The Baker Family Foundation makes concentrated, place-based gifts focused largely on Catholic education and local community institutions in the Fond du Lac/St. Cloud area of Wisconsin. Its grants favor capital and sustainability needs — annual funds, debt retirement, capital campaigns and operating support — and it returns repeatedly to a small set of familiar beneficiaries. Contributions are sizeable relative to the small grant count and are targeted to schools, faith-based charities and community recreation organizations.
Baker Family Foundation Inc repeatedly backs Catholic education in Fond du Lac County, with St. Mary’s Springs Academy receiving three of the largest recent awards: $73,200 in 2025, $70,000 in 2024, and $65,000 in 2023. That pattern is paired with funding for Catholic higher education, parish and school budgets, and local service organizations, showing a grantmaker that stays close to a small circle of Wisconsin institutions. The foundation’s recent giving includes debt retirement, annual fund support, operating budgets, capital campaigns, and event sponsorships, which points to practical, institution-centered support rather than project-only gifts. Recent awards also show repeated support for community infrastructure and youth-serving groups. Fond du Lac Family YMCA received $50,000 for operating budget support in 2025, while St. Vincent De Paul Society received $50,000 for a capital campaign in 2023. Grants to Boys & Girls Club of Fond Du Lac, Holy Family Parish, Shepherd of the Hills Parish & School, and Agnesian Healthcare Foundation Inc indicate a local portfolio built around faith-based, educational, recreation, and charitable organizations.
Catholic education is a clear thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. St. Mary’s Springs Academy received annual fund and special events support in 2025 and 2024, along with an annual fund grant in 2023, and Marian University received $75,000 for debt retirement in 2023. The foundation also supports community services and youth programs. Fond du Lac Family YMCA received $50,000 for operating budget support in 2025, and Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac received both general support in 2025 and annual campaign support in 2023. Faith-based charities and parish institutions appear regularly. Holy Family Parish received operating budget support in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Shepherd of the Hills Parish & School received general budget and special events sponsorship in 2024 and 2025. Capital needs are another recurring use of funds, including a concession stand capital campaign for Forest Athletic Club in 2024 and a capital campaign grant to Vista Christian Retreat Inc in 2023.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-sized range: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $7,500, and the p75 is $15,000. The pattern is repeat funding rather than one-off giving, with several recipients appearing in multiple years, including St. Mary’s Springs Academy, Holy Family Parish, Shepherd of the Hills Parish & School, Agnesian Healthcare Foundation Inc, and Plymouth Intergenerational Coalition Ltd. The foundation appears to operate as a family foundation making direct grants rather than program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals.
$1M
$2.3M
$481K
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated giving with a small number of relatively large grants; repeat support for flagship local beneficiaries; emphasis on capital, debt retirement and operating/annual fund support rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: St. Mary's Springs Academy, Marian University, Fond du Lac Family YMCA, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Forest Athletic Club
Giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Wisconsin: 97% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and Wisconsin is also the top state by grant count. Fond du Lac is the main recipient city, with multiple grants there across schools, parishes, health, recreation, and social-service groups. Other Wisconsin recipient locations include Eden, Plymouth, Mount Calvary, Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee, and Campbellsport. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. organizations.
The foundation most often supports Catholic schools, parishes, and Catholic higher-education institutions, along with local youth, recreation, and charitable organizations. Recent grants include repeated support for St. Mary’s Springs Academy, Holy Family Parish, Shepherd of the Hills Parish & School, Fond du Lac Family YMCA, and Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac.
It shows a repeated pattern. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including St. Mary’s Springs Academy in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Holy Family Parish in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Shepherd of the Hills Parish & School in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Agnesian Healthcare Foundation Inc in 2024 and 2025.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $7,500, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The larger awards in the recent list are exceptions rather than the norm.
Its giving is concentrated in Wisconsin, which accounts for 97% of grants, and Wisconsin is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Fond du Lac, Eden, Plymouth, Mount Calvary, Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee, and Campbellsport.
It funds annual funds, operating budgets, debt retirement, capital campaigns, special events sponsorships, and general support. Recent examples include debt retirement for Marian University, operating budget support for Fond du Lac Family YMCA and Holy Family Parish, and a concession stand capital campaign for Forest Athletic Club.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $905,200 | 2026 | ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| FOND DU LAC FAMILY YMCA | FOND DU LAC, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FOND DU LAC | FOND DU LAC, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL CAMPAIGN |
| SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL | EDEN, WI | $9,500 | 2026 | ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENT DINNER |
| HOLY FAMILY PARISH | FOND DU LAC, WI | $8,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| AGNESIAN HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC | FOND DU LAC, WI | $7,000 | 2026 | SPECIAL EVENTS AND RAFFLE SPONSOR |
| PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD | PLYMOUTH, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| SOLUTIONS CENTER | FOND DU LAC, WI | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| HOLY LAND FOOD PANTRY | MALONE, WI | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARIAN UNIVERSITY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $1,500 | 2026 | SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $73,200 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| FOND DU LAC FAMILY YMCA | FOND DU LAC, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FOND DU LAC | FOND DU LAC, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TREFFERT WAY SCHOOL | FOND DU LAC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL | EDEN, WI | $9,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| HOLY FAMILY PARISH | FOND DU LAC, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| AGNESIAN HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC | FOND DU LAC, WI | $7,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL EVENTS AND RAFFLE SPONSOR |
| PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD | PLYMOUTH, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL EVENT SPONSOR |
| HOLY LAND FOOD PANTRY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOLUTIONS CENTER | FOND DU LAC, WI | $2,500 | 2025 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARIAN UNIVERSITY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $70,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| FOREST ATHLETIC CLUB | MOUNT CALVARY, WI | $25,000 | 2024 | CONCESSION STAND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2024 | OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL | EDEN, WI | $9,000 | 2024 | GENERAL BUDGET AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR |
| HOLY FAMILY PARISH | FOND DU LAC, WI | $7,500 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| AGNESIAN HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC | FOND DU LAC, WI | $7,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL EVENTS AND RAFFLE SPONSOR |
| PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD | PLYMOUTH, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| JDRF INTERNATIONAL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | JDRF RIDE TO CURE DIABETES EVENT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL EVENT SPONSOR |
| FOND DU LAC YMCA | FOND DU LAC, WI | $2,500 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| SOLUTIONS CENTER | FOND DU LAC, WI | $2,500 | 2024 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| MARIAN UNIVERSITY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $75,000 | 2023 | DEBT RETIREMENT CAMPAIGN |
| ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $65,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL FUND |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY | FOND DU LAC, WI | $50,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FOND DU LAC | FOND DU LAC, WI | $15,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL CAMPAIGN |
| FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE | MADISON, WI | $15,000 | 2023 | OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| HOLY FAMILY PARISH | FOND DU LAC, WI | $8,000 | 2023 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL | EDEN, WI | $7,500 | 2023 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD | PLYMOUTH, WI | $5,000 | 2023 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| SOLUTIONS CENTER | FOND DU LAC, WI | $2,500 | 2023 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| VISTA CHRISTIAN RETREAT INC | CAMPBELLSPORT, WI | $2,500 | 2023 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY
$905,200ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR
FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE
$20,000OUTREACH PROGRAMS
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL
$9,500ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENT DINNER
HOLY FAMILY PARISH
$8,000ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
SOLUTIONS CENTER
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
HOLY LAND FOOD PANTRY
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
MARIAN UNIVERSITY
$1,500SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR
ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY
$73,200ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR
FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE
$15,000OUTREACH PROGRAMS
TREFFERT WAY SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL
$9,000GENERAL BUDGET AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR
HOLY FAMILY PARISH
$7,500OPERATING BUDGET
PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
HOLY LAND FOOD PANTRY
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
SOLUTIONS CENTER
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
MARIAN UNIVERSITY
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY
$70,000ANNUAL FUND AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR
FOREST ATHLETIC CLUB
$25,000CONCESSION STAND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE
$15,000OUTREACH PROGRAMS
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL
$9,000GENERAL BUDGET AND SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSOR
HOLY FAMILY PARISH
$7,500OPERATING BUDGET
PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN
$5,000SPECIAL EVENT SPONSOR
SOLUTIONS CENTER
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
MARIAN UNIVERSITY
$75,000DEBT RETIREMENT CAMPAIGN
ST MARY'S SPRINGS ACADEMY
$65,000ANNUAL FUND
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
$50,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FRIENDS OF SARNELLI HOUSE
$15,000OUTREACH PROGRAMS
HOLY FAMILY PARISH
$8,000OPERATING BUDGET
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS PARISH & SCHOOL
$7,500GENERAL BUDGET
PLYMOUTH INTERGENERATIONAL COALITION LTD
$5,000OPERATING BUDGET
SOLUTIONS CENTER
$2,500OPERATING BUDGET
VISTA CHRISTIAN RETREAT INC
$2,500CAPITAL CAMPAIGN