Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milford, Connecticut. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations including educational institutions, community centers, and organizations providing services related to sexual assault response and cardiac-arrest awareness.
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc gave $465K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Connecticut. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $465,000
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,063
- +9.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $8,134,438
- -2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (3 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Submit a written request to Robert L Berchem. The filing lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert L Berchem
Mailing address: 75 Broad Street, Milford, CT 06460
Phone: (203) 783-1200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Bridgeport ($100K). Together the top 10 received $395K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 76 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Milford, Connecticut. In 2025, 98% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 2% went to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 16 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $395K (2022) to $480K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $465K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | General | $100,000 |
| Congregation Beth El Norwalk, CT | General | $75,000 |
| Fairfield University Fairfield, CT | General | $50,000 |
| Adam J Lewis Academy Inc Bridgeport, CT | General | $35,000 |
| Sterling House Community Center Stratford, CT | General | $30,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Milford Milford, CT | General | $25,000 |
| Hopkins School New Haven, CT | General | $25,000 |
| Kolbe Cathedral High School Bridgeport, CT | General | $25,000 |
| In a Heartbeat Inc Wallingford, CT | General | $15,000 |
| Rape Crisis Center of Milford Milford, CT | General | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,134,438 | $396,644 | $574,046 | $465,000 | 16 | $481,421 | $308,412 | $504,744 |
| 2024 | $8,311,840 | $320,823 | $555,803 | $450,000 | 17 | $471,602 | $231,501 | $488,777 |
| 2023 | $8,546,820 | $291,189 | $534,754 | $442,500 | 14 | $451,805 | $212,713 | $456,223 |
| 2022 | $8,790,385 | $287,519 | $486,429 | $395,000 | 13 | $401,431 | $199,789 | $440,280 |
| 2021 | $8,989,295 | $651,618 | $590,399 | $480,000 | 16 | $496,925 | $266,123 | $495,555 |
| 2020 | $8,928,076 | $339,414 | $555,343 | $400,000 | 18 | — | $217,562 | $436,240 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $505K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Fairfield University describes its work as providing secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education, as well as education, charity, and religion. Adam J Lewis Academy says it provides an enriching elementary-school experience for underserved children in Bridgeport. Sterling House Community Center describes programs in areas including early-childhood learning, youth development, food security, and community service. In A Heartbeat says it raises awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, provides automated external defibrillators, and supports research. The Rape Crisis Center of Milford says it provides crisis intervention and other services for victims of sexual assault.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $465,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest grants included $100,000 to University of Bridgeport, $75,000 to Congregation Beth El, $50,000 to Fairfield University, $35,000 to Adam J Lewis Academy Inc, and $30,000 to Sterling House Community Center.
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It accepts written requests; the filing lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert L Berchem as president, Howard Saffan as secretary, and Terrance J O’Connor and Jonathan D Berchem as vice presidents.
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc is led by Robert L. Berchem, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert L. Berchem
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard Saffan
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terrance J. O'Connor
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan D. Berchem
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc
How much does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc give each year?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc gave $465K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $450K across 17 grants.
What is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $29,063, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc give grants?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bridgeport, CT (6 grants), Fairfield, CT (2 grants), Milford, CT (2 grants) and New Haven, CT (2 grants).
Does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of Bridgeport ($100,000), Congregation Beth El ($75,000) and Fairfield University ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc?
Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $481K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $505K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Fairfield University describes its work as providing secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education, as well as education, charity, and religion. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walter-and-merle-baum-foundation-inc-morg_519234eff9764fb5b49e9e953deca946
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_810585669_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walter \& Merle Baum Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walter-and-merle-baum-foundation-inc-morg_519234eff9764fb5b49e9e953deca946},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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