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Patricia Bauman

Occupation:

Left-Wing Political Activist

Philanthropist

Former Vice-Chair, Democracy Alliance

President, Bauman Family Foundation

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Patricia Bauman is a philanthropist and president of the Bauman Family Foundation, 1 a foundation funder of major left-wing organizations such as the Brennan Center for Justice,2 the Natural Resources Defense Council,3 Media Matters for America,4 and the Center for Community Change. 5 She holds a number of official positions with various left-of-center organizations, including serving as a trustee for the Natural Resources Defense Council and board chair for the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund,6 as co-chair of the board7 of the William J. Brennan Center for Justice, and as board vice-chair for Democracy Alliance. 8 She is also on the boards of NEO Philanthropy,9 the Working America Education Fund,10 and Catalist. 11

Bauman Foundation board members are affiliated with numerous left-wing causes and organizations, including David Brock (founder of Media Matters for America), Anne Bartley (a former trustee for Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors), and Deepak Bhargava (executive director of the Center for Community Change). 12 From July 2008 through June 2019, the foundation gave out more than $63 million, most of it to left-of-center organizations. 13 Over roughly the same period, Bauman personally donated more than $1.7 million to federal candidates and committees supporting the election of Democrats. 14

Bauman became president of the foundation in 1987, following the death of her father, philanthropist Lionel R. Bauman, the foundation’s founder. 15 She is married to John Landrum Bryant, who is also the foundation’s vice president. 16 As of 2015, Bauman and Bryant were paid $364,895 in total annual compensation by the foundation for their positions as president and vice president. 17 Prior to running the foundation, Bauman did consulting work for the Milbank Memorial Fund and the AFL-CIO. 18 She has degrees from Radcliffe (sister school to and now a part of Harvard), the Columbia School of Public Health, and the Georgetown University Law Center. 19

Background

Patricia Bauman is the daughter of New York attorney, real estate investor, and philanthropist Lionel R. Bauman. She became president of the Bauman Family Foundation after his death in 1987. The foundation’s biography of Mr. Bauman states that he left his entire estate to the foundation. 2021
As of June 2015, foundation records showed Ms. Bauman as a full-time (40 hours per week) contributor to its work receiving total annual compensation of $230,000. 22

Before taking over as president of the foundation, she had worked as a consultant developing the Milbank Memorial Fund’s occupational health program for farm workers. She also organized conferences regarding occupational and environmental diseases for the AFL-CIO. She has degrees from Radcliff/Harvard College, Columbia School of Public Health and the Georgetown University Law Center. 23

Her husband, John Landrum Bryant, is the Bauman Family Foundation’s vice president, and as of 2015 was paid total annual compensation of $134,895. 24 The foundation’s biography describes Bryant as “a polymath designer of jewelry, furniture, lighting and bath and home accessories” who was president of the National Park Foundation prior to joining the Bauman Family Foundation. He is responsible for the foundation’s investment policies and oversight of its programs. 25

Bryant was sued in 2012 for sexual harassment after a man stating he had been working as the housekeeper for Bryant and Bauman accused Bryant of trying to coerce him into a sexual relationship. 26 As of early 2019 it is unclear how or if the lawsuit had been resolved.

Affiliations

Bauman is a board member for several left-wing organizations, several of which have received funding from the Bauman Family Foundation.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Bauman is a trustee for the Natural Resources Defense Council and board chair for the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, NRDC’s 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. 27 From 2008 through early 2019 the Bauman Family Foundation gave $2,975,000 to NRDC. 28 From August 2013 through April 2018, Patricia Bauman personally donated a total of $20,000 to the NRDC Action Fund. 29

William J. Brennan Center for Justice (Brennan Center)

Bauman is co-chair of the board30 of the William J. Brennan Center for Justice, a left wing law center and think tank housed at New York University Law School. 31 From 2008 through early 2019, the Bauman Family Foundation gave $1,750,000 to the Brennan Center. 32

NEO Philanthropy

Bauman is on the board of directors at NEO Philanthropy, a fiscal clearinghouse organization serving left-wing causes. 33 From 2008 through early 2019, the Bauman Family Foundation gave $7,852,000 to NEO. 34

Democracy Alliance (DA)

Bauman is the board vice-chair35 for Democracy Alliance, a collaboration of wealthy donors who provide support for many of the same left-wing causes Bauman and her foundation are affiliated with, such as Catalist, Media Matters for America, Brennan Center for Justice, Center for Community Change, Economic Policy Institute and Working America Education Fund. 36

Working America Education Fund

Bauman is on the board of directors of the Working America Education Fund, the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the left-wing Working America, an advocacy arm for the AFL-CIO. 37 From 2008 through early 2019 the Bauman Family Foundation gave $2,050,000 to the Working America Education Fund. 38

Catalist

Bauman is on the board of managers39 of Catalist, a data firm that was purpose-built to serve left-wing campaigns and organizations. Catalist has close ties with the Democracy Alliance. 40

Bauman Family Foundation

The Bauman Family Foundation was created by Patricia’s father, Lionel R. Bauman. She became president upon his death in 1987. He left his entire estate to the foundation. The mission statement makes clear the giving pattern will be skewed heavily toward left-wing “progressive” causes. 41 As of June 2017 it reported net assets of $51 million. 42

From July 2008 through June 2019, the foundation gave out more than $63 million. For the July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 giving period, $5.6 million of the $5.8 million in grants were given to left-wing organizations. 43

The following are some of the total donations (2008 through early 2019) from the foundation to several left-wing organizations:

Bauman Foundation staff and board members59 have the following affiliations to these organizations:

Political Contributions

During the six election cycles from 2008 to 2018 Bauman personally gave more than $1.7 million to federal candidates and committees supporting the Presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, other prominent Democrats seeking the White House, and also more than a dozen Democratic U.S. Senators, members of Congress, and candidates for office. According to Federal Election Commission records, she gave the following amounts to federal candidates per two-year federal election cycle:

  • 2008: $119,16560
  • 2010: $79,70061
  • 2012: $150,90062
  • 2014: $230,90063
  • 2016: $950,94964
  • 2018: $188,04065

Bauman’s nearly $951,000 in federal political giving during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election represents more than half (55 percent) of her total giving for the six campaign seasons and more than six times as much as she gave in any of the other five cycles.

More than half of her 2016 donations ($500,000) went to the Women Vote! super PAC, part of $36.7 million the committee raised and $33.9 million it spent that cycle. 66 Women Vote! made independent expenditures for the election of female Democrats and against Republicans in 2016, with the largest share of spending ($11.5 million) dedicated to the U.S. Presidential general election (expenditures either in support of Hillary Clinton or opposed to Donald Trump). 67

The second-largest recipient of her federal giving in 2016 was the Working for Us super PAC, which received $105,000. Women Vote! also made a $500,000 transfer to Working for Us in 2016. The $500,000 Bauman gave to Women Vote! occurred in 2015, while the transfer of the same amount from Women Vote! to Working for Us took place in March 2016. 68 69

These two donations – $605,000 total – comprised one-third of the nearly $1.8 million Working for Us spent during the 2016 cycle. Nearly all of the spending for Working for Us (almost $1.7 million) was independent expenditures supporting the U.S. Senate campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Maryland). 70

Bauman also gave nearly $19,000 in 2016 direct donations to Edwards’ U.S. House and Senate campaign committees. 71 Bauman’s support for Edwards dates back to Edwards’ first campaign for the U.S. House in 2006, when Bauman hosted two receptions for the candidate, which featured among the guests left-wing activist Gloria Steinem, left-wing political operative David Brock, and folk singer Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary). 72

Edwards was beaten in the 2016 Maryland U.S. Senate primary by then-U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland). Van Hollen won the general election and became U.S. Senator from Maryland in January 2017.

References

  1. “About the Bauman Foundation | The Bauman Foundation.” Baumanfoundation.Org. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/foundation
  2. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=brennan&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  3. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=natural+resources&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  4. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2007-2008.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=media+matters&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  5. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=center+for+community+change&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  6. “Board of Trustees.” Natural Resources Defense Council. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.nrdc.org/board-trustees
  7. “Board of Directors.” Brennan Center for Justice. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.brennancenter.org/board-directors
  8. “Patricia Bauman: Board vice-chair.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://democracyalliance.org/people/patricia-bauman/
  9. “Our Board of Directors.” NEO Philanthropy. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://neophilanthropy.org/team/#board-of-directors
  10. Working America Education Fund. IRS Form 990, 2014.
  11. “Our Board of Directors.” NEO Philanthropy. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://neophilanthropy.org/team/#board-of-directors
  12. “Board of Advisors.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/board
  13. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=17-18&name=&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  14. “Donor Lookup: Patricia Bauman.” Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org). Accessed February 13, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=patricia+Bauman&cycle=&state=DC&zip=&employ=&cand=
  15. “Lionel Bauman, founder.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/lionel-bauman
  16. “Board of Advisors.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/board
  17. Bauman Family Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2014.
  18. “Patricia Bauman.” New Jersey Work Environment Council. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.njwec.org/PDF/2014Journal/AdJournal_2014_Bauman.pdf
  19. “Patricia Bauman.” New Jersey Work Environment Council. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.njwec.org/PDF/2014Journal/AdJournal_2014_Bauman.pdf
  20. “Lionel Bauman, founder.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/lionel-bauman
  21. “About the Bauman Foundation | The Bauman Foundation.” Baumanfoundation.Org. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/foundation
  22. Bauman Family Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2014.
  23. “Patricia Bauman.” New Jersey Work Environment Council. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.njwec.org/PDF/2014Journal/AdJournal_2014_Bauman.pdf
  24. Bauman Family Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2014.
  25. “Board of Advisors.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/board
  26. McMorris, Bill. “Report: Husband of Democratic donor accused of sexually harassing domestic worker.” Washington Free Beacon. September 10, 2012. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://freebeacon.com/politics/house-boy-blues/
  27. “Board of Trustees.” Natural Resources Defense Council. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.nrdc.org/board-trustees
  28. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=natural+resources&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  29. “Donor Lookup: Patricia Bauman.” Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org). Accessed February 13, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=patricia+Bauman&cycle=&state=&zip=&employ=&cand=NRDC
  30. “Board of Directors.” Brennan Center for Justice. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.brennancenter.org/board-directors
  31. “A Powerhouse for Advocacy.” NYU School of Law. May 18, 2017. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.law.nyu.edu/news/brennan-center-for-justice-public-policy-advocacy-voting-rights-campaign-finance-criminal-justice-reform
  32. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=brennan&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  33. “Our Board of Directors.” NEO Philanthropy. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://neophilanthropy.org/team/#board-of-directors
  34. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=neo+philanthropy&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  35. “Patricia Bauman: Board vice-chair.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://democracyalliance.org/people/patricia-bauman/
  36. “Recommended organizations.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://democracyalliance.org/investments/
  37. Working America Education Fund. IRS Form 990, 2014.
  38. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=working+america&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  39. “Our Board of Directors.” NEO Philanthropy. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://neophilanthropy.org/team/#board-of-directors
  40. Markay, Lachlan. “EXCLUSIVE: Democracy Alliance Network Revealed.” Washington Free Beacon. May 19, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://freebeacon.com/politics/exclusive-democracy-alliance-network-revealed/ 
  41. “About the Bauman Foundation | The Bauman Foundation.” Baumanfoundation.Org. Accessed February 12, 2019. http://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/foundation
  42. Bauman Family Foundation. IRS Form 990. 2016.
  43. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=17-18&name=&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  44. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=tides+foundation&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  45. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=neo+philanthropy&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  46. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=rockefeller+philan&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  47. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=new+venture+fund&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  48. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=natural+resources&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  49. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=voter+participation+center&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  50. “Center for Effective Government.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grantee/34
  51. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=working+america&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  52. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=brennan&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  53. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=center+for+community+change&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  54. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=economic+policy&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  55. “Labor/Community Strategy Center | The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/index.php/grantee/27
  56. “Totals by Fiscal Year| The Bauman Foundation.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=public+citizen&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  57. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2007-2008.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=media+matters&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  58. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2007-2008.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grants/search?amount=All&fiscal_year=&name=project+on+government&items_per_page=All&=Apply
  59. “Board of Advisors.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2019. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/about-us/board
  60. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2007-2008.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2008&min_date=01%2F01%2F2007&max_date=12%2F31%2F2008&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  61. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2009-2010.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2010&min_date=01%2F01%2F2009&max_date=12%2F31%2F2010&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  62. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2011-2012.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2012&min_date=01%2F01%2F2011&max_date=12%2F31%2F2012&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  63. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2013-2014.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2014&min_date=01%2F01%2F2013&max_date=12%2F31%2F2014&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  64. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2015-2016.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2008&min_date=01%2F01%2F2007&max_date=12%2F31%2F2008&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  65. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2017-2018.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2018&min_date=01%2F01%2F2017&max_date=12%2F31%2F2018&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  66. “Women Vote!: Financial summary: 2015-2016” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00473918/?cycle=2016
  67. “Women Vote!: Spending: 2015-2016.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00473918/?cycle=2016&tab=spending
  68. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2015-2016.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2008&min_date=01%2F01%2F2007&max_date=12%2F31%2F2008&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  69. “WORKING FOR US POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE INC: Raising: 2015-2016.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00430876/?cycle=2016&tab=raising
  70. “WORKING FOR US POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE INC: Spending: 2015-2016.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00430876/?cycle=2016&tab=spending
  71. “Individual contributions: Patricia Bauman: 2015-2016.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 11, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2008&min_date=01%2F01%2F2007&max_date=12%2F31%2F2008&contributor_name=Patricia+Bauman
  72. “HONORING DONNA EDWARDS.” Washington Life. Accessed February 11, 2019. http://washingtonlife.com/issues/september-2006/reception-donna-edwards/
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