Baltic-American Freedom Foundation

The Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF) is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening ties between the United States and the Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Founded in 2010 as the legacy foundation of the Baltic-American Enterprise Fund (BalAEF), BAFF's mission is to deepen connections through educational exchange programs centered on economic growth and democratic values.

History

BAFF was established following the legacy of the Baltic-American Enterprise Fund (BalAEF), which was created in 1994 to support private sector development in the Baltic states. BalAEF provided over 19,800 mortgage loans and invested in more than 125 businesses. Upon exiting its investments in late 2008, the fund's leadership created BAFF to continue fostering ties between the U.S. and the Baltic region. Authorized by USAID, BAFF operates with an endowment exceeding $35 million.

Programs

BAFF offers several programs to promote education and exchange:

• Professional Internship Program: This program provides university students and recent graduates from the Baltic states with the opportunity to intern at U.S. companies or nonprofits, enhancing their professional skills and career prospects. Scholarships can cover costs up to $30,000 per year.

• Research Scholar Program: BAFF offers fellowships of up to $60,000 to professors and researchers from the Baltic states to conduct research projects in the United States for up to one year.

• Baltic-American Dialogue: This program facilitates the exchange of ideas by funding Baltic public organizations to host U.S. speakers or invite Baltic experts to present at U.S. conferences.

• Baltic-American Security Exchange (BASE): BASE supports national security efforts in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by facilitating knowledge exchanges between Baltic and U.S. security experts.

• Innovation Awards: These awards recognize and support innovative projects and collaborations between Baltic and U.S. entities.

• Leadership Academy: High school students from the Baltic states receive scholarships to participate in summer programs in the U.S., focusing on entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

Governance and Impact

BAFF's programs are administered by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Since its inception, BAFF has disbursed nearly $21 million in scholarships and grants to over 800 individuals and 250 organizations. BAFF's activities aim to enhance goodwill and collaborations between the U.S. and the Baltic states, fostering economic growth and promoting democratic values.