← Back to US Funders Directory

Bainum Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$12.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.0M
00

Bainum Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12,103,977 (2024)
  • Total Assets: Approximately $746 million
  • Grant Range: $100 - $1,000,000
  • Average Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Washington, D.C., Florida, California, Washington state (expanding nationally)
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited proposals accepted

Contact Details

Address: 7735 Old Georgetown Road 1000, Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Phone: 240-450-0000

Website: www.bainumfdn.org

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Contact the foundation directly to inquire about potential collaboration opportunities.

Overview

The Bainum Family Foundation was established in 1968 by entrepreneur Stewart Bainum Sr. and his wife, Jane Bainum, with a mission to create opportunities for children living in poverty by providing access to high-quality educational opportunities and services. With total assets of approximately $746 million and annual giving of over $12 million, the foundation has evolved significantly over its 56-year history. In July 2024, the foundation announced a transformational $100 million commitment over five years to early childhood issue areas—the largest single commitment in its history. The foundation has recently consolidated its grantmaking to focus strictly on early childhood development, working alongside communities experiencing racial and economic disparities to create lasting systems change. The foundation is currently led by CEO and President David Daniels and employs a distinctive co-creation approach that positions community members as the real experts based on their lived experiences.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Early Childhood Programs (Primary Focus) The foundation's early childhood work encompasses early learning, health and mental health, family economic security, and stable housing. Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope:

  • General grants: $100 - $1,000,000
  • Average grant size: $25,000
  • Major capacity-building grants can exceed $1 million

Recent examples include:

  • $12.75 million to establish the West Lakes Early Learning Center in Florida serving 150 infants and toddlers
  • $1 million to the National Association for Family Child Care
  • $700,000 to Baltimore Community Foundation for crisis response (Key Bridge collapse)

Legacy Programs The foundation maintains legacy programs supporting faith-based education and other issues important to the Bainum family, though these represent a smaller portion of overall grantmaking.

Priority Areas

  • Early Learning and Education: High-quality early childhood education programs, educator support, and innovative early learning center models
  • Child Health and Mental Health: Supporting comprehensive wellness for young children
  • Family Economic Security: Addressing economic barriers that affect children's development
  • Stable Housing: Ensuring families have secure housing as a foundation for child wellbeing
  • Systems Change: Advocacy and policy work to transform early childhood systems
  • Community-Led Solutions: Initiatives designed and led by communities experiencing racial and economic disparities

Geographic Priorities: Washington, D.C. (including specific neighborhoods like Ward 8), Florida (particularly Orlando area), California, and Washington state. The 2024 funding commitment is expanding the foundation's geographic reach beyond these core areas.

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish a comprehensive list of exclusions, the following restrictions apply:

  • Unsolicited proposals (invitation-only grantmaking)
  • Programs outside early childhood development focus (except legacy programs for family interests)
  • For specific programs: organizations with annual operating budgets exceeding $2,500,000
  • Organizations that have received funding for three consecutive years must skip a year before reapplying

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Chair: Scott Renschler, Psy.D.

Board Members:

  • Amanda Andere
  • Brooke Bainum
  • Charles Ledsinger, Jr.
  • Felicia DeHaney, Ph.D.
  • Kathleen Simpson
  • Tammy L. Mann, Ph.D.

Senior Leadership

David Daniels, CEO and President - Daniels leads the foundation's strategic vision and has been vocal about reimagining early childhood systems. He stated: "Reimagining a system to support children and families requires giving those closest to the challenges the time and space they need to develop innovative solutions."

Marica Cox Mitchell, Vice President, Early Childhood - Mitchell brings lived experience as an early childhood educator. According to Daniels, "She brings an invaluable perspective through her expertise and lived experience as an early childhood educator as we reimagine what's possible in the early childhood space."

Other Senior Leadership:

  • Angie Deeds, Senior Director, Finance
  • Ann Egan, Senior Director, Communications
  • Andrew Curtis, Director, Information Technology

The foundation was founded by Stewart Bainum Sr., who experienced poverty during the Great Depression and was forced to leave his boarding school due to inability to pay tuition. He hitchhiked 400 miles with $3 in his pocket, worked as a plumber's assistant, and eventually built a business empire including ManorCare nursing homes and Choice Hotels International, one of the world's largest hotel franchising companies.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Bainum Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or use a request-for-proposal (RFP) process. All grants are made by invitation only.

The foundation operates through a co-creation approach, working closely with partner communities and organizations. Rather than accepting applications, the foundation identifies potential partners through:

  • Community engagement and relationship building
  • Following the lead of partner communities
  • Being introduced to community-led initiatives through trusted networks
  • Attending sector events and conferences focused on early childhood development

Organizations interested in partnership must contact the foundation directly at 240-450-0000 or through their website at www.bainumfdn.org to inquire about potential opportunities.

Getting on Their Radar

The Bainum Family Foundation actively seeks to shift traditional power dynamics in philanthropy. Based on their documented approach, here are specific strategies:

Engage in Community-Led Initiatives: The foundation specifically looks for and supports community-led (not just community-informed) solutions. The Ward 8 Community Economic Development partnership demonstrates this—the foundation was drawn to this initiative because it was designed and led by community members with lived experience.

Demonstrate Commitment to Equity: The foundation prioritizes partnerships with communities experiencing racial and economic disparities. Organizations working in these communities and led by people with lived experience are of particular interest.

Participate in Early Childhood Sector Activities: The foundation is active in the early childhood sector and attends events like DC Early EdX. They are members of the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, suggesting they network within this community.

Be Present in Their Core Geographies: Organizations working in Washington, D.C. (especially Ward 8 and underserved neighborhoods), Florida (Orlando area), California, or Washington state are within their current geographic focus, though they are expanding.

Emphasize Long-Term Systems Change: The foundation recently committed to five-year funding cycles specifically because partners shared the importance of longer-term funding for systemic change. Present work that addresses root causes, not just symptoms.

Connection Through Existing Grantees: Current grantees include DC Action for Children, Educare DC, the DC Early Learning Collaborative, Florida Association for the Education of Young Children, Highscope Educational Research Foundation, and the West Lakes Early Learning Center. These organizations may provide networking opportunities.

According to foundation statements, they believe "nobody wants charity—they want true cocreated partnership." The foundation has explicitly moved away from showing up with a hypothesis and wanting partners to align with it, instead committing to follow the lead of partner communities.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of grantmaking. Timelines likely vary significantly based on the scope and nature of the partnership being developed through the co-creation process.

Success Rates

The foundation made 94 awards in 2024 and 71 grants in 2023. However, because the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success rates do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

For organizations that have received funding: Organizations that have received funding for three consecutive years must skip a year before reapplying (this applies to specific programs like out-of-school-time initiatives).

For unsuccessful inquiries: No specific reapplication waiting period is documented, though given the relationship-based approach, ongoing relationship building would be expected rather than formal reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Since the Bainum Family Foundation uses an invitation-only, co-creation approach rather than a traditional application process, "success" depends on building authentic partnerships. Based on the foundation's documented values and approach:

Lead with Community Voice

The foundation explicitly states that "members of partner communities are considered the real experts because of their lived experiences and deep understanding of community strengths and challenges." Organizations led by people with lived experience in the communities being served are strongly preferred. As they put it, real change happens "when the foundation listens to partner communities, builds transparent, trust-based relationships, and follows their lead as solutions are developed and implemented together."

Think Long-Term Systems Change, Not Short-Term Services

The $100 million five-year commitment was made specifically because "partners shared the importance of longer-term funding to create systemic change." CEO David Daniels emphasizes "reimagining a system to support children and families." Present solutions that address systemic issues, not just immediate needs.

Embrace True Partnership

The foundation has moved away from traditional funder-grantee power dynamics. In the Ward 8 partnership example, the foundation "originally planned to provide funding and get out of the way, but soon realized that was itself an assumption." When they talked with the community group, they learned partners wanted the foundation's voice in conversations and help promoting efforts and bringing in other funders. Be clear about what kind of partnership you envision.

Focus on These Specific Early Childhood Elements

Based on funded projects, the foundation prioritizes:

  • High-quality early learning centers serving infants and toddlers
  • Support and professional development for early childhood educators (the foundation hosted an event where Daniels said "We are here to celebrate you today" to early childhood educators)
  • Addressing child care access and equity
  • Family economic security as it relates to child wellbeing
  • Integration of health and mental health services

Geographic Alignment

While expanding nationally, the foundation has demonstrated deep commitment to Washington, D.C. (especially underserved neighborhoods like Ward 8), Orlando/Florida, California, and Washington state. Organizations in these areas may have advantages, particularly if working in communities experiencing racial and economic disparities.

Demonstrate Community Co-Design

The foundation funds community-designed solutions, not externally imposed programs. The West Lakes Early Learning Center and Ward 8 Community Economic Development initiatives both demonstrate community co-design. Show how community members have shaped your approach.

Align Language with Foundation Values

The foundation uses specific terminology: "co-creation," "trust-based philanthropy," "community-led" (not just community-informed), "systems change," "racial and economic disparities," "lived experience," and "reimagining." Use similar language if it authentically reflects your approach.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: No unsolicited proposals are accepted; all partnerships begin through relationship building and the foundation's proactive identification of community-led initiatives
  • Community leadership is non-negotiable: The foundation has explicitly shifted from community-informed to community-led approaches; organizations led by people with lived experience in the communities served are strongly preferred
  • Think five-year commitments: The foundation recently moved to longer-term funding cycles (five years, $100 million) specifically to enable systemic change; short-term project proposals are not the focus
  • Geographic sweet spots: Washington, D.C. (especially Ward 8), Florida (Orlando area), California, and Washington state are current priorities, with national expansion underway for early childhood work
  • Demonstrate co-creation in practice: The foundation wants partners who view them as collaborative partners, not just funders; be specific about what kind of partnership you envision beyond financial support
  • Assets and scale: With $746 million in assets and grants ranging from $100 to over $12 million (average $25,000), the foundation can support both grassroots initiatives and major infrastructure projects
  • Early childhood focus is exclusive: Outside of legacy programs for family interests, the foundation has consolidated exclusively on early childhood development (ages 0-8), including early learning, health, family economic security, and housing

References

← Back to US Funders Directory