The Dexter F. and Dorothy H. Baker Foundation concentrates its giving almost exclusively on higher education in Allentown, with a focused, long-term investment in Lehigh University. Its grants fund an endowed institute — the Baker Institute — supporting entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation at the university. The foundation appears to prioritize sustaining a named academic center rather than broad, diversified charitable support.
The Dexter F and Dorothy H Baker Foundation’s clearest throughline is its long-running support for the Baker Institute at Lehigh University, including a $250,000 operating-support grant in 2025 for the 2015-2035 Baker Institute. That anchor point helps define the foundation’s style: sustained backing for a named university institute tied to entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation. Alongside that core commitment, the foundation makes smaller grants to local organizations in education, arts, health, and youth development, often for specific programs or operating support. Recent examples include $30,000 for Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc. for a school-based behavioral health program and $30,000 for Rodale Institute for a regenerative healthcare program. The pattern suggests a funder that keeps a central higher-education investment in place while also supporting nearby organizations working in student supports, family learning, and community wellness. Its grant list shows repeat support across years for certain recipients, indicating an ongoing relationship rather than one-off project funding. The foundation’s giving is local in scope and heavily centered in Pennsylvania, with Bethlehem and Allentown appearing often in the recent record.
In higher education, the foundation has repeatedly supported Lehigh University for the Baker Institute and related university programs, including two $125,000 payments in 2023 and a $25,000 grant in 2023 for the Zoellner Arts Center’s Michael Feinstein Baker Celebration. In student support work, it gave $25,000 to Communities in Schools of Eastern PA in 2023 for integrated student supports and another $25,000 in 2025 for operating support. Arts and cultural programming also appears in the record: the foundation awarded $25,000 to Texas Ballet Theater for community enrichment and $20,000 to the Allentown Art Museum for educational programming support. Health-related grants include $30,000 to Kellyn Foundation for a community intensive lifestyle medicine program and $30,000 to Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc. for school-based behavioral health.
The typical grant is modest relative to the foundation’s overall giving: the 25th percentile is $9,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent record shows a mix of one-time awards and repeated support across multiple years, especially for Lehigh University and several local service organizations. Grants are often labeled operating support, program support, or payments tied to a named initiative, which points to a foundation that uses both general and restricted grants. It is a private foundation with no program-related investments listed, and it also funds individuals.
$841K
$15.7M
$803K
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $9K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Highly concentrated: few, large gifts directed to a single repeat grantee (multi-year/endowment-style support for a named institute).
Notable grantees: Lehigh University (The Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation)
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Pennsylvania: 81% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and PA is also the top state by grant count. Bethlehem and Allentown appear frequently in the recent grants list, with additional Pennsylvania recipients in Tatamy and Kutztown. Outside Pennsylvania, recent grants reach Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and Bonita Springs and Naples, Florida, but those locations appear less often than the Pennsylvania recipients.
The recent record shows support for a university-based institute, school and student supports, arts and cultural programming, and health-related initiatives. Examples include Lehigh University for the Baker Institute, Communities in Schools for integrated student supports, Texas Ballet Theater for community enrichment, and Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc. for school-based behavioral health.
Typical awards are relatively small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $9,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent list also includes larger commitments, such as $250,000 to Lehigh University in 2025 and $225,000 in 2024.
Yes. The recent grants show repeated support over multiple years, especially for Lehigh University, which appears in several years tied to the Baker Institute and related university payments. Other repeat recipients include Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania, Kellyn Foundation, and Boys and Girls Club of Allentown.
It gives most often in Pennsylvania. The data shows 81% of grants going to recipients in PA, and Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count. Bethlehem and Allentown are especially prominent among the recipient cities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $250,000 | 2026 | 2015-2035 THE BAKER INSTITUTE, OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS | ALLENTOWN, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | 2025 BIKE DESIGN LAB |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ALLENTOWN | ALLENTOWN, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | 2025 MAKE YOUR M.A.R.K. AND BGCA CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAM |
| ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM | ALLENTOWN, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA | ALLENTOWN, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | FY2026 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY | EASTON, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 LV250 SUPPORT & HESS FAMILY HISTORY EXHIBIT |
| ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | 2026-27 SUPPORT OF COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE, MUSICIAN-IN-RESIDENCE, RODALE ROOM LIGHTING |
| KELLYN FOUNDATION | TATAMY, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY BUILDING - MARKETING |
| THE LITERACY CENTER | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | 2026 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM | BETHLEHEM, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 YOUTH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY - ZOELLNER ARTS CENTER | BETHLEHEM, PA | $17,500 | 2026 | 2025-2027 ANY GIVEN CHILD |
| PENNSYLVANIA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | CENTER VALLEY, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 PA SHAKES EDUCATES |
| DA VINCI DISCOVERY CENTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2024 SCIENCE IN THE MAKING: COLOR MIXING ROOM |
| WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY | EMMAUS, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | WILD ABOUT LEARNING |
| UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025 UWGLV STRIVETOGETHER PARTNERSHIP |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2026 - 2028 ARTS COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM | BETHLEHEM, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2026 "LET FREEDOM SING" & EASTON BACH AT NOON CELEBRATING AMERICA250PA |
| COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026/2026-2027 BAKER ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE |
| LAFAYETTE COLLEGE | EASTON, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | FY27 AND FY28 DANCE SERIES FUNDING |
| PRATYUSH SINHA FOUNDATION | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY - ZOELLNER ARTS CENTER | BETHLEHEM, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025 ARTS & WELLNESS |
| TOUCHSTONE THEATRE | BETHLEHEM, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VALLEY YOUTH HOUSE COMMITTEE INC | BETHLEHEM, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST PROGRAM |
| LEHIGH VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $12,000 | 2026 | 2026 OPERATING SUPPORT & CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDS |
| SHANTHI PROJECT | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | BRIDGE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM AT BASD |
| ARTSQUEST | BETHLEHEM, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2026 MASTERCLASS SERIES |
| UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2025 GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY CRITICAL SUPPORT FUND |
| WDIY 881 FM LEHIGH VALLEY PUBLIC RADIO | BETHLEHEM, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ARTS AND TEEN FINANCE PROGRAMMING |
| PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH THEATRE | BETHLEHEM, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| THE BAUM SCHOOL OF ART | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2026 SUMMER THEATRE |
| STATE THEATRE CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC | EASTON, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2026 FREDDY AWARDS |
| CIVIC LITTLE THEATRE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | 2025/2026 SEASON |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $9,000 | 2026 | 2022-2025 BAKER MERIT SCHOLARS, CLASS OF 2026 |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $7,500 | 2026 | 2026 YOUTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES |
| PENNSYLVANIA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA | ALLENTOWN, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | 2025 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | 2015-2035 THE BAKER INSTITUTE, OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA | ALLENTOWN, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | 2025 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KELLYN FOUNDATION | TATAMY, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 HEALTH NEIGHBORHOOD IMMERSION INITIATIVE - ALLENTOWN |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ALLENTOWN | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 MAKE YOUR M.A.R.K. AND MONEY MATTERS PROGRAMS |
| LEHIGH VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 ARTS EDUCATOR ASSET MAPPING, YOUTH AT ART, LUNCH & LEARN, LVACA 2025 CONVENING |
| BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM | BETHLEHEM, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2024-2025 YOUTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY PROGRAMS |
| ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SUPPORT |
| LITERACY CENTER | ALLENTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY - ZOELLNER ARTS CENTER | BETHLEHEM, PA | $17,500 | 2025 | 2025-2027 ANY GIVEN CHILD |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | 2024-2025 BAKER ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE |
| DA VINCI DISCOVERY CENTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | 2024 SCIENCE IN THE MAKING: COLOR MIXING ROOM |
| COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS | ALLENTOWN, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | 2024-2025 OPERATING SUPPORT |
2025 MAKE YOUR M.A.R.K. AND BGCA CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAM
FY2026 OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
$25,0002025-2026 LV250 SUPPORT & HESS FAMILY HISTORY EXHIBIT
2026-27 SUPPORT OF COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE, MUSICIAN-IN-RESIDENCE, RODALE ROOM LIGHTING
2025-2026 YOUTH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM
2024 SCIENCE IN THE MAKING: COLOR MIXING ROOM
UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY
$15,0002025 UWGLV STRIVETOGETHER PARTNERSHIP
2026 "LET FREEDOM SING" & EASTON BACH AT NOON CELEBRATING AMERICA250PA
COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
$15,0002025-2026 OPERATING SUPPORT
PRATYUSH SINHA FOUNDATION
$15,0002025 OPERATING SUPPORT
TOUCHSTONE THEATRE
$15,0002025 GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LEHIGH VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE
$12,0002026 OPERATING SUPPORT & CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDS
SHANTHI PROJECT
$10,000BRIDGE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM AT BASD
UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY
$10,0002025 GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY CRITICAL SUPPORT FUND
WDIY 881 FM LEHIGH VALLEY PUBLIC RADIO
$10,000COMMUNITY ARTS AND TEEN FINANCE PROGRAMMING
PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH THEATRE
$10,0002025-2026 ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM
CIVIC LITTLE THEATRE
$10,0002025/2026 SEASON
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
$7,5002026 YOUTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES
PENNSYLVANIA SINFONIA ORCHESTRA
$5,0002025 OPERATING SUPPORT
2025 MAKE YOUR M.A.R.K. AND MONEY MATTERS PROGRAMS
LEHIGH VALLEY ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE
$20,0002025 ARTS EDUCATOR ASSET MAPPING, YOUTH AT ART, LUNCH & LEARN, LVACA 2025 CONVENING
2024 SCIENCE IN THE MAKING: COLOR MIXING ROOM