Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MILFORD, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $8.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 17 grants totaling $450K. Net investment income was $232K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.3M
-2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$450K
+1.7% YoY
Grant Count
17
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-16.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $489K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MILFORD, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $8.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 17 grants totaling $450K. Net investment income was $232K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,311,840 | $8,546,820 | $8,790,385 |
| Revenue | $320,823 | $291,189 | $287,519 |
| Expenses | $555,803 | $534,754 | $486,429 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $471,602 | $451,805 | $401,431 |
| Net Investment Income | $231,501 | $212,713 | $199,789 |
| Distributable Amount | $488,777 | $456,223 | $440,280 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Bridgeport ($100,000), Congregation Beth El ($75,000), Adam J Lewis Academy Inc ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAM J LEWIS ACADEMY INC BRIDGEPORT, CT | GENERAL | $35,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MILFORD MILFORD, CT | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| CONGREGATION BETH EL NORWALK, CT | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| CROHN'S AND COLITIS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| DOMINATE THE DAY FOUNDATION WEST HAVEN, CT | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY FAIRFIELD, CT | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| HOPKINS SCHOOL NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| KOLBE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL BRIDGEPORT, CT | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD PARISH MILFORD, CT | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| MOZAIC JEWISH HOME BRIDGEPORT, CT | GENERAL | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT L BERCHEM | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| HOWARD SAFFAN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| TERRANCE J O'CONNOR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN D BERCHEM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MILFORD, CT. It holds $8.3M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc?
As of 2024, Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc holds $8.3M in total assets with $321K in annual revenue. It awarded 17 grants totaling $450K in 2024.
Where does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc operate?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Connecticut, New York.
What size grants does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc awarded 17 grants totaling $450K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $489K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's EIN?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0585669. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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