As President of the Helen Bader Foundation, Daniel Bader is responsible for ensuring that the Foundation continually furthers his late mother's dreams and aspirations. Since 1992, the Foundation has made grants and facilitated idea sharing in support of a range of charitable efforts, primarily in Wisconsin and Israel.
A Milwaukee native, Bader is devoted to using the Foundation’s intellectual and financial resources to best serve people in need. His primary day-to-day responsibilities include: developing programmatic and operational strategies; facilitating community relations and outreach to policymakers and businesses; and ensuring long-term financial stability.
Bader works with the Foundation staff in partnering with community organizations on issues of importance to residents of Milwaukee and Wisconsin. For a first-hand look at the situation in Israel, he visits Israel several times each year to research programs for potential funding. In addition, he oversees the Foundation’s human resources management, communications, and grant reviews.
Bader is a frequent speaker on subjects affecting philanthropy and nonprofit organizations, and he is an active participant in local public policy and civic leadership groups. Bader also serves on the boards of a number of local and national organizations, including: the Greater Milwaukee Committee for Community Development, International Centre for Democratic Transition (Budapest, Hungary), Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario), and Rochester Institute of Technology.
Bader holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2006, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his efforts to improve the quality of life in the city.
Bader has varied work experience in high-technology fields, and he is currently chairman of Granite Microsystems, Inc., a Mequon, Wis.-based manufacturer of custom-integrated computers and related products for original equipment manufacturers and industrial clients. Bader is also a director of Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals, based in Grafton, Wis.
Bader, 46, resides on Milwaukee’s east side with his wife, Linda, and their three children.
About the Foundation: The Milwaukee-based Helen Bader Foundation, Inc., supports innovative projects and programs that advance the well-being of people and promote successful relationships with their families and communities. Awarding an average of $11 million annually, the Foundation currently concentrates its grantmaking in five program areas: Alzheimer’s and Aging; Early Childhood Development in Israel; Economic Development; Jewish Life and Learning; and Sankofa-Youth Development. The Foundation has awarded more than $156 million in grants since it was established in 1992.
1992 United Way of Greater Milwaukee - The Billy and Ethel Heller Award
1993: Congregation Beth Jehudah - Avir Yakov Humanitarian Award by
1993: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc.: Partners in Service Award
1994: Wisconsin Maternal and Child Health Coalition: Special Achievement in the Promotion of Maternal and Child Health Services Award
1995: Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee: MVP Award
1998: America's Black Holocaust Museum - "The Emancipation Award"
1999: American Jewish Committee - Community Service Human Relations Award
2001: United Community Center - "Friend of Hispanic Community" Award
2006: Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2006: American Jewish Committee: Centennial Human Relations Award, co-recipient with Dr. Alfred Bader
2007: State of Israel Bonds: Tribute Award
Milwaukee Aging Consortium: Excellence Award
