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Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$465k
Granted FY2025still arriving
16
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Education$1.6MReligion$565kHuman Services$228kYouth Development$225kArts & Culture$125kHealth$110kHousing & Shelter$80kInternational$50kOther$0
02FY2025 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k13 grants · $240k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $225k
$25,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$8.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT$100,000
CONGREGATION BETH EL$75,000
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY$50,000
ADAM J LEWIS ACADEMY INC$35,000
STERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER$30,000
KOLBE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL$25,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MILFORD$25,000
HOPKINS SCHOOL$25,000
SAINT CATHERINE'S ACADEMY$15,000
IN A HEARTBEAT INC$15,000
THE THOMAS MERTON CENTER$15,000
RAPE CRISIS CENTER OF MILFORD$15,000
MOZAIC JEWISH HOME$10,000
ST MARTIN'S DE PORRES ACADEMY$10,000
UNIQUE & UNIFIED NEW ERA YOUTH MOVEMENT INC$10,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–25, $105k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%STERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER: $30k → 9%STERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER: $25k → 9%STERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $25k → 9%STERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER: $15k → 9%STERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER: $10k → 9%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.6M · 17 repeat orgs$448k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +47% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

17 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
18

Total granted

$2.6M
$393k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+47%
0%

Still filing today

65%
67%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 88% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $55k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthEducationYouth DevelopmentArts & CultureInternationalCivil RightsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • AJ
    ADAM J LEWIS ACADEMY INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $165k · revenue +227%
  • Fairfield University
    5× · 2021–2025 · $150k · revenue +63%
  • BG
    BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MILFORD INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $105k · revenue +137%

Funded once

  • CY
    CONNECTICUT YANKEE COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
    one grant, 2021 · $75k · revenue -20%
  • TN
    The Norwalk Symphony Society Inc
    one grant, 2019 · $75k · revenue 0%
  • LT
    Love to Langa
    one grant, 2019 · $50k · revenue -18% · 37% of their budget
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Jewish High School of Connecticut

The jewish high school of connecticut is dedicated to educate jewish youth for whom jewish values and traditions shape and guide their lives and for whom learning and responsible actions are foundational for achievement.

—
2
Bridgeport Hospital

To operate an acute care hospital in bridgeport, connecticut for the care and treatment of persons suffering from disease or other physical or mental conditions without regard to race, color, creed, sex, age or ability to pay.

Health
3
The Bridge Academy Inc

The bridge academy, inc. was granted a charter to operate the bridge academy, a public school located in the city of bridgeport, ct. the school was founded in 1997 to provide college preparatory curriculum designed to overcome the…

Education
4
Brunswick School Inc

Brunswick school, inc. is a day school for boys in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. the purpose of the school is to educate the "whole boy". it does so by helping boys and young men - without regard to culture, ethnicity or religion…

Education
5
The Children's School

An independent, nonprofit school serving the lower fairfield county area of connecticut for children ages three to eight, and providing an environment that fosters in children the joy of learning through the use of innovative materials and…

Education
6
Cold Spring School Inc

Cold spring school challenges children to become self-reliant, curious and resourceful problem solvers with the academic and social skills to engage constructively and ethically in our diverse, changing world.

Education
7
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
8
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Hav

Jewish family service of greater new haven (jfsgnh) supports and strengthens individual, family, and community life by providing a wide range of social services. we welcome people of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations,…

Human Services
9
Hebrew Home & Hospital

The mission of hebrew home and hospital aligns with the mission of its parent organization, hebrew health care, to provide quality services to senior adults. (see schedule o)as part of an integrated system to assist seniors in the…

Health
10
Bradley Home for the Aged

To provide a compassionate community where loving care enables aged and indigent individuals from meriden and connecticut to live with dignity in a secure, homelike environment.

—
11
Camp Laurelwood Inc

Camp laurelwood is connecticut's only jewish non-profit overnight camp, and also a shoreline jewish day camp with the objectives of fostering personal growth, leadership, self-reliance, self-confidence, cooperation, and a sense of…

Recreation & Sports
12
The Rippowam Cisqua School Inc

Rippowam Cisqua School creates independent thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged leaders who respect and contribute meaningfully to a diverse and increasingly complex global society.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Adam J Lewis Academy Inc; the most unlike its peers is Sequassen Alumni Association Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

25 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 25 of the 39 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
14/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT: $760,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORTCONGREGATION BETH EL: $480,000 · OtherCONGREGATION BETH ELKOLBE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL: $200,000 · OtherKOLBE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOLSAINT CATHERINE ACADEMY: $100,000 · OtherCONNECTICUT YANKEE COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA: $75,000 · Other+17 more: $392,500 · Other+17 moreHOPKINS SCHOOL INCORPORATED: $175,000 · EducationHOPKINS SCHOOL INCO…ADAM J LEWIS ACADEMY INC: $165,000 · EducationADAM J LEWIS ACADEM…Fairfield University: $150,000 · EducationFairfield Universit…ST MARTIN DE PORRES ACADEMY INC: $20,000 · Education+1 more: $5,000 · EducationBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MILFORD INC: $105,000 · Youth DevelopmentDOMINATE THE DAY FOUNDATION CORP: $25,000 · Youth DevelopmentSequassen Alumni Association Inc: $5,000 · Youth DevelopmentCROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION INC: $60,000 · HealthJEWISH HOME FOR THE ELDERLY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC: $25,000 · HealthRAPE CRISIS CENTER OF MILFORD INC: $15,000 · HealthIN A HEARTBEAT INC: $15,000 · HealthBRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · HealthBHcare Inc: $5,000 · HealthSTERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $105,000 · Human ServicesMHA MERTON HOUSE LLC: $80,000 · Housing & ShelterThe Norwalk Symphony Society Inc: $75,000 · Arts & Culture
Other$2,007,500Education$515,000Youth Development$135,000Health$125,000Human Services$105,000Housing & Shelter$80,000Arts & Culture$75,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetHOPKINS SCHOOL INCORPORATED: $175,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetADAM J LEWIS ACADEMY INC: $165,000 over 6y, 1.2% of budgetFairfield University: $150,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MILFORD INC: $105,000 over 6y, 3.8% of budgetSTERLING HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $105,000 over 5y, 1.8% of budgetMHA MERTON HOUSE LLC: $80,000 over 3y, 6.4% of budgetCONNECTICUT YANKEE COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA: $75,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetThe Norwalk Symphony Society Inc: $75,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC: $65,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetCROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION INC: $60,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetLove to Langa: $50,000 over 1y, 37% of budgetFEDERATION FOR JEWISH PHILANTHROPY OF UPPER FAIRFIELD COUNTY: $25,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetKLEIN MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM FOUNDATIONINC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetDOMINATE THE DAY FOUNDATION CORP: $25,000 over 4y, 71% of budgetJEWISH HOME FOR THE ELDERLY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST MARTIN DE PORRES ACADEMY INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetRAPE CRISIS CENTER OF MILFORD INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT MUSIC INC: $5,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetBRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBHcare Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTOYS FOR HOSPITAL TOTS INC: $2,500 over 1y, 3.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Fairfield County's Co…Ge Aerospace Foundati…The Community Foundat…The Near and Far Asso…Ibm International Fou…Connecticut Humanitie…Young Mens Christian …The Inner-City Founda…The John and Ethel Ka…The Scripps Family Fu…Alexander Family Foun…Newalliance Foundatio…
Fairfield County's Community Foundation IncCT23.2× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Fairfield County's Community Foundation Inc · Ge Aerospace Foundation · The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven · The Near and Far Association Inc · Ibm International Foundation · Connecticut Humanities Council Inc · Young Mens Christian Association of Westport/Weston Ct Inc · The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education Inc · The John and Ethel Kashulon Foundation · The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts · Alexander Family Foundation Inc · Newalliance Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 70%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →median 8%
  • Boys & Girls Club of Milford Inc: 88% of income from government
  • BHcare Inc: 68% of income from government
  • Project Music Inc: 14% of income from government
  • The Norwalk Symphony Society Inc: 13% of income from government
  • Sterling House Community Center Inc: 8% of income from government
  • Rape Crisis Center of Milford Inc: 6% of income from government
  • Greater Bridgeport Symphony Society Inc: 3% of income from government
  • Klein Memorial Auditorium Foundationinc: 1% of income from government
  • Fairfield University: 1% of income from government
  • Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield County Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
7get no government money at all
4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
2rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc?

Find your warmest path to Walter & Merle Baum Foundation Inc through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 39 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Walter & Merle Baum’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home