Baustert Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11,510,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A - No public application process
• Decision Time: N/A - Invitation only
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Illinois, Minnesota, District of Columbia, and other locations

Contact Details

• Administrative Contact: c/o Alex Bakkum, US Bank EP-MN-S14, St. Paul, MN
• Website: Not available
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Application Process: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The Baustert Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2016 by James and Theo Baustert, with assets of approximately $77.8 million. James Baustert co-founded Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. in 1971, a pioneering medical device company that manufactured implantable cardiac rhythm management devices. The foundation makes annual grants totaling over $11 million to support education, health sciences, and human services organizations primarily in Illinois and Minnesota. In 2024, the foundation made its largest gift to date - $40 million to Northern Illinois University for the development of the Baustert Bahwell Health Technology Center. The foundation operates as a traditional family foundation with all five board members from the Baustert family, and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000,000. In 2024, they awarded 31 grants totaling $11,510,000, with an average grant size of approximately $38,000. Major transformational gifts can reach $40 million for strategic initiatives aligned with their mission.

Priority Areas

• Education: Higher education institutions, educational programs, and student scholarships
• Health Sciences: Health technology, medical research, and healthcare education
• Human Services: Community organizations providing essential services
• Philanthropy and Volunteerism: Support for other grantmaking foundations and charitable initiatives

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's invitation-only approach and focus areas suggest they do not fund:

• Individual requests
• Unsolicited proposals
• Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
• Programs unrelated to their core mission areas

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a five-member board of directors, all from the Baustert family serving without compensation:

• James L. Baustert - President and Director, co-founder of Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
• Theo J. Baustert - Director, studied speech-language pathology at Northern Illinois University
• Brian Jeffrey Baustert - Director
• Julia L. Baustert - Director
• Timothy J. Baustert - Director

The foundation's administrative operations are managed through US Bank as trustee, with Alex Bakkum serving as the primary contact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Baustert Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations they have identified and vetted independently.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and board composition, organizations that have received support typically have:

• Pre-existing relationships with board members through professional or community connections
• Strong alignment with the founders' background in medical technology and health sciences
• Geographic presence in Minnesota (where the foundation is based) or Illinois (where major gifts have been made)
• Established track records in education, health, or human services sectors

The foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through board members' networks and community involvement, particularly in the Twin Cities area and Northern Illinois region.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the board's discretion without a public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding demonstrate:

• Strong institutional capacity: Recipients like Northern Illinois University show ability to manage large-scale projects
• Clear alignment with founders' interests: Health technology, medical innovation, and education initiatives resonate with James Baustert's medical device industry background
• Geographic relevance: Most grants go to organizations in Minnesota and Illinois where the family has strong ties
• Transformational potential: The foundation appears interested in projects that create lasting impact, as evidenced by their $40 million gift for a health technology center
• Established credibility: All identified recipients are well-established organizations with strong reputations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Baustert Family Foundation is a substantial funder ($11.5 million annually) but does not accept unsolicited applications
• Focus areas strongly align with the founders' professional background in medical technology and health sciences
• The foundation has capacity for both large transformational gifts ($40 million) and smaller community grants ($5,000-$38,000)
• Geographic focus is primarily Minnesota and Illinois, reflecting the family's personal and professional ties
• Organizations cannot apply directly but may benefit from building relationships within the Twin Cities or Northern Illinois philanthropic communities
• The foundation's giving has grown significantly since 2016, suggesting expanding philanthropic ambitions
• Board composition (all family members) indicates highly personal decision-making process based on family values and interests

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - IRS Form 990-PF filings for Baustert Family Foundation (2021-2023). Accessed February 2026.
• Instrumentl Foundation Directory - Baustert Family Foundation Profile. Accessed February 2026.
• Candid Foundation Directory Online - Baustert Family Foundation Overview. Accessed February 2026.
• Northern Illinois University News Release - "$40 Million Gift from James and Theo Baustert" (2024). Accessed February 2026.
• Cause IQ - Baustert Family Foundation Organizational Profile. Accessed February 2026.
• Grantmakers.io - Baustert Family Foundation Board and Grant Data. Accessed February 2026.