The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Its 2024 filing reports three grants totaling $648,541, all to Kentucky recipients.
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc gave $649K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $216K), mostly in Kentucky. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $648,541
- +12.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $216,180
- +50.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $28,083,136
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc
- 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. Its filing says to contact J Robert Hilliard with a written request stating how any contribution would be used.
- Contact
Application contact: J Robert Hilliard
Mailing address: 449 Village Way, Bowling Green, KY 42103
Phone: (270) 842-2828
Website: https://jerryebakerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was WKU Foundation ($643K). Together the top 3 received $649K.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 39 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Kentucky. The three listed recipients are in Bowling Green.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $548K (2022) to $678K (2021). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $649K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WKU Foundation Bowling Green, KY | Charitable Purpose | $642,541 |
| Operation Pride Bowling Green, KY | Chairtable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Aviation Heritage Park Bowling Green, KY | Charitable Purpose | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $28,083,136 | $1,127,614 | $2,002,995 | $648,541 | 3 | $1,517,143 | $777,318 | $1,474,609 |
| 2023 | $28,960,793 | $827,225 | $1,909,757 | $574,938 | 4 | $1,516,996 | $569,994 | $1,302,779 |
| 2022 | $30,039,301 | $-278,392 | $2,098,724 | $547,556 | 8 | $1,703,602 | $458,865 | $1,333,613 |
| 2021 | $32,506,397 | $9,894,185 | $1,942,479 | $678,326 | 11 | $1,610,264 | $9,639,707 | $1,265,633 |
| 2020 | $24,738,589 | $2,813,607 | $1,786,964 | $597,446 | 13 | — | $1,166,146 | $1,143,709 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to a university foundation and two local organizations. The grantees describe their work as supporting charitable purposes; Operation Pride says its mission is landscape beautification, corridor entry, maintenance, and code enforcement for Bowling Green and Warren County residents. Aviation Heritage Park says its mission is to restore authentic aircraft, highlight the area’s aviation heritage, memorialize local aviators, and serve as an educational tool.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported three grants totaling $648,541. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $642,541, with a median of $5,000. The largest grant was $642,541 to WKU Foundation for a charitable purpose. Other reported grants were $5,000 to Operation Pride and $1,000 to Aviation Heritage Park.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J Robert Hilliard as president, William M Doerr as treasurer, Keith Carwell as secretary, and Tim Edelen as a board member.
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc is led by J. Robert Hilliard, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J. Robert Hilliard
President
On filings since 2020
$142K (2021) → $122K (2024)
Keith M. Carwell
Secretary
On filings since 2020
$134K (2021) → $139K (2024)
William M. Doerr
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tim Edelen
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $139K, to Keith Carwell (Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc
How much does The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc give each year?
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc gave $649K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $575K across 4 grants.
What is The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $216,180, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc give grants?
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bowling Green, KY (3 grants).
Does The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc?
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc reported $28.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to a university foundation and two local organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1202660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Jerry E Baker Foundation Inc 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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