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Bainum Family Foundation is a private corporation based in WASHINGTON, DC. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1969. The principal officer is Comm. It holds total assets of $731.8M. Annual income is reported at $56.3M. Total assets have grown from $187.6M in 2011 to $745.9M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 11 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2016 to 2023. Funding is distributed across 6 states, including Washington DC, Florida, California. According to available records, Bainum Family Foundation has made 401 grants totaling $22.6M, with a median grant of $25K. Annual giving has grown from $3.8M in 2020 to $6.6M in 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $8.3M distributed across 158 grants. Individual grants have ranged from N/A to $2M, with an average award of $56K. The foundation has supported 212 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in District of Columbia, Virginia, Massachusetts, which account for 30% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 31 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
## Approaching the Bainum Family Foundation
The Bainum Family Foundation is a private operating foundation with approximately $732 million in assets that has consolidated its grantmaking around a single priority: early childhood development. Under CEO David Daniels (appointed 2019), the foundation has adopted a community-centric, co-creation model that fundamentally differs from traditional philanthropy.
Theory of Change: The foundation believes that the first few years of life are critically important and that systemic change—not just programmatic interventions—is required to improve outcomes for young children. Their model rests on five interconnected pillars: early learning, mental health and well-being, health (including prenatal/perinatal), family economic security, and housing stability. They view these as inseparable factors in child development.
Alignment Signals: Organizations most likely to attract Bainum's attention demonstrate: (1) deep community roots and trust, particularly in underserved communities; (2) a focus on children birth to age 5; (3) capacity for systems-level thinking beyond direct service delivery; (4) commitment to equity and anti-racist frameworks; and (5) willingness to engage in long-term collaborative partnerships rather than transactional grant relationships.
Critical Note: Bainum does not accept unsolicited proposals. They identify and approach potential partners directly. The path to funding runs through relationship-building in early childhood networks, participation in convenings like DC Early EdX, and visibility within the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative and similar ecosystem organizations. Geographic proximity to their focus areas (DC Wards 7 and 8, Florida, and expanding nationally) is a significant advantage.
## Funding Patterns
Grant Volume and Size: - Annual giving: approximately $10-12 million per year across 70-94 grants - Grant range: $5 to $2,000,000 - Average grant size: approximately $116,000 - Largest recent grants: $12.75 million for an early learning center in Florida; $1 million to National Association For Family Child Care
Geographic Distribution: Primary funding areas are Washington DC (especially Wards 7 and 8), Florida (Orlando area), and California. Secondary states receiving grants include Maryland, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington state. International grantmaking through the Global Education Fund reaches countries including Ethiopia.
Sector Focus: The overwhelming majority of funding goes to early childhood education and development. Secondary areas include food security (through the Bainum Foundation Farm), faith-based education (Seventh-day Adventist Initiative), and global education. The foundation's $100 million, 5-year commitment signals a major expansion in both geographic reach and total giving.
Funding Duration: Bainum emphasizes longer-term funding relationships over one-time grants. CEO David Daniels has stated that "reimagining a system to support children and families requires giving those closest to the challenges the time and space they need to develop innovative solutions." Multi-year commitments are standard for core partners.
## Peer Comparison
The Bainum Family Foundation sits among a cohort of major private foundations focused on early childhood, though its operating foundation model and co-creation approach distinguish it from most peers.
| Foundation | Assets | Annual Giving | Focus | Geographic Reach | Accepts Unsolicited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bainum Family Foundation | $732M | $10-12M | Early childhood (birth-5), systems change | DC, FL, national, international | No |
| W.K. Kellogg Foundation | $7.3B | $300M+ | Children, families, communities | National, international | Yes (LOI) |
| Buffett Early Childhood Fund | $400M+ | $30M+ | Early childhood education | National | No |
| Bezos Day One Fund | $2B+ | $100M+ | Preschool access, homelessness | National | Yes (RFP) |
| Heising-Simons Foundation | $1.6B | $150M+ | Early childhood (among others) | National | Yes (LOI) |
| David and Lucile Packard Foundation | $8B | $300M+ | Children, health, conservation | CA, national | Yes (LOI) |
Key Differentiators: - Operating foundation model: Unlike most peers, Bainum runs programs directly (WeVision EarlyEd, DC Early EdX, Facility Fund) in addition to grantmaking. This makes them an unusually hands-on funder. - Co-creation philosophy: Bainum's explicit commitment to ceding power and co-creating with communities is more radical than the participatory grantmaking practiced by most peers. - Narrow focus: While peers like Kellogg and Packard spread giving across multiple issue areas, Bainum has consolidated almost entirely around early childhood, giving it outsized influence in this specific sector relative to its asset size. - Family governance: The Members' Committee structure (similar to Packard) gives family members ongoing strategic control, with third-generation involvement expanding into areas like climate and environmental justice through the G3 Fund.
## Recent Activity
$100 Million Commitment (2024): The foundation announced its largest-ever commitment—$100 million over five years dedicated to early childhood. This was driven by philanthropist Barbara Bainum and brings total family contributions to over $258 million. The commitment signals geographic expansion beyond DC and Florida into new regions nationally.
WeVision EarlyEd Solutions Lab: The foundation launched this flagship initiative to transform child care by establishing cohorts of providers modeling transformative solutions. The program defines what "ideal child care" looks like and works to make it a reality for families, representing a shift from incremental improvement to systemic reimagination.
Leadership Transition: David Daniels, the foundation's first long-term non-family CEO (since 2019), has led a significant cultural transformation emphasizing anti-racist frameworks, co-creation with communities, and ceding traditional philanthropic power. Barbara Bainum recently retired as chair, with third-generation family members taking on increased governance roles.
Global Education Fund Expansion: The foundation launched its fourth cohort of international early childhood grants, extending reach to organizations like UNICEF, International Rescue Committee, and Aga Khan Foundation in countries including Ethiopia.
Children's Equity Fund: The foundation operates a 501(c)(4) affiliate focused on policy, research, and political engagement for early childhood—a relatively uncommon structure that allows direct advocacy and lobbying that the foundation itself cannot do.
DC Early EdX: The annual professional development event for early childhood educators has continued since its 2021 launch, becoming a key convening in the DC early childhood ecosystem.
## Application Tips
1. You Cannot Apply—But You Can Position Yourself The Bainum Family Foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals or use formal RFP processes. All partnerships are initiated by the foundation. This means traditional grant-seeking strategies will not work. Instead, focus on visibility within the early childhood ecosystem, particularly in DC, Florida, and nationally.
2. Build Relationships in Their Networks Bainum identifies partners through their existing networks. Key entry points include: the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, NAEYC conferences, DC Early EdX, and local early childhood coalitions in DC Wards 7 and 8 or Central Florida. Being known and respected by current Bainum grantees (Educare DC, Bright Beginnings, Mamatoto Village, Community of Hope) significantly increases visibility.
3. Demonstrate Community Trust and Proximity The foundation has stated that "proximity and established community trust are the most critical aspects of due diligence when establishing new partnerships." They define experts as those closest to the problem—families and frontline practitioners. Organizations that can demonstrate deep community roots, trust, and lived-experience leadership will be prioritized over those with impressive credentials but limited community connection.
4. Align with Their Five Pillars Your work must connect to at least one of: early learning, mental health/well-being, health (prenatal/perinatal), family economic security, or housing stability. The strongest prospects address multiple pillars or demonstrate how their work creates systemic change across these interconnected areas.
5. Embrace Co-Creation, Not Compliance Bainum has moved from compliance-focused to outcomes-focused relationships. They want partners who will engage as equals in developing solutions, not organizations that will simply execute a predetermined program design. As CEO David Daniels has emphasized: "Nobody wants charity—they want true cocreated partnership."
6. Think Systems, Not Programs The foundation prioritizes systems-level change over individual program funding. Proposals that address workforce development, facility infrastructure, policy advocacy, or cross-sector coordination will resonate more than requests for direct service expansion alone.
7. Be Patient and Persistent Bainum invests in long-term relationships. Initial engagement may not lead to immediate funding. Demonstrating consistent, quality work in early childhood over time is the surest path to partnership.
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Dc initiative- the d.c. Wards 7 and 8 initiative: early learning: the first few years of life are critically important and can affectlearning, behavior and health over an entire lifetime, we support children's healthy development and learning from birth to age 3.under our current strategic plan, we have focused on increasingthe number of high-quality early learning seats for infants and toddlers. High-quality early learning programs are designed to comprehensively support a child's social, emotional, physical and cognitive development, while encouraging and supporting family engagement. We also help increase access to health and well-being services for young children and families.school mental health: working with a range or partners both nationally and locally, the foundation has researched, implemented and shared sustainable best practices to build the capacity for schools to establish comprehensive, high-quality school mental health support systems.
Expenses: $15.2M
Seventh-day adventist initiative- to honor our founders' commitment to faith-based education, the foundation's seventh-day adventist (sda) initiative works to support adventist schools, churches, hospitals and other organizations in creating environments where all children and families have equitable opportunities and resources to thrive.
Expenses: $6.5M
Food security initiative and farm- our food security initiative in collaboration with the bainum foundation farm, llc works with a range of partners to create a healthier, more equitable and more ecologically sound food system in the d.c. Region. One that nourishes children, families and communities.
Expenses: $3.1M
Core program supporting children from birth to age 5 through five interconnected priorities: Early Learning, Mental Health and Well-Being, Health (including Prenatal and Perinatal), Family Economic Security, and Housing Stability. Includes direct service partnerships with organizations like Bright Beginnings, Educare DC, and Mamatoto Village.
Transforms child care systems through Solutions Lab sites that demonstrate ideal care models with five core mindset shifts. Part of the foundation's $100 million commitment to the early childhood sector.
Technical assistance and financing partnership with Reinvestment Fund for facility improvements, prioritizing smaller programs and home-based settings.
International grantmaking supporting early childhood programs globally, with grantees including UNICEF, International Rescue Committee, Aga Khan Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, and Global Fund for Children.
Legacy program honoring the founders' commitment to faith-based education, supporting Adventist schools, churches, hospitals and other organizations in creating environments where all children and families have equitable opportunities and resources to thrive.
Works with partners to create a healthier, more equitable and more ecologically sound food system in the D.C. region that nourishes children, families and communities.
Annual professional development event for early childhood educators in Washington DC, held since 2021.
## Funding Patterns Grant Volume and Size: - Annual giving: approximately $10-12 million per year across 70-94 grants - Grant range: $5 to $2,000,000 - Average grant size: approximately $116,000 - Largest recent grants: $12.75 million for an early learning center in Florida; $1 million to National Association For Family Child Care.
Bainum Family Foundation has distributed a total of $22.6M across 401 grants. The median grant size is $25K, with an average of $56K. Individual grants have ranged from N/A to $2M.
## Approaching the Bainum Family Foundation The Bainum Family Foundation is a private operating foundation with approximately $732 million in assets that has consolidated its grantmaking around a single priority: early childhood development. Under CEO David Daniels (appointed 2019), the foundation has adopted a community-centric, co-creation model that fundamentally differs from traditional philanthropy.
Bainum Family Foundation is headquartered in WASHINGTON, DC. While based in DC, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 31 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Daniels | CEO | $474K | $37K | $511K |
| Leila L Otis | CFO | $245K | $18K | $263K |
| Mae Cheung | SECRETARY | $178K | $21K | $199K |
| Tammy Mann | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Barbara Bainum | CHAIR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Charles Ledsinger | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Roberto Rodriguez | DIRECTOR (LEFT NOV 2021) | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Scott Renschler | VICE CHAIR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Kenny Emson | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Alexander Froom | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Brooke Bainum | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$52.6M
Total Assets
$745.9M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$731.6M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
$16.8M
Net Investment Income
$21.4M
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
401
Total Giving
$22.6M
Average Grant
$56K
Median Grant
$25K
Unique Recipients
212
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Adventist Dream Academy CorporationRECOVERABLE GRANT FOR SCHOOL PROPERTY PURCHASE | Dorchester, MA | $2M | 2023 |
| Brynmor Early Education & PreschoolTO SERVE AS A WEVISION EARLY ED SOLUTIONS LAB SITE | Falls Church, VA | $600K | 2023 |
| 4p Foods IncEXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY GRANT | Elkwood, VA | $300K | 2023 |
| International Rescue Committee IncLEARNING THROUGH PLAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN IN JIJIGA, SOMALI REGION | New York, NY | $200K | 2023 |
| Stanford UniversityRAPID- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SURVEY | Los Angeles, CA | $182K | 2023 |
| Aga Khan FoundationINTEGRATED ECD INITIATIVE IN BIHAR, INDIA | Washington, DC | $170K | 2023 |
| Unicef UsaADVANCING INTEGRATED EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OF CROSS-BORDER AND MARKET TRADERS IN RWANDA | New York, NY | $168K | 2023 |
| Brac UsaBRAC PLAY LAB HOME-BASED DAYCARE PROJECT IN BANGLADESH | New York, NY | $151K | 2023 |
| DonorschooseTEACHERS SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS - PRE- K AND KINDERGARTEN | New York, NY | $150K | 2023 |
| Global Fund For ChildrenSUPPORTING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT IN HONDURAS (SEED-HN) | Washington, DC | $150K | 2023 |
| Onesky For All ChildrenBUILDING BETTER FUTURES, VIETNAM | Berkeley, CA | $150K | 2023 |
| Catholic Relief ServicesCATALYZING QUALITY SUSTAINABLE AND REPLICABLE DAYCARE SERVICES IN LESOTHO | Baltimore, MD | $150K | 2023 |
| IactEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN IN EASTERN CHAD | Redondo Beach, CA | $150K | 2023 |
| American Academy Of PediatricsTHRIVE COALITION: BUILDING U.S. GOVERNMENT CHAMPIONS FOR GLOBAL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT | Itasca, IL | $125K | 2023 |
| Good Food InstituteGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $100K | 2023 |
| Maryland Philanthropy NetworkTO HELP SUPPORT MPN TO CONVENE GROUPS TO DISCUSS POLICY ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN THE DMV AREA. | Baltimore, MD | $100K | 2023 |
| Lighthouse Central FloridaGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Orlando, FL | $100K | 2023 |
| Bronx-Manhattan Seventh-Day Adventist SchoolFY23 COVID-RELATED EMERGENCY FUNDING | Bronx, NY | $100K | 2023 |
| Global Campaign For Education-UsGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $100K | 2023 |
| Baltimore Junior AcademyFY23 COVID EMERGENCY FUNDING | Baltimore, MD | $100K | 2023 |
| Georgetown UniversityA BREAKTHROUGH COLLABORATIVE SERIES ON PROMOTING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN ON THE MOVE ACROSS THE AMERICAS | Washington, DC | $100K | 2023 |
| Bellwether Education Partners IncSMH POLICY ACADEMY GRANT | Sudbury, MA | $95K | 2023 |
| Project DrawdownGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Boston, MA | $75K | 2023 |
| Caf AmericaGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR MOBILE CRECHES | New Delhi | $75K | 2023 |
| Generation HopeHR EXEC AND CONTRACT SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $60K | 2023 |
| University Of Maryland College Park FoundationTRAUMA INFORMED RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE PARTNERSHIPS IN LOW-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES | College Park, MD | $55K | 2023 |
| Sound Child Care SolutionsGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Seattle, WA | $50K | 2023 |
| Child Care Aware Of WashingtonWORFORCE-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO CHILD CARE PROVIDER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION | Tacoma, WA | $50K | 2023 |
| Page 15 OrgGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Orlando, FL | $50K | 2023 |
| Refugee & Immigrant TransitionsGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | San Francisco, CA | $50K | 2023 |
| El Nido Family CentersGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Los Angeles, CA | $50K | 2023 |
| Community Resources For ChildrenGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Napa, CA | $50K | 2023 |
| Art With A HeartGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Baltimore, MD | $50K | 2023 |
| Wu Yee Children'S ServicesGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | San Francisco, CA | $50K | 2023 |
| Washington Regional Association Of GrantmakersTO HELP SUPPORT WRAG TO CONVENE GROUPS TO DISCUSS POLICY ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN THE DMV AREA | Washington, DC | $50K | 2023 |
| West Virginia University FoundationEQUAL ACCESS TO THE ARTS FUND | Morgantown, WV | $50K | 2023 |
| New Hope For KidsGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Maitland, FL | $50K | 2023 |
| OneamericaEARLY LEARNING POLICY FELLOWSHIP | Seattle, WA | $50K | 2023 |
| Canal AllianceGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | San Rafael, CA | $45K | 2023 |
| Developing CommunitiesGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | St Helena, CA | $25K | 2023 |
| Immigration Institute Of The Bay AreaTHE DACA EDUCATION PROGRAM IN NAPA COUNTY | San Francisco, CA | $25K | 2023 |
| Lincoln FamiliesMANDELA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER | Oakland, CA | $25K | 2023 |
| Pro Bono CounselingGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Baltimore, MD | $25K | 2023 |
| Ummeed Child Development FundGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Framingham, MA | $25K | 2023 |
| Open Arms Perinatal ServicesGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Seattle, WA | $25K | 2023 |
| Powerful VoicesGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Tacoma, WA | $25K | 2023 |
| Seattle University3 CORE CAPACITY BUILDING STRATEGIES: SCHOOL READINESS; COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND PARENT/CAREGIVER ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP | Seattle, WA | $25K | 2023 |
| Restore A ChildSUPPORT OF REFUGEE CHILDREN IN UKRAINE | West Palm Beach, FL | $20K | 2023 |
| Bread For The CityEXECUTIVE TEAM WELLNESS EFFORTS | Washington, DC | $15K | 2023 |