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Alvin H Baum Family Fund

Annual Giving
$3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,008,995 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $41.4 million
  • Geographic Focus: Chicagoland area, Illinois
  • Total Grants Since 2017: $23,336,000+ to 200+ organizations
  • Application Method: No public application process (invitation only/preselected organizations)

Contact Details

Address: 1717 Deerfield Road, Suite 100, Deerfield, IL 60015

Phone: (224) 369-0734

Website: https://baumfund.org

Executive Director: Loretta Namovic

President: Joel M. Friedman

Overview

The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund was established as a trust in 1945 and incorporated in 1952 by Alvin H. Baum, a successful Chicago investment firm operator, and his wife Ann Baum. With total assets of $41.4 million, the Fund distributed $3,008,995 in grants in 2023. Since 2017, the Fund has awarded more than $23.3 million to over 200 organizations. The Fund hired its first Executive Director, Erika Cornelisen, in 2015, marking a strategic shift toward more professional grantmaking. Following Cornelisen's passing in 2021, Loretta Namovic assumed the Executive Director role. The Fund's mission is to better the lives of those who live and work predominantly in the Chicagoland area through innovative grants and collaborations that create healthier, more equitable, and peaceful communities. Recent focus areas have included pandemic relief and social justice support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Fund does not operate structured grant programs with specific amounts. Instead, they make grants to preselected organizations on a continuing, calendar-year basis.

Special Initiatives:

  • Alvin H. Baum BRIGHTER FUTURES Scholarships: Individual scholarships and graduation awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 for students, particularly through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
  • Baum Internships: Funded internship opportunities at law schools (Loyola University Chicago, UIC Law School, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, University of Illinois College of Law) and nonprofit organizations
  • Network Philanthropy Initiative: Allows Baum Family Network members to nominate nonprofits for grants

Priority Areas

Education

  • Strategies from elementary through university levels
  • Academic achievement
  • Student involvement and activism
  • Equitable access
  • Research and innovation
  • Higher education institutions

Environment

  • Climate disruption awareness
  • Public policy influence
  • Grassroots activism
  • Green skills training
  • Urban agriculture
  • Clean energy solutions
  • Environmental legal services

Health and Human Services

  • Community-powered organizations
  • Innovative research
  • Organizational capacity building
  • In-patient medical care
  • HIV and AIDS programs
  • Youth development

Violence Prevention

  • Comprehensive, community-informed interventions
  • Programs targeting youth and young adults at various risk levels
  • Member of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities

Additional Focus Areas

  • Housing
  • Arts

What They Don't Fund

The Fund's website does not explicitly list exclusions, but the Fund only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Governance and Leadership

Joel M. Friedman, President Born and raised in Chicago (Austin and Niles neighborhoods), Friedman holds a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois-Champaign and attended John Marshall Law School. He worked as an IRS revenue agent before practicing law for over 25 years, first as a partner at Horwood Marcus & Berk and currently with Warady & Davis LLP. As President, Friedman oversees the Fund's investments, strategy, and grantmaking, having grown the grant portfolio to over 70 organizations with a focus on education, health, human services, environment, and violence prevention. He receives compensation of $330,000 for 30 hours per week. Friedman is married to Iris and has two sons and three grandchildren.

Other Board Members

  • Ross Friedman, Vice President
  • Iris Friedman, Secretary
  • Kevin Friedman, Director

Loretta Namovic, Executive Director Namovic brings over 25 years of experience in fundraising and academic administration. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Marquette University. Her career includes serving as Director of Development at various universities, Special Assistant to the President at Loyola University Chicago, and President of St. Scholastica Academy. As Executive Director, Namovic manages the Fund's day-to-day operations, provides grantee guidance on fundraising, board management, and evaluation, and facilitates collaboration and community relationships.

Founders' Philosophy Alvin H. Baum (1901-1982) and Ann Baum (born 1922) were lifelong philanthropists supporting diverse charitable causes. Their approach emphasized support for "the disadvantaged, the young, the elderly, religious/educational/civic organizations," with a willingness to "take risks and seize opportunities" and create "leverage of both funds and non-financial resources." The founders focused on understanding "causes rather than the symptoms of society's most wicked challenges."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund does not have a public application process. The Fund only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funds. Organizations cannot directly apply for funding.

Grants are made on a continuing basis throughout the calendar year to organizations selected by the trustees and staff.

Getting on Their Radar

Baum Family Network Connections: The Network Philanthropy Initiative allows lifetime members of the Alvin H. Baum Family Network (former scholarship recipients and interns from Loyola University Chicago, UIC Law School, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, University of Illinois College of Law, and Big Brothers Big Sisters) to nominate nonprofits for grants. Building relationships with Network members could create a pathway to consideration.

Collaborative Membership: The Fund is a member of "Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness" and the "Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities." Organizations working within these collaborative initiatives may have increased visibility to the Fund.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Fund operates on a calendar year basis and makes grants on a continuing basis throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With over 200 organizations funded since 2017, the Fund appears to maintain ongoing relationships with grantees rather than operating a competitive application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the Fund's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since the Fund does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that the Fund has chosen to support demonstrate the following characteristics:

Alignment with Funding Philosophy The founders' legacy emphasizes organizations willing to "take risks and seize opportunities" and those that focus on understanding "causes rather than the symptoms of society's most wicked challenges." The Fund values innovative approaches over traditional service delivery.

Geographic Focus Nearly all grants go to organizations operating in and around Chicago. Illinois-based organizations, particularly those serving the Chicagoland area, align with the Fund's stated mission.

Capacity Building Orientation The Fund explicitly recognizes "organizational development and capacity building" as essential components of their grantmaking. Organizations demonstrating commitment to institutional strengthening may be preferred.

Community-Centered Approach As stated on their website, the Fund takes a "community-centered approach" and values organizations powered by the communities they serve.

Network Connections Organizations with connections to the Baum Family Network—which includes attorneys, academics, consultants, and executive directors working in health, human services, education, housing, and environmental issues—may have increased visibility.

Recent Funding Examples Organizations funded by the Fund span diverse sectors including Bernie's Book Bank, Merit School of Music, Chicago-Kent College of Law (education); LaRabida Children's Hospital, Rush University Medical Center (healthcare); Cara Collective, Inspiration Corporation, Night Ministry (social services); Environmental Defense Fund, Green City Market (environment); and Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, Better Government Association (community development).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists: The Fund operates by invitation only and selects organizations through trustee discretion and staff recommendations. Direct applications are not accepted.
  • Network relationships are crucial: The Baum Family Network's Philanthropy Initiative provides the most concrete pathway for organizations to be nominated for funding consideration.
  • Geographic focus is strict: The Fund focuses "predominantly" on the Chicagoland area, with nearly all grants going to Illinois-based organizations.
  • Capacity building matters: The Fund explicitly values organizational development and capacity building, not just programmatic work.
  • Innovation and risk-taking are valued: The founders' legacy emphasizes supporting organizations willing to take risks and address root causes rather than symptoms.
  • Collaborative connections help: Organizations involved in collaborative funders' initiatives (Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness, Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities) may gain visibility.
  • Long-term relationships are the model: With $23.3 million distributed to 200+ organizations since 2017, the Fund appears to maintain ongoing partnerships rather than one-time grants.

References

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