Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation
The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation is a private independent 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1999 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The foundation was created by Sidney R. Baer, Jr., a member of the family that co-founded the Stix, Baer & Fuller department store chain. Sidney R. Baer, Jr. lived with schizophrenia throughout his life and established the foundation to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted with serious mental illness. Upon his death in 2002, he bequeathed an estate of approximately $50 million to the foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.5M
Grant Count
35
Avg Grant Size
$70K
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of those living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The foundation awards grants to organizations and institutions doing work that will have a tangible impact on the field of mental health.
The foundation organizes its grantmaking around five primary segments:
- Education — formal education for victims of mental illness, their families, and the public
- Criminal Justice — addressing mental health within the criminal justice system
- Reintegration — supporting reintegration of individuals with mental illness into community life
- Clinical Research — research related to the cause, alleviation, and prevention of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- Social Support — community and social support services for those living with mental illness
The foundation pioneered the first U.S. Integrated Home Health Model for people living with mental illness, resulting from a 2011 grant to Fountain House in New York.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $5,000 to $600,000
How to Apply
** Online portal via Foundant/Grant Interface (accessed through the foundation's Apply page)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations nationally throughout the continental United States, with particular activity in Missouri, Massachusetts, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $30.7 million (as of 2024)
Total Revenues: $7.22 million (2024)
Total Expenses: $3.03 million (2024)
Annual Grants Distributed: $2.3 million (average)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2024)
Employees: 1
| Metric | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation
Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation: Clinical Research Grants
SIDNEY R BAER JR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation: Criminal Justice Grants
SIDNEY R BAER JR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation: Education Grants
SIDNEY R BAER JR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Places for People Incorporated ($600,000), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ($440,590), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PENOBSCOT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER BANGOR, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $20,000 |
| CHILD CENTER MARYGROVE SAINT LOUIS, MO | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $104,801 |
| BAY COVE HUMAN SERVICES INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $75,000 |
| THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $55,000 |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CORPORATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $75,000 |
| GENESIS CLUB HOUSE INC WORCESTER, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $66,667 |
| NORTHWELL HEALTH INC WESTBURY, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $60,000 |
| INTRNTNL SOC FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lee Bearman — Executive Director
- George B. Handran — Trustee (founder's lawyer and co-founder of the foundation)
- U.S. Bank N.A. — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE B HANDRAN | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| US BANK N A | TRUSTEE | 1 | $414,434 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: C/O U.S. Bank, Private Wealth Management, 1 North Brentwood Blvd, Suite 1400, St. Louis, MO 63105
Phone: (314) 418-2643 or (314) 418-2682
Website: www.baerfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of those living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The foundation awards grants to organizations and institutions doing work that will have a tangible impact on the field of mental health. The foundation organizes its grantmaking around five primary segments: • **Education** — formal education for victims of mental illness, their families, and the public • **Criminal Justice** — addressing mental health within t…
How do I apply for a grant from Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $5,000 to $600,000 **Annual Distribution:** Approximately $2.3 million distributed annually through 22-50 grants **Decision Timeline:** 4-5 months **Application Process:** Online portal via Foundant/Grant Interface (accessed through the foundation's Apply page) **Historical Impact:** Over more than 23 years of operation, the foundation has awarded more than $50 million in grants. **Recent Grant Examples:** • Places for People Incorporated: $600,000 (General Operating, 2024) • B…
Where does Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations nationally throughout the continental United States, with particular activity in Missouri, Massachusetts, and New York.
What size grants does Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation award?
In 2024, Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $70K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation's EIN?
Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6829338. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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