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H & F Baker Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$14.3M
000

H & F Baker Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.6-14.3 million (2023-2024)
  • Total Assets: $97.1 million (2024)
  • Application Type: Invitation only / No public application process
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Washington
  • Primary Beneficiaries: Northwestern University, Stanford University, NYU Langone Hospitals

Contact Details

Address: 667 Madison Ave., 21st Floor, New York, NY 10065

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The H & F Baker Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established by Felix and Heather Baker. Felix Baker is the co-founder of Baker Brothers Advisors (now Baker Brothers Investments), a prominent biotech investment firm. Heather Baker graduated from Northwestern University. The foundation holds approximately $97.1 million in assets and distributed between $13.6-14.3 million in charitable grants in recent years (2023-2024). The foundation focuses its philanthropy on education (particularly their alma maters Northwestern and Stanford), healthcare institutions, and Jewish causes. Felix serves on Stanford University's Board of Trustees and advisory councils overseeing Stanford's interdisciplinary biosciences institutes, while Heather serves on the board of overseers at NYU Langone Medical Center and is involved with the Center for Hearing and Communication.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined parameters. Instead, it makes strategic gifts to institutions and organizations with which the Bakers have personal connections.

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants, the foundation supports:

Education

  • Northwestern University (supporting the Jewish Studies Program, Weinberg College Annual Fund, undergraduate financial aid, and the Baker Program in Undergraduate Research)
  • Stanford University (Bio-X doctoral fellowships, Medical Scientist Training Program, immunology research at Stanford School of Medicine)

Healthcare & Medical Research

  • NYU Langone Hospitals
  • Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) - approximately $400,000 in grants between 2015-2017
  • Medical research, particularly in biosciences and immunology

Jewish Causes

  • Camp Ramah
  • Hillel at the University of Washington
  • Park Avenue Synagogue
  • Jewish Studies programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only supports preselected charitable organizations, typically those with which Felix and Heather Baker have established personal or professional connections.

Governance and Leadership

Felix Baker - President, Treasurer, and Secretary

  • Co-founder of Baker Brothers Advisors (Baker Brothers Investments)
  • Stanford University Board of Trustees member
  • Stanford University advisory council member overseeing Stanford Bio-X, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, and Stanford ChEM-H
  • PhD in immunology from Stanford University
  • Undergraduate degree in biology from Stanford University
  • Estimated net worth: $2.8 billion from biotech investments

Heather Baker - Director

  • Northwestern University alumna (Class of 1992)
  • Board of Overseers member at NYU Langone Medical Center
  • Board member at Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC)

Both officers serve without compensation.

Heather Baker has stated about undergraduate research: "Academic research is transformative for undergraduate students" - reflecting the couple's commitment to supporting research opportunities for students at their alma maters.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The H & F Baker Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of Felix and Heather Baker to organizations with which they have established relationships, typically through:

  • Board service and institutional affiliations (Stanford, Northwestern, NYU Langone)
  • Personal involvement and governance roles
  • Long-standing connections to Jewish community organizations
  • Professional networks in the biotech and medical research sectors

Getting on Their Radar

Board and Institutional Connections: The Bakers make grants primarily to institutions where they serve in leadership roles. Felix serves on Stanford's Board of Trustees and advisory councils for biosciences institutes, while Heather serves on the board at NYU Langone and the Center for Hearing and Communication. Organizations connected to these institutions may have indirect pathways to consideration.

Northwestern and Stanford Alumni Networks: Given the Bakers' strong support of their alma maters, programs and initiatives at Northwestern (particularly Weinberg College) and Stanford (particularly biosciences, immunology, and medical research) that align with existing funded programs may find opportunities through institutional advancement offices.

Biotech and Medical Research Networks: Felix Baker's deep involvement in biotech investment and immunology research suggests that cutting-edge medical research institutions with which he has professional connections through Baker Brothers Investments may be positioned for consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made proactively by the trustees rather than through an application review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from organizations with which they do not already have established relationships.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their funding patterns reveals:

Institutional Relationships Matter Most: The foundation's largest grants consistently go to institutions where Felix and Heather Baker hold board positions or leadership roles - Northwestern, Stanford, and NYU Langone.

Multi-Year Sustained Support: The Bakers demonstrate commitment to causes through sustained giving over multiple years rather than one-time grants (e.g., $2.1 million to Stanford from 2015-2017, ongoing support to Northwestern's Baker Program).

Personal Connection to Mission: Felix's PhD in immunology from Stanford directly aligns with the foundation's support for Stanford's immunology research and biosciences programs. Heather's involvement with hearing and communication issues aligns with support for CHC.

Education + Research Focus: The Baker Program in Undergraduate Research at Northwestern, which bears their name, reflects their belief that "academic research is transformative for undergraduate students" and represents a model of the type of educational program they champion.

Jewish Community Engagement: Consistent support for Jewish organizations including camps, Hillel chapters, and synagogues indicates sustained commitment to Jewish causes as a funding priority.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds - direct applications from unknown organizations will not be considered
  • Board-Connected Institutions Have Inside Track: Northwestern, Stanford, and NYU Langone receive the lion's share of funding due to the Bakers' governance roles
  • Focus on Education and Medical Research: The foundation strongly favors academic institutions, particularly programs combining education with cutting-edge research in biosciences and medicine
  • Personal Connections Drive Decisions: Grants flow to organizations where Felix and Heather Baker have direct board involvement, alumni connections, or professional relationships
  • Multi-Million Dollar Capacity: With $97.1 million in assets and $13.6-14.3 million in annual giving, this is a significant funder, but access is limited to their preselected circle
  • Jewish Causes Are Consistent Priority: Jewish community organizations, educational programs, and cultural institutions receive regular support
  • Long-Term Relationship Builder: The Bakers make sustained, multi-year commitments rather than one-off grants, suggesting they value deep partnerships over broad distribution

References

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