The Baker Foundation
The Baker Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation in Tacoma, Washington that provides grants, scholarships, and youth programs to nonprofits and graduating high school seniors in Pierce County. Established in 1987 with $1.5M from the Baker family's Tacoma News Tribune sale.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersTacoma, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Baker Foundation does
The Baker Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation headquartered at 110 S. 9th Street, Suite 300, Tacoma, Washington, that operates as a grant-making endowment serving nonprofits and graduating high school seniors in Pierce County. Founded in 1986/1987 by Elbert H. Baker II with $1.5 million from the sale of the Tacoma News Tribune to McClatchy Newspapers, the foundation disburses Program Grants averaging $2,500-$10,000, Capital Grants of $25,000 each, and Endowment Grants of $25,000 each, plus scholarships of $2,000 per year for up to four years of college. Funding decisions are made by a Board of Directors at bi-annual meetings with application deadlines of April 1st (Program and Endowment Grants) and September 1st (Capital Grants).
The foundation's product surface spans five named programs: Local Public High School Scholarships, Simply Symphonic youth education (in partnership with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, reaching approximately 6,000 fifth-grade students annually), Program Grants, Capital Grants, and Endowment Grants, with an additional specialty scholarship supporting low-income children with diabetes to attend Panther Day Camp. The named grantee portfolio spans arts and culture (Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum), healthcare (Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Diabetes Association of Pierce County), early childhood education (Birth to Three Development Services), and social services (Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children's Museum of Tacoma, Special Olympics Washington, United Cerebral Palsy).
The foundation operates on an endowment economics model rather than commercial revenue: the trust grows by approximately $100,000 in assets per year and disperses at least five percent of total assets annually to qualified recipients. The foundation is family-controlled, with founder's grandson Robert W. Bethke as Executive Director (since 1995) and Sydney J. Parker as Administrative Director (since inception in 1986). Geographic scope is restricted to Pierce County, Washington, with no public API, software platform, or technology infrastructure beyond a static WordPress-based informational website.
The Baker Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Baker Foundation
- Legal name
- The Baker Foundation
- Website
- https://bakerfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Baker Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation in Tacoma, Washington that provides grants, scholarships, and youth programs to nonprofits and graduating high school seniors in Pierce County. Established in 1987 with $1.5M from the Baker family's Tacoma News Tribune sale.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Baker Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation Grant-Making
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where The Baker Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tacoma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Baker Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Endowment Distribution: The foundation operates as a charitable endowment that grows approximately $100,000 annually in assets and distributes at least 5% of its total assets each year to qualified recipients. The foundation was established with $1.5 million from the 1986 sale of The Tacoma News Tribune.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Program Grants - Average between $2,500 and $10,000 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Capital Grants - $25,000 each |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Endowment Grants - $25,000 each |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Student Scholarships - $2,000/year for up to four years |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
The Baker Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Baker Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that distributes grants and scholarships to support youth programs, arts, education, and community health initiatives in Pierce County, Washington. It provides Program Grants ($2,500–$10,000), Capital Grants ($25,000 each), Endowment Grants ($25,000 each), Local Public High School Scholarships ($2,000/year for up to four years), and partners with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra to deliver the Simply Symphonic youth education program reaching approximately 6,000 fifth-grade students annually.
Product overview
The Baker Foundation is a charitable foundation established in 1987 by Elbert H. Baker II following the sale of the Tacoma News Tribune. The Foundation operates as a unified grant-making organization offering five distinct programs: Local Public High School Scholarships providing $2,000/year for up to four years to graduating seniors; Program Grants averaging $2,500-$10,000 for organizational projects; Capital and Endowment Grants of $25,000 each for facility and permanent fund purposes; and the Simply Symphonic youth education program in partnership with Tacoma Symphony Orchestra reaching approximately 6,000 students annually. All funding is directed to 501(c)(3) organizations and scholarships serving youth in Pierce County, Washington, with grant decisions made at bi-annual board meetings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Local Public High School Scholarships
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $300,000 in scholarships funded between 2013-2017
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Baker Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Baker Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Baker Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights2 records
The Baker Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Washington State–headquartered mega-foundation with a far broader global mission. Comparable as a Washington-rooted grantmaker, though it operates at vastly different scale and scope.
Regional players
- Seattle Foundation: Washington state's largest community foundation, serving the greater Puget Sound region. Comparable community-foundation model and grantmaking focus, but with broader geography and a much larger asset base.
- The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust: Vancouver, WA–based regional foundation supporting education, arts, and human services across the Pacific Northwest. Comparable mission and grantmaking focus, though operating at a significantly larger scale.
Direct peers
- The Ben B. Cheney Foundation: Tacoma-based family foundation that funds civic, educational, and cultural projects in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable in scope, geographic focus, and family-led governance model.
- Greater Tacoma Community Foundation: The largest community foundation serving Pierce County, WA. Directly comparable as a Pierce County–focused grantmaker supporting nonprofits, education, and arts in the same geographic footprint.
- The Norcliffe Foundation: Pacific Northwest family foundation funding education, health, and arts. Comparable family-led governance and regional grantmaking focus on Washington State nonprofits.
- Community Foundation of South Puget Sound: Community foundation serving South Puget Sound communities including Pierce and Thurston counties. Directly comparable community-foundation model with overlapping service geography and grantmaking focus.
- The Hazel Miller Foundation: Everett, WA–based family foundation funding education and basic human needs. Comparable in family-foundation structure and Pacific Northwest grantmaking scope, with geographic adjacency.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Baker Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Baker Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Baker Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Baker Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Baker Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Baker Foundation
What does The Baker Foundation do?
The Baker Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that distributes grants and scholarships to support youth programs, arts, education, and community health initiatives in Pierce County, Washington. It provides Program Grants ($2,500–$10,000), Capital Grants ($25,000 each), Endowment Grants ($25,000 each), Local Public High School Scholarships ($2,000/year for up to four years), and partners with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra to deliver the Simply Symphonic youth education program reaching approximately 6,000 fifth-grade students annually.
Is The Baker Foundation a public or private company?
The Baker Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Baker Foundation founded?
The Baker Foundation was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Baker Foundation based?
The Baker Foundation is headquartered in Tacoma, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Baker Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: endowment Distribution.
Who are The Baker Foundation's main competitors?
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Seattle Foundation and The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Direct peers are The Ben B. Cheney Foundation, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, The Norcliffe Foundation, Community Foundation of South Puget Sound and The Hazel Miller Foundation.
Does The Baker Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Baker Foundation.
What industry is The Baker Foundation in?
The Baker Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation Grant-Making. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.