The Bader Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in April 2010 and based in Arlington, Virginia. The foundation describes itself as being concerned with civil rights and free speech issues, funding organizations that advocate around conservative and libertarian policy issues.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.1M
+5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
-7.9% YoY
Grant Count
36
+5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
-13.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bader Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on:
- Civil rights and free speech issues
- Campus free speech
- Federal bureaucracy reform
- Science policy
- Conservative censorship concerns
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published mission statement.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates as a private foundation making grants at the discretion of its trustee. No formal grant programs with specific names or designations are publicly documented. The foundation does not have a public website or publicly available email for inquiries.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- California
- National (United States)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $80,085,245
- Total Revenue: $6,614,531
- Total Expenses: $4,248,286
- Total Liabilities: $188,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $76,104,585
- Total Revenue: $6,224,355
- Total Expenses: $4,254,445
- Total Giving: $3,343,800 to $3,629,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,085,245 | $76,104,585 | $80,016,264 |
| Revenue | $6,614,531 | $6,224,355 | $4,914,026 |
| Expenses | $4,248,286 | $4,254,445 | $5,158,032 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,356,187 | $3,648,172 | $4,704,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,843,470 | $3,244,365 | $4,499,994 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,667,714 | $3,951,085 | $3,974,044 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
197 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Speech First ($430,000), Family Reunion ($400,000), Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty ($321,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM SCOTTSDALE, AZ | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $90,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $17,000 |
| BECKET FUND FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $210,000 |
| CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FALLS CHURCH, VA | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,800 |
| CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $300,000 |
| CENTER FOR PROSECUTOR INTEGRITY ROCKVILLE, MD | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $120,000 |
| CENTER OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $30,000 |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $12,000 |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE LEGAL FOUNDATION SACRAMENTO, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $158,000 |
| DO NO HARM GLEN ALLEN, VA | GENERAL CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $18,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Hans F. Bader - Sole trustee and attorney. Previously served as Senior Attorney at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (2003-2017) and later worked with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HANS BADER | TRUSTEE | 5 | $20,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported various organizations including:
Family Promise of Ozaukee County (Wisconsin)
Investing in Solutions: Bader Philanthropies Supports Family Promise of\The Parenting Network (Milwaukee area)
OATS (Organization for Appalachian Transformation Services)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bader Family Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on: • Civil rights and free speech issues • Campus free speech • Federal bureaucracy reform • Science policy • Conservative censorship concerns The foundation does not maintain a public website or published mission statement.
How do I apply for a grant from Bader Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 34 grant awards in 2023 • Made 42 grants in 2022 • Maintains consistent annual grant-making activity with 40-50 awards annually • Between 2009 and 2022, distributed nearly $36 million in contributions **Grant Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $3,000 to $700,000 • Grant range documented as $10,000 to $106,735 (average) **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Speech First: $420,000 • Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty: $315,000 • Center for Individual Rights: $300…
Where does Bader Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • District of Columbia • Virginia • California • National (United States)
What size grants does Bader Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Bader Family Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $3.3M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bader Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bader Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bader Family Foundation's EIN?
Bader Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6359747. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bader Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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