About Bader Philanthropies
Bader Philanthropies Inc. stands out for its very large, scheduled general-purpose grants: the three recent awards in the file were $45,286,451 in 2025, $32,697,652 in 2024, and $27,480,157 in 2023, each recorded to "See Attached Schedule." That pattern points to a foundation that moves substantial resources through formal distribution mechanisms rather than a long list of small project grants. The grant record also shows flexibility in use, with the distributions described as GENERAL. In the broader program list, the foundation supports older adults, youth, Jewish education, addiction recovery, neighborhood engagement, and community wellbeing, which helps explain how a single funder can operate through both broad institutional support and named program areas. Two examples from the current program lineup are its work on Alzheimer’s and healthy aging in Wisconsin and its Jewish education grants in the Greater Milwaukee Area. Those areas sit alongside neighborhood-focused grantmaking in Milwaukee and social-equality work in Israel and Czechia, showing a mix of local concentration and select international activity in the program framework.
What Bader Philanthropies Funds
A clear thread in the program list is support for older adults and caregivers. Under Alzheimer’s & Healthy Aging, Bader Philanthropies Inc. supports services and support for Alzheimer’s and other dementias, basic needs, healthy aging programming, education and awareness, and older adult employment in Wisconsin. Another major theme is youth development in Milwaukee: the HOPE strategy supports youth ages 24 and younger through arts, recreation, education, leadership, and socioemotional learning. The foundation also backs Jewish education in the Greater Milwaukee Area, including tuition assistance for families, teacher benefits, facilities, and teaching and learning. Beyond education and aging, it funds addiction recovery work, including sober living, workforce development, restorative community programs, capital support, and community events related to recovery.
How Bader Philanthropies Gives
The recent grant data show a very tight grant-size band: the 25th percentile is $30,088,904, the median is $32,697,652, and the 75th percentile is $38,992,052. In the file, all recorded recent awards are large general grants listed under an attached schedule, which suggests pooled or administrative distributions rather than many individually itemized project awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. The available grant record is highly concentrated: the latest 990 year on file is 2025, and the recent grants shown are all in Wisconsin.
