James and Dorothy Baer Foundation
The James and Dorothy Baer Foundation is a private foundation based in Fernandina Beach, Florida. It reported $515,000 in grants to 15 organizations in 2025, with listed recipients including Florida-based community organizations and organizations in other states.
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation at a glance
In short: James and Dorothy Baer Foundation gave $515K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Florida. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $515,000
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,333
- -10.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $9,796,725
- +4.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James and Dorothy Baer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2 Juniper Drive, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Phone: (813) 361-6034
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James and Dorothy Baer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Barnabas Center ($50K). Together the top 10 received $430K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 59 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Florida recipients received 55% of the foundation’s grant dollars. Recipients in California received 14%, Iowa 10%, and Washington, D.C., and Virginia 8% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is James and Dorothy Baer Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $39K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 190% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2020) to $515K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $515K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Barnabas Center Fernandina Beach, FL | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Hirshberg Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Junior Achievement of North Florida Clearwater, FL | General Purpose Grant | $50,000 |
| Young Life Harlan, IA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Micah's Place Fernandina Beach, FL | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Dress for Success Miami, FL | General Purpose Grant | $40,000 |
| The Fund for American Studies Washington, DC | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Wheels of Success Tampa, FL | General Purpose Grant | $40,000 |
| American Center for Law and Justice Virginia Beach, VA | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Thistle Farms Nashville, TN | General Purpose Grant | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,796,725 | $966,406 | $535,737 | $515,000 | 15 | $518,400 | $949,069 | $548,355 |
| 2024 | $9,367,794 | $698,899 | $483,209 | $460,000 | 12 | $463,400 | $681,089 | $515,437 |
| 2023 | $9,158,035 | $176,883 | $198,004 | $177,500 | 11 | $181,900 | $126,262 | $452,770 |
| 2022 | $9,179,156 | $5,734,061 | $184,024 | $177,500 | 11 | $178,804 | $41,977 | $173,016 |
| 2021 | $2,768,240 | $273,835 | $160,158 | $154,000 | 10 | $156,500 | $223,025 | $179,753 |
| 2020 | $2,654,563 | $116,704 | $160,801 | $150,000 | 10 | — | $67,007 | $157,877 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Dorothy Baer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $548K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose stated missions address youth education, crisis assistance, domestic-violence services, support for older adults, survivor recovery, music and history programming, and legal and human-rights issues. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
For example, Barnabas Center says it provides temporary aid to Nassau County residents during crises caused by unforeseen circumstances. Micah’s Place says it provides prevention and intervention services for victims of domestic violence and community education. Nassau County Council on Aging says its programs help older adults live independently and provide social activities. Amelia Island Chamber Music says it presents chamber music concerts and offers music education; Amelia Island Museum of History says it shares northeast Florida history through exhibits, oral histories, classes, and seminars. Thistle Farms says it supports women recovering from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. Junior Achievement of North Florida says its mission is to inspire young people to succeed in a global economy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $515,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $40,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $50,000 each to Barnabas Center, Hirshberg Foundation, Junior Achievement of North Florida, and Young Life. The foundation also reported grants of $40,000 each to Micah’s Place, Dress for Success, The Fund for American Studies, Wheels of Success, and the American Center for Law and Justice. Other listed grants included $30,000 to Thistle Farms and $25,000 each to Nassau County Council on Aging and Amelia Island Chamber Music.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susan L. Burns as trustee.
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation is led by Susan L. Burns, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan L. Burns
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James F. Baer (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about James and Dorothy Baer Foundation
How much does James and Dorothy Baer Foundation give each year?
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation gave $515K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $460K across 12 grants.
What is James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's typical grant size?
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $34,333, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James and Dorothy Baer Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does James and Dorothy Baer Foundation give grants?
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (14%) and Iowa (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fernandina Beach, FL (5 grants).
Does James and Dorothy Baer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's largest grantees?
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Barnabas Center ($50,000), Hirshberg Foundation ($50,000) and Junior Achievement of North Florida ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James and Dorothy Baer Foundation?
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $518K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $548K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does James and Dorothy Baer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose stated missions address youth education, crisis assistance, domestic-violence services, support for older adults, survivor recovery, music and history programming, and legal and human-rights issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James and Dorothy Baer Foundation?
The foundation 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 James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's EIN?
James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6419397. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does James and Dorothy Baer Foundation 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.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work James and Dorothy Baer Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James and Dorothy Baer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-dorothy-baer-foundation-morg_ca4f532d9c61461e82a3f60c4c9c8392
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_656419397_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James and Dorothy Baer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-dorothy-baer-foundation-morg_ca4f532d9c61461e82a3f60c4c9c8392},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from James and Dorothy Baer Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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