The Baird Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1947 and based in Buffalo, New York. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been tax-exempt since August 1957. The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the western New York area, with particular emphasis on Buffalo.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.5M
+5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$598K
+8.6% YoY
Grant Count
116
+26.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-13.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Baird Foundation reported a distributable amount of $572K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Baird Foundation gives primarily for:
- Arts and culture
- Children and youth
- Social services
- Health and medical research
- Education
- Civic affairs
- Environmental causes
- Historical preservation
- Museums
- Animal welfare
The foundation provides support for special projects and capital needs of nonprofit organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides unrestricted grants to qualified nonprofit organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the western New York area, with emphasis on Buffalo. Grant activity also extends to Maine and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $12,513,088
- Total revenue: $709,932
- Total expenses: $849,560
- Net income: -$139,628
- Total liabilities: $5,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,513,088 | $11,874,500 | $10,353,322 |
| Revenue | $709,932 | $822,852 | $857,599 |
| Expenses | $849,560 | $819,652 | $750,933 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $736,562 | $704,965 | $636,338 |
| Net Investment Income | $606,755 | $720,298 | $752,512 |
| Distributable Amount | $571,592 | $502,142 | $607,509 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Buffalo ReUse ($25,000), Graycliff Conservancy Inc ($23,250), Burchfield Penney Art Center ($21,840).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 716 Squash Buffalo, NY | Unrestricted | $250 |
| A Musical Feast Buffalo, NY | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Acadia Wildlife Center Bar Harbor, ME | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Alice Ever After Books Buffalo, NY | Unrestricted | $500 |
| American Red Cross Buffalo, NY | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Artpark & Company Lewiston, NY | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Assembly House 150 Buffalo, NY | Unrestricted | $7,500 |
| Bar Room Buzzards Buffalo, NY | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Berkshire School Inc Sheffield, MA | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center Ellsworth, ME | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTHUR W CRYER | Trustee | 2 | — |
| WILLIAM B IRWIN | Trustee | 2 | — |
| CATHERINE F SCHWEITZER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | — |
| Cynthia B Stark | Trustee | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Baird Foundation administers the Paul Purcell "Kids Win!" Annual Education Grant, established in 2020 to benefit qualified nonprofit educational organizations. In 2024, this grant program awarded funds to 18 nonprofits. In 2025, the program expanded to award grants to 32 nonprofits.
Baird FoundationThe foundation also receives support from other funders, including the Rowboat Family Foundation and The Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation.
Baird FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Baird Foundation fund?
The Baird Foundation gives primarily for: • Arts and culture • Children and youth • Social services • Health and medical research • Education • Civic affairs • Environmental causes • Historical preservation • Museums • Animal welfare The foundation provides support for special projects and capital needs of nonprofit organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Baird Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 96 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $597,573 (2024) • Typical award range: $100–$81,000 • Recent grantees include Buffalo Seminary ($27,500), Buffalo ReUse ($25,000), and Graycliff Conservancy ($23,250) **Types of Support:** The foundation provides unrestricted grants to qualified nonprofit organizations.
Where does The Baird Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the western New York area, with emphasis on Buffalo. Grant activity also extends to Maine and Vermont.
What size grants does The Baird Foundation award?
In 2024, The Baird Foundation awarded 116 grants totaling $598K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Baird Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Baird Foundation reported a distributable amount of $572K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Baird Foundation's EIN?
The Baird Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6023080. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Baird 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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