Nonprofits and Education
President and CEO
Bader Philanthropies | Milwaukee
Daniel Bader has led Bader Philanthropies since its founding as the Helen Bader Foundation 30 years ago. The foundation is among the largest in the greater Milwaukee area and focuses its grantmaking on Alzheimer’s and aging, the arts, youth programming and workforce development. To date, it has provided over $426 million in funding, more than $248 million of which has been invested in southeastern Wisconsin. In his role, Bader works with the board of directors to set the organizational direction and long-term strategies for the foundation.
The foundation has made strategic investments in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood, establishing its headquarters there in 2018 and converting a neighboring building into a center for wellness services last year. Earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation dispersed about $2.3 million to 63 organizations. More recently, it awarded a $5 million grant to support the development of The Opportunity Center, a sports complex proposed for Milwaukee’s north side.
Bader’s board service includes the Greater Milwaukee Committee for Community Development, Relief International and Rogers Behavioral Health System. He is also a director of Milwaukee-based Generation Growth Capital Inc. and Pasadena, California-based Materia Inc.
Education: Bachelor’s, Rochester Institute of Technology