ($19,467) and Temple of Israel ($13,103), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.

What does Baker Charitable Trust fund?

The available grant records show support for religious institutions, civil liberties and legal research, education, environmental research and education, and charitable services. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Baker Charitable Trust?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Baker Charitable Trust's EIN?

Baker Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7248956. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.

Does Baker Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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