Since opening its doors in 1992, Bader Philanthropies has supported institutions that reflect the passions, values, and enduring commitments of its founders—organizations that serve as anchors in their communities.
Over the years, this commitment has taken many forms: creating the Helen Bader Recital Hall at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in celebration of Helen’s love for performance; advancing leadership and service through support for Cardinal Stritch University; and investing in regional economic growth through a $5 million Program-Related Investment in Generation Growth Capital Fund I.
The Foundation has strengthened Jewish education through a $14 million permanent endowment for the Helen Bader Scholarship Fund and has honored founding board member Marvin Klitsner by supporting Tsad Kadima’s Educational Rehabilitative Center in Be’er Sheva, serving Israeli children with cerebral palsy.
Its dedication to the arts and education is also reflected in a $75 million grant to Queen’s University at Kingston, establishing the expanded Agnes Etherington Art Centre as the permanent home of the Bader Collection, including one of the most comprehensive collections in Canada of authenticated works by Rembrandt van Rijn and his circle. More recently, the Foundation has invested in the future of American Indian education through a five-year grant supporting the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s Electa Quinney Institute.
Together, these commitments reflect the founders’ enduring belief in education, the arts, economic opportunity, and the power of institutions to shape vibrant communities for generations to come.