William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,358,528 (2024)
• Total Assets: $26.4 million
• Grant Range: $1,500 - $45,000
• Typical Award: $10,000
• Geographic Focus: Baltimore metropolitan area only
• Decision Time: 2-3 months (quarterly board meetings)
• Application Method: Rolling with quarterly deadlines

Contact Details

Director of Baker Fund Grants Program: David London Email: dlondon@bakerfund.org Phone: 410-332-4172 x162

Website: https://bcf.org/for-grantseekers/other-grant-opportunities/william-g-baker-jr-memorial-fund/

Administered by: Baltimore Community Foundation

Overview

The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund was established in 1964 by Mary S. Baker in memory of her husband to benefit the citizens of Baltimore. With total assets of $26.4 million, the fund distributes over $1.3 million annually to support arts and culture in the Baltimore metropolitan area. In 2007, the Baker Fund shifted its focus entirely to arts and culture, making it the largest private dedicated arts funder in the region. The Baltimore Community Foundation has managed the Baker Fund's grants program since 1985. The fund supports both individual artists (through the Baker Artist Awards program, which has awarded over $1.3 million to more than 150 artists since 2009) and arts organizations, ranging from small emerging groups to the area's largest cultural institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organizational Grants ($1,500 - $45,000)

• Strengthening Organizational and Artistic Practices
• Innovative Programming Initiatives
• Cultural Sector Collaboration

Capacity Building Grants

• Board training and governance
• Strategic planning
• Fundraising and marketing expertise
• Budgeting and financial planning
• Program planning
• Staff professional development
• Technology upgrades and training
• Operating support for key partners

Reserve Fund Grants (up to $50,000 total per organization)

• Working capital reserve or fixed asset replacement
• Requires 1:1 match
• Capped at $10,000 per year
• Reviewed quarterly at board meetings

Small Grants (up to $1,500)

• Accepted year-round for facility enhancements (not renovations)

Individual Artist Support

• Baker Artist Awards: $90,000 distributed annually
• Six $10,000 Mary Sawyers Baker Prizes (one per discipline)
• One additional $30,000 Mary Sawyers Imboden Prize
• Disciplines: Visual Arts, Film/Video, Interdisciplinary, Literary Arts, Performance, Music

Priority Areas

• Organizational capacity and effectiveness
• Innovative programming that deepens audience engagement or reaches new audiences
• Projects presenting or exhibiting work by Baltimore area artists
• Strategic alliances promoting collaboration across the cultural sector
• Programs for organizations with budgets larger than $75,000

What They Don't Fund

• Religious purposes
• Direct individual grants (except through Baker Artist Awards)
• Multi-year funding commitments
• Event sponsorships
• Capital campaigns or building renovations
• Services or programs outside the Baltimore metropolitan area
• Replacing decreased public sector funding

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Connie E. Imboden, President
• Board members include Gwen Davidson, Laura L. Gamble, and Steven G. Ziger

Fund Management:

• David London, Director, Baker Fund Grants Program (appointed January 2025, bringing over 25 years of arts and culture experience, including 15 years in Baltimore)

Historical Leadership: Mary Sawyers Imboden, beloved niece of founder Mary Sawyers Baker, served on the Board of Governors from 1976-1999. During her tenure, she was instrumental in forming the Fund's guidelines and procedures to better reflect her aunt's wishes. Mary Imboden emphasized innovation and specifically meeting the needs of Baltimore.

Director's Philosophy: David London has emphasized refining language around priorities "to help ensure clarity, accessibility, and ease of applying." He views transitional moments as opportunities "to examine how things are done to see if there is any opportunity to clarify and streamline the application and reporting associated with the grantmaking process."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry Submit a two-page letter of inquiry via email to David London at dlondon@bakerfund.org

Include:

• Basic background on your organization
• Current operating budget
• The identified need(s) your project proposes to address
• Overview of the proposed project
• Amount you intend to request

Step 2: Full Application (by invitation only) If there is a match between your project and the fund's mission, you will be invited to submit a full application through the GOapply online platform.

Application Deadlines (2026)

Letters of inquiry must be received one month prior to the proposal deadline.

Proposal Deadlines and Board Meeting Dates:

• January 16 → Board meeting March 12
• March 13 → Board meeting May 14
• June 13 → Board meeting September 17
• September 26 → Board meeting December 10
• January 8, 2027 → Board meeting March (2027)

Small Grants: Requests up to $1,500 are accepted year-round.

Reserve Fund Grants: Reviewed quarterly at regularly scheduled board meetings.

Decision Timeline

Applications follow a quarterly review cycle:

• Submit letter of inquiry (at least one month before proposal deadline)
• If invited, submit full proposal by deadline
• Board meets approximately 2-3 months after proposal deadline
• Typical total timeline: 3-4 months from letter of inquiry to decision

Notifications are sent via email following board meetings.

Success Rates

Specific organizational grant success rates are not publicly available. However, for the Baker Artist Awards program, approximately 36 finalists are selected from over 800 active portfolios (4.5%), with 6 final winners chosen annually.

Reapplication Policy

The fund does not publish a specific reapplication policy or waiting period for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations may submit letters of inquiry at any quarterly deadline. Contact David London at dlondon@bakerfund.org for guidance on reapplication timing.

Application Success Factors

Based on the fund's stated priorities and director's guidance:

Alignment with Mission: The fund seeks projects that demonstrate how arts and culture "play a central role in the development of healthy individuals and thriving communities." Applications should explicitly connect proposed work to enriching metropolitan Baltimore life and supporting civic engagement.

Clear Organizational Need: David London emphasizes clarity in applications. Successful proposals clearly articulate the specific organizational need being addressed, whether capacity building, innovative programming, or collaboration.

Baltimore Focus: Projects must serve the Baltimore metropolitan area. Applications should demonstrate deep understanding of and connection to Baltimore's cultural community and audiences.

For Capacity Grants: The fund seeks to strengthen organizations' abilities to operate at the highest levels. Successful applications demonstrate how capacity improvements (technology, training, strategic planning, etc.) will directly enhance the organization's ability to serve its mission.

For Programming Grants: Priority goes to innovative initiatives that either deepen audience engagement or attract new audiences. Organizations with budgets larger than $75,000 should focus on presenting or exhibiting work by Baltimore area artists.

Strategic Collaboration: The fund values "strategic alliances that support collaboration and cooperation across the cultural community." Applications involving partnerships or sector-wide benefits are viewed favorably.

Accessibility and Inclusion: Organizations must not discriminate based on race, creed, national origin, political persuasion, age, physical handicap, gender, or sexual orientation. Applications should reflect commitment to cultural experiences that "welcome people of all backgrounds."

Recent Examples of Supported Work:

• 2024 Baker Artist Award recipients include Judah Adashi (Music), Kelley Bell (Interdisciplinary Arts), Albert Birney (Film/Video), Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn (Literary Arts), Matt Reeves (Performance), and Stephen Towns (Visual Arts)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with a letter of inquiry: The two-page letter format allows for initial vetting before investing time in a full proposal. Be clear and concise about organizational need and project alignment with fund priorities.

• Plan ahead: Submit letters of inquiry at least one month before proposal deadlines. Full decision timeline runs 3-4 months from initial inquiry.

• Baltimore-only focus: This is non-negotiable. All funded work must serve the Baltimore metropolitan area.

• Capacity building is valued: Don't overlook organizational capacity grants for technology, training, strategic planning, or professional development—these are priority areas.

• Clarity matters: New director David London is actively working to clarify priorities and streamline application processes. Take advantage of pre-application contact to ensure understanding of current priorities.

• No multi-year commitments: Plan for annual applications if ongoing support is needed.

• Consider Reserve Fund option: The reserve fund grant program (with 1:1 match, up to $10,000/year and $50,000 total) offers significant capacity-building opportunity for eligible organizations.

• Be innovative: The fund explicitly seeks "innovative programming initiatives" that deepen or expand audience engagement.

References

• Baltimore Community Foundation. "William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund." https://bcf.org/for-grantseekers/other-grant-opportunities/william-g-baker-jr-memorial-fund/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Baltimore Community Foundation. "The Baker Fund: Supporting Baltimore's Arts and Culture for Over 60 Years." https://www.bcf.org/baker-fund-qa/ (Accessed January 2026)

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund - Form 990-PF (2024)." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/526057178 (Accessed January 2026)

• Baltimore Fishbowl. "David London named Director of the Baker Fund Grants Program." https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/david-london-named-director-of-the-baker-fund-grants-program-to-replace-melissa-warlow-who-is-retiring/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Baker Artist Portfolio. "Mission & History." https://bakerartist.org/mission-history (Accessed January 2026)

• Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. "GBCA announces the 2024 Baker Artist Awardees." https://bakerartist.org/2024Announce (Accessed January 2026)