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
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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