About Build-A-Bear Foundation
Build-A-Bear Foundation's mission is to add a little more heart to life by sharing hugs, inspiring creativity and supporting those in need. We partner with many organizations to share books, bears and amazing experiences across the globe.
Focus Areas
childhood literacychildren and youth serviceshealthcare support for children (hospital programs)emotional support/comfort items
Who They Fund
low-income childrencommunities affected by disastersnonprofit organizations (general support recipients)
Funding Style
unrestricted/general operating supportemergency/disaster relief fundingin-kind program support
About Build-A-Bear Foundation
Build-a-bear Foundation Inc’s largest recent grant went to First Book, with three awards across 2023 to 2025 totaling more than $2.9 million, showing a sustained commitment to childhood literacy and books for children. That recurring support sits alongside grants for comfort, disaster response, and children’s services, all closely aligned with the foundation’s stated mission to share hugs, inspire creativity, and support those in need. The foundation’s recent giving also includes repeated support for American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and Marine Toys for Tots, pointing to a mix of emergency response, wish-granting, and holiday or toy distribution. It gave to St Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature in both 2023 and 2024, and to United Way of Greater St Louis in consecutive years, which adds a local dimension to an otherwise national grantmaking profile. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to favor nonprofit partners that can move books, toys, and child-focused services directly to communities. Its grants also reach hospital and family-support organizations, including Shriners Hospitals for Children, Baby2Baby, First Responders Children’s Foundation, and Good Plus Foundation Inc.
What Build-A-Bear Foundation Funds
In childhood literacy, Build-a-bear Foundation Inc backed First Book with multiple general-support grants, including $1,138,412 in 2024 and $1,004,200 in 2025, making literacy one of its clearest giving priorities. It also supported St Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature in 2023 and 2024, alongside the National Council of Teachers of English in 2024, which shows interest in children’s reading access and literary experiences. For children’s comfort and hospital-related support, the foundation gave $50,000 to Shriners Hospitals for Children in 2023 and $25,000 to KABOOM Inc in 2023. Its disaster and emergency response giving included $187,575 to the American Red Cross in 2023 and additional Red Cross awards in 2024 and 2025. Toy distribution for low-income children appears in grants to Marine Toys for Tots in 2023 and 2024.
How Build-A-Bear Foundation Gives
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $11,621, a median of $29,005, and a p75 of $70,000, with a mix of small and very large awards. The foundation shows repeat support for many recipients across multiple years, including First Book, American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Marine Toys for Tots, First Responders Children’s Foundation, and United Way of Greater St Louis. It is a regular funder, not a DAF or PRI vehicle, and the active program descriptions indicate one program accepts unsolicited requests: Hearts 'n' Hugs Fund.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$2.6M
Total Revenue
$2M
Total Expenses
$1.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $12K and $70K, with a median of $29K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$29K
75th Percentile
$70K
Geographic Reach
National9 states funded
About 19% of grants go to recipients in DC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
RAYMOND MUELLER
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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