Overview: Longtime Maryland Democrats, the Bainums have been reliable fundraisers for their party. Stewart Bainum Jr. made his money first when he took over his father’s nursing home business, Manor Care, then ventured out on his own in the hotel industry. The couple gave millions to help Joe Biden unseat Donald Trump.
Location: Fulton, MD
Total Donated (2016-2020): $5,019,600 (between the two)
Top Recipients: DCCC, Unite the Country, DSCC
Key Issues: Education, Anti-Poverty
Largest Donation to Date: $2 million to Unite the Country
Profile Main Body: The Bainums owe their wealth in large part to Stewart Bainum Sr., who founded the nursing home chain ManorCare, Inc. Stewart Bainum Jr. would take over the business in 1987 and go on to head Choice Hotels International, but before that, he served in the Maryland state legislature—first in the state House of Delegates then the state Senate. As an elected Democrat, he became a skilled fundraiser and even raised a record-setting $1 million in his failed bid for Congress. Bainum and his wife Sandy, a professional actor, singer and dancer, move much of their philanthropy through the Bainum Family Foundation, which focuses on educational opportunities and anti-poverty initiatives. One of their recent grants committed $12.75 million to build a new learning center for infants and toddlers in Florida.
On the political scene, the Bainums have been longtime donors to the Democratic Party. Living just outside Washington, D.C., the Bainums became known during President Barack Obama’s administration as can’t-miss fundraiser hosts within the Beltway—the couple hosted Obama at a reelection event that brought in $2.5 million in 2012. The Bainums routinely support Democrats in Maryland’s state legislature and make donations to candidates around the country and gifts to the party’s national PACs and funds. While the couple gave relatively modest gifts in support of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, they have since ratcheted up their giving: In 2020, they’ve collectively given $1.23 million to the Biden Victory Fund, $2 million to anti-Trump Unite the Country PAC, and tens of thousands more to the DCCC and other Democratic Party funds.
Ideological Vibe: Solidly liberal. As Stewart is a former Democratic politician himself, the Bainums have maintained their party loyalty throughout their lives. Their close relationships with some of the party’s most influential figures and lack of notable gifts to the party’s new batch of progressive indicate they skew more toward the establishment of the party and see winning power from conservatives as the top priority.
Hits and Misses: Stewart was more successful as a candidate at the state level than the federal level; but throughout his career, he’s been a skilled fundraiser. He helped raise significant money for Obama ahead of his reelection and was deeply invested in getting Joe Biden to unseat President Donald Trump. When donating directly to candidates around the country, the Bainums tend to back incumbents, rarely investing in challengers.
Looking Forward: Expect the Bainums to continue their pattern of standard liberal donations, giving most to the party and social welfare initiatives while standing ready to raise funds when needed.
Relationships: Choice Hotels International—Steward Bainum Jr.—chairman of the board
Contact Information: N/A