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Alfred And Isabel Bader 2014 Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$11.0M

Alfred And Isabel Bader 2014 Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,961,370 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (discretionary grantmaking)
  • Grant Range: Information not publicly available
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Milwaukee, WI, with international interests in Canada, Central Europe, and Israel

Contact Details

Address: Milwaukee, WI
EIN: 471295073
Phone: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available
Website: No dedicated website

Note: This trust is part of the broader Bader philanthropic network but operates as a separate private foundation.

Overview

The Alfred and Isabel Bader 2014 Charitable Trust was established in 2014 as a private independent foundation honoring the legacy of Dr. Alfred Bader (1924-2018) and Isabel Bader (1926-2022). Dr. Alfred Bader was a Holocaust survivor, chemist, co-founder of Aldrich Chemical Company (now Sigma-Aldrich), renowned art collector of Dutch and Flemish Baroque art, and philanthropist. Isabel Overton Bader shared his passion for the arts, music, and education. The trust operates with significant annual giving of approximately $11 million, though with very limited grant activity (typically one major award per year), suggesting it makes large discretionary grants to carefully selected organizations rather than operating an open application process. The trust's grantmaking appears aligned with the Baders' lifelong interests in chemistry education, the arts (particularly European art), Jewish education, and institutions with which they had longstanding relationships such as Queen's University in Canada and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Alfred and Isabel Bader 2014 Charitable Trust does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Based on available information, the trust makes discretionary grants decided by its trustees.

Priority Areas

While the trust does not publish formal priority areas, the Baders' documented philanthropic interests included:

  • Higher Education: Particularly chemistry and science education, with strong ties to Queen's University (Ontario, Canada) and Harvard University
  • Arts and Culture: European art programs, museum endowments, and performing arts centers
  • Jewish Education: Educational programs and institutions serving Jewish communities
  • Chemical Sciences: Research programs and scholarships for economically disadvantaged students in chemistry
  • Community Development: Milwaukee-area institutions and programs serving low-income populations

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, the trust likely focuses on organizations with established relationships to the Bader family legacy.

Governance and Leadership

Specific information about current trustees and board members is not publicly available in standard nonprofit databases. The trust files IRS Form 990-PF annually, which contains governance information, but these details are not readily accessible without reviewing the complete tax filings.

The trust operates as part of the broader Bader philanthropic network, which also includes Bader Philanthropies Inc., though these are separate legal entities with different EINs and governance structures.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Alfred and Isabel Bader 2014 Charitable Trust operates as a private foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

The trust's grant activity pattern—reporting only one award in 2023 despite distributing nearly $11 million—indicates it makes large grants to pre-selected organizations, likely institutions with longstanding relationships to the Bader family legacy.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—grants are made at the discretion of trustees rather than through application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the trust does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received Bader family support typically share these characteristics:

Alignment with Bader Legacy Interests:

  • Strong chemistry/science education programs
  • European art collections or programs
  • Jewish educational missions
  • Institutions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or with Queen's University connections
  • Programs serving economically disadvantaged students in STEM fields

Example Recipients from Broader Bader Philanthropy:

  • Milwaukee Art Museum received $4.4 million (2023) to establish the Isabel and Alfred Bader European Art Program Endowment Fund
  • Queen's University received multiple major gifts including Herstmonceux Castle and funding for the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
  • American Chemical Society's Project SEED program received ongoing support for scholarships

Key Characteristics:

  • Long-term institutional relationships rather than one-off projects
  • Endowment-focused giving that creates lasting impact
  • Named programs honoring the Bader legacy
  • Excellence in fields the Baders personally valued

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Applications: This trust does not accept unsolicited grant applications and operates through trustee discretion
  • Legacy-Focused: Grantmaking centers on institutions and causes closely tied to Dr. Alfred and Isabel Bader's personal interests and relationships
  • Large, Transformational Grants: The pattern suggests occasional, very large grants rather than numerous smaller awards
  • Relationship-Based: Recipients typically have established, longstanding connections to the Bader family
  • Separate from Bader Philanthropies: While related, the Alfred and Isabel Bader 2014 Charitable Trust is distinct from Bader Philanthropies Inc., which does accept applications for certain programs
  • Consider Bader Philanthropies Instead: Organizations seeking Bader family support should investigate Bader Philanthropies Inc. (www.bader.org), which operates the Isabel and Alfred Bader Fund with a public application process
  • Geographic Focus: Primary emphasis on Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with international interests in Canada, Israel, and Central Europe

References

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