The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund
The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund is a private foundation established in 1964 by Mary S. Baker in memory of her husband. The fund is dedicated to supporting arts and culture in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Since 1985, the Baltimore Community Foundation has managed the Baker Fund's grants program. The foundation is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and holds tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.4M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-4.9% YoY
Grant Count
52
+23.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-23.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund's mission is to give support to cultural and artistic organizations and programs that enhance Baltimore's civic participation and economic health. The fund's stated objectives are to:
- Celebrate metropolitan life
- Spur economic development
- Improve the quality of life
- Provide access to cultural opportunities for all
- Support civic engagement through the arts
- Create opportunities for self-expression and reflection
In 2007, the Baker Fund shifted its focus entirely to arts and culture, positioning itself as the largest private dedicated arts funder in the Baltimore region.
Grantmaking
The fund supports two primary grant categories:
Grant Range
$1,500 to $45,000
Review Cycle
- Decision time: 2-3 months (quarterly board meetings)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund exclusively serves the Baltimore metropolitan area and greater Baltimore region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving
- Total assets: $26.4 million (2024)
- Annual giving: $1.4 million (2024)
- Total revenues: $2.2 million (2024)
- Total expenses: $1.5 million (2024)
- Investment income and dividends: $773,809 (2024)
Giving Rate Approximately 5.5% of assets distributed annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,374,076 | $24,961,501 | $24,746,163 |
| Revenue | $2,209,065 | $2,435,995 | $1,518,842 |
| Expenses | $1,479,998 | $1,576,095 | $1,670,317 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,358,528 | $1,394,730 | $1,526,084 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,074,534 | $2,288,691 | $1,393,713 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,480,430 | $1,322,522 | $1,395,089 |
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
129 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Baltimore Cultual Alliance ($283,597), Baltimore Community Foundation Inc ($127,601), Your Public Radio Corporation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| AUDREY HERMAN SPOTLIGHTERS THEATRE INC BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $18,500 |
| COMMUNITY CONCERTS AT SECOND BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,500 |
| Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LAFAYETTE GAITHERSBURG, MD | BALTIMORE HISTORY | $5,000 |
| BALTIMORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $127,601 |
| GREATER BALTIMORE CULTUAL ALLIANCE BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $283,597 |
| BALTIMORE CONCERT OPERA INC BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $28,500 |
| BACH CONCERT SERIES BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,500 |
| YOUR PUBLIC RADIO CORPORATION BALTIMORE, MD | OUT OF THE BLOCKS | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Governors
- Connie E. Imboden, President
- Steven G. Ziger
- Laura L. Gamble
- Gwen Davidson
Staff
- David London, Director of Baker Fund Grants Program
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNC BANK NA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $104,576 |
| MARY GWEN DAVIDSON | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Baker Fund celebrated its 60th anniversary with the announcement of David London as Director of Grants Program, marking a significant leadership transition for the organization.
Baker Fund Celebrates 60th Anniversary With Announcement of David LondonSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund fund?
The fund's mission is to give support to cultural and artistic organizations and programs that enhance Baltimore's civic participation and economic health. The fund's stated objectives are to: • Celebrate metropolitan life • Spur economic development • Improve the quality of life • Provide access to cultural opportunities for all • Support civic engagement through the arts • Create opportunities for self-expression and reflection In 2007, the Baker Fund shifted its focus entirely to arts and cu…
How do I apply for a grant from The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund?
**Grant Amounts** • Typical grant award: $10,000 • Grant range: $1,500 to $45,000 **Grant Programs** The fund supports two primary grant categories: 1. **Organizational Grants** ($1,500 - $45,000) supporting: • Cultural sector collaboration • Innovative programming initiatives • Strengthening organizational and artistic practices 2. **Capacity Building Grants** for organizational development The fund also administers the **Baker Artist Awards program**, which has awarded over $1.3 million to mo…
Where does The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund make grants?
The fund exclusively serves the Baltimore metropolitan area and greater Baltimore region.
What size grants does The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund award?
In 2024, The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund awarded 52 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund's EIN?
The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6057178. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund'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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