Search Through St. Louis city Grants for Nonprofits in Missouri

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Cisco welcomes applications for Global Impact Cash Grants from community partners around the world who share our vision and offer an innovative approach to a critical social challenge.

We identify, incubate, and develop innovative solutions with the most impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We’re looking for programs that fit within our investment areas, serve the underserved, and leverage technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services. We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. An initial information form is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application.

Social Investment Areas

At Cisco, we make social investments in three areas where we believe our technology and our people can make the biggest impact—education, economic empowerment, and crisis response, the last of which incorporates shelter, water, food, and disaster relief. Together, these investment areas help people overcome barriers of poverty and inequality, and make a lasting difference by fostering strong global communities.

Education Investments

Our strategy is to inclusively invest in technology-based solutions that increase equitable access to education while improving student performance, engagement, and career exploration. We support K-12 solutions that emphasize science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as literacy. We also consider programs that teach environmental sustainability, eliminate barriers to accessing climate change education, and invite student engagement globally to positively affect the environment.

What we look for:

• Innovative early grade solutions using the internet and technology to bridge the barriers preventing access to education for underserved students globally.
• Solutions that positively affect student attendance, attitudes, and behavior while inspiring action by students to improve learning outcomes, whether they participate in person, online, or in blended learning environments. 
• Solutions with high potential to replicate and scale globally, thereby increasing the availability of evidence-based solutions that support student-centricity, teacher capacity in the classroom, and increased parental participation to help students learn and develop.

Economic Empowerment

Our strategy is to invest in early stage, tech-enabled solutions that provide equitable access to the knowledge, skills, and resources that people need to support themselves and their families toward resilience, independence, and economic security.

Our goal is to support solutions that benefit individuals and families, and that contribute to local community growth and economic development in a sustainable economy.

We target our support in three interconnected areas:

• Skills development to help job seekers secure dignified employment and long-term career pathways in technology or other sectors, including environmental sustainability/green jobs.
• Inclusive entrepreneurship with small businesses as engines of local growth as well as high growth potential start-ups as large-scale job creators nationally and internationally, in technology or other sectors, including environment sustainability/green businesses.
• Banking the unbanked through relevant and affordable financial products and capacity building services.

Cisco Crisis Response

We seek to help overcome the cycle of poverty and dependence and achieve a more sustainable future through strategic investments. We back organizations that successfully address critical needs of underserved communities, because those who have their basic needs met are better equipped to learn and thrive.

What we look for:

• Innovative solutions that increase the capacity of grantees to deliver their products and services more effectively and efficiently
• Design and implementation of web-based tools that increase the availability of, or improve access to, products and services that are necessary for people to survive and thrive
• Programs that increase access to clean water, food, shelter, or disaster relief and promote a more sustainable future for all
  • By policy, relief campaigns respond to significant natural disaster and humanitarian crises as opposed to those caused by human conflict. Also by policy, our investments in this area do not include healthcare solutions.

Climate Impact

Our strategy is to invest US$100 million in Cisco Foundation funds over the next decade to help reverse the impact of climate change, working toward a sustainable and regenerative future for all.

The commitment includes both grant and impact investment funding for early-stage climate innovation. Both categories of support will be focused on bold climate solutions, and the grants side will also concentrate on community education and activation. Grants will go to exceptionally aligned nonprofit organizations, while impact investments will go to highly promising for-profit solutions through the private sector and climate impact funds.

Funding comes from the Cisco Foundation and will focus on:

• Identifying bold and innovative solutions that:
  • Draw down the carbon already in the atmosphere
  • Regenerate depleted ecosystems and broadly support the transition to a regenerative future
• Developing curricular initiatives to spur community engagement that can lead to measurable behavioral change and collective action

We will prioritize organizations that can achieve, measure, and report outcomes such as:

• Reduction, capture, and/or sequestering of greenhouse gas and carbon emissions
• Increased energy efficiency and improved mapping and management of natural resources, such as ecosystem restoration, forest treatments, reforestation, and afforestation that also will help repair our water cycles
• Transition to inclusive, just, coliberatory, and regenerative operating models, ways of being, and ways of organizing economies
• Creation of, and increase in, access to green jobs and job training
• Changes in community and individual behavior that lead to carbon footprint reduction, community climate resilience, and localized roadmaps to a sustainable shared climate future for all

The St. Louis Community Foundation provides grants management and administrative support for private and family foundations.  We assist foundation trustees with their grantmaking decisions in an effort to help them fund creative and sustainable programs. We provide assistance to nonprofits in navigating the diverse funding structures of our clients and provide the foundations with information about the nonprofit landscape as a whole, as well as their particular area of interest. Each foundation has its own set of funding criteria and submission deadlines. In order to be considered for a grant, we recommend that nonprofit organizations review the list below and reach out to the St. Louis Community Foundation staff to learn more about each funder’s priorities and process.

Charless Foundation

The purpose of the Charless Foundation is “to provide support to other charitable organizations providing services and assistance to promote the health, welfare, and wellness of Missouri Senior Citizens, with an emphasis, where possible, in the South St. Louis City neighborhoods.”

As part of its 2024-2028 strategic framework, the Community Foundation established two strategic priority areas: Economic Mobility and Youth Connections. The Economic Mobility priority includes grantmaking in the areas of housing, financial health, and job access and creation; these sub priority areas were identified as areas of community need and partnership opportunities, as well as high interest areas of community stakeholders.

Beginning in 2025, therefore, the Community Foundation will be aligning Charless Foundation grantmaking with our strategic priority focusing on housing. In particular, Charless Foundation will concentrate funding on assisting older adults in South St. Louis City through home repairs, modifications, weatherization, and preservation.

In recognition of the number of older adults who face food insecurity, Charless Foundation will also provide some funding for food banks and food pantries in South St. Louis city, limited to $10,000 per distribution site.

Funding

Grants may range from $10,000 to $50,000 per year. Awards for food banks and food pantries will be limited to $10,000 per year per distribution site. For new applicants, funding is available for one year. For past Charless grantees, funding is available for up to three years, with eligibility for second- and third-year funding based on annual reporting. All funded organizations will be required to complete a final report.

Purpose

To provide assistance to community-based organizations that enables them to implement community or neighborhood projects in the areas of community service, education, crime prevention, job training and physical revitalization.

General Information

Administered by the Department of Economic Development (the DED), NAP is a tax credit for contribution program created to help improve endangered communities through a public-private partnership. To administer a project, eligible nonprofits or business organizations/projects must be approved by the DED through the NAP application process.

An approved applicant is granted assistance in the form of state tax credits to help attract eligible donors who would be able to, in effect, redirect their Missouri tax dollars to an approved community development project. Under NAP, a tax credit is equal to 50% or 70% of eligible contributions. The tax credit is used to offset an eligible donor’s income tax liability and is claimed when the donor files their Missouri tax return. The credit may be used against taxes owed for the year of the donation plus five additional tax periods. This form of assistance is not a grant and does not include the transfer of tax dollars from NAP to approved organizations. Through fundraising efforts, approved organizations assume full responsibility for securing the financial support necessary to implement the NAP project. The State’s role is to approve projects, provide project oversight, and issue tax credits to eligible donors that contribute to NAP projects.

The total amount of NAP tax credits available for distribution is $16 million, consisting of an allocation of $10 million in 50% credits and $6 million in 70% credits. Seventy percent (70%) credits are reserved for projects located in a city, town or village with populations less than 15,000 or in unincorporated areas (with the exception of Clay, Jackson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties).

The maximum initial per project award is $500,000 ($350,000 in 70% credits or $250,000 in 50% credits).

About YouthBridge

We are the bridge between donors, nonprofits and the potential of our region.

At YouthBridge Community Foundation, caring for the future of St. Louis is at the heart of everything we do. We help charitably-minded individuals, families and businesses support causes that serve children and their families in our region. We work with professional advisors to offer philanthropy planning to their clients. And above all, we are building the bridge to a stronger, more vibrant community.

Progress 64 Entrepreneurial Scholarship

The Progress 64 Entrepreneurial Scholarship was established by Progress 64 West, a partnership of citizens, businesses, and civic leaders. The Scholarship aims to support, encourage, and foster young entrepreneurs who go to school and live in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, or St. Charles County. One-year scholarships of $5,000 will be awarded to winning applicants for use at vocational schools or at two-and four-year colleges and universities in the upcoming academic year.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Engineering - New Program

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Engineering course in the 2026-2027 academic year and must offer one additional course in the 2027-2028 academic year (two different courses in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Engineering courses of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Engineering - Program Expansion

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must use their grant funds to expand their existing PLTW Engineering program. Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Engineering course not previously offered, and/or adding additional class periods of an existing PLTW Engineering courses previously offered, and/or training additional teachers in PLTW Engineering courses for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grantee must complete one year of grant reporting. 

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Gateway - New Program

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit in the 2026-2027 academic year and must offer one additional unit in the 2027-2028 academic year (two different units in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Gateway units of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Gateway - Program Expansion

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must use their grant funds to expand their existing PLTW Gateway program. Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Gateway unit not previously offered, and/or adding additional class periods of an existing PLTW Gateway unit previously offered, and/or training additional teachers in a PLTW Gateway unit for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grantee must complete one year of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Launch - New Program

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Launch module in the 2026-2027 academic year and must offer one additional module for the 2027-2027 academic year (two different modules in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Launch modules of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 12,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 75 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned.

PLTW Launch - Program Expansion

Getting students excited about STEM is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. Showing students how STEM topics fit into the real world and real careers can give them the tools to embrace this vital message. Burns & McDonnell and its Foundation have partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in Burns & McDonnell communities. PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Through this partnership, Burns and McDonnell is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantees must use these grant funds to expand their program. Example expansion activities include but are not limited to adding an additional PLTW Launch module not previously offered, and/or offering existing PLTW Launch modules to more students, and/or training additional teachers in PLTW Launch Classroom Teacher Training or PLTW Launch Lead Teacher Training for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grantee must complete one year of grant reporting. 

Funding Priorities

The Roblee Foundation is committed to promoting equity in areas of race/ethnicity and gender, with a preference for early, catalytic, upstream, or movement-building approaches. 

Focus Areas

We accept funding requests in race, ethnicity, and gender equity. Within our emphasis on equity (race, ethnicity, and gender), we prefer to fund in the following areas:

Women’s Issues and Economic Empowerment

• Proposals focused on under-resourced and marginalized communities
• Strategies that simplify and streamline women’s access to support services
• Initiatives to coordinate duplicative service delivery among domestic violence programs
• Protecting a women’s right to choose
• Training, education and coaching to accelerate economic empowerment, including women who have been recently incarcerated
• Two-generational approaches that support parents and their young children

Opportunities for Youth of Color and LGBTQ+ Youth

• Proposals focused on youth ages (9-21) are preferred
• Youth mentoring programs
• Youth engagement initiatives that organize and empower youth of color at the grassroots level
• Alternatives to juvenile detention and strategies to reduce incarceration
• Support for racial justice and equitable policing
• Anti-bias/anti-racism training for middle and high school teachers in racially diverse schools
• Advocacy efforts that increase public funding for children in foster care and youth in under-resourced areas

Early Childhood Education (0-8)

• Proposals focused on under-resourced and marginalized communities
• Collaborative initiatives to expand access to high quality early childhood education
• Advocacy efforts to increase support for child care subsidies, medicaid, early childhood education, early childhood home visiting, and public schools
• Anti-bias/Anti-racism training for early childhood teachers, caregivers, and parents
• Two-generational approaches that support parents and their young children
• Evidence-based early childhood home visitation programs serving vulnerable families.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Senior and Community Center Grants

Funding awarded to support existing senior or community centers located within the City of St. Louis, that have defined geographic service areas, and currently provide programs and services for older adults. This funding is allocated to support capital or technology improvements. Organizations can apply for one-year grants up to $25,000.

Background

The St. Louis City Senior Fund was created by a voter supported ballot initiative in November 2016. The approved legislation allows the City of St. Louis to levy and collect a property tax of five cents per hundred dollars of valuation, “for the purpose of providing services to persons sixty years of age or older.”1

Our vision is for the City of St. Louis to be an aging-friendly city where older residents can age in place.

We support this vision by providing grants to local nonprofits and government entities to help older adults continue living in the home and community that best serves their needs and interests. All grants from the Senior Fund are directed to serve residents in the City of St. Louis who are 60 years or older.

Purpose of this RFP

Senior and community centers often serve as a hub for older residents to come together for activities that reflect their experience and interests and connect to resources that help them stay healthy and continue living in their home and neighborhood. This funding opportunity is intended to support centers located within the City of St. Louis, that have defined geographic service areas, have a strong focus on providing programs and services for older adults, and are open to the public.

Requests will be accepted for Capital or Technology Improvements. Funding can be requested for one-time expenses such as planning for facility improvements or repairs or purchase of equipment, technology, or other durable assets that maintain or strengthen a center’s ability to serve older adults and has a useful life of more than one year.

Planning for capital or technology improvements may involve hiring a consultant for a feasibility study, an architect for the design of significant building improvements, or other contribution towards preparation for significant building or other infrastructure changes. Facility improvements may include renovations to improve accessibility, energy-efficiency, or safety or other refurbishments of existing spaces to improve the use or aesthetics of where older residents use programs and services. Equipment may include food storage and other kitchen appliances, furniture, computers, audiovisual equipment, vehicles, or other substantial items needed to carry out services. Technology may include development of databases to manage data on clients and services, set up of a third-party database, software licenses with a useful life of more than one year, or other needs. 

Funding

Organizations can apply for one grant award up to $25,000.

• We currently have up to $125,000 budgeted for this funding opportunity.
• We anticipate grant requests will range from $5,000 to the maximum grant award depending on the scope of the request; we will likely fund six to eight grants. 
• The Senior Fund requires that applicants do not request more than 50% of their organization’s annual budget. We also prefer that applicants do not request more than 75% of the total cost, though we recognize that some requests for the purchase of equipment or facility improvements may require 100% investment due to lack of additional sources.
  • For requests that may in part benefit services for clients that are not 60 years or older and St. Louis City residents, we expect that additional funding sources will contribute to total project costs. 

Awareness. Education. Prevention.  These are three key tenets of Bayer Fund’s investments in health and wellness.  With a focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease, we provide resources to organizations dedicated to educating and/or providing services to patients, caregivers and at-risk populations.

Health & Wellness Grants

Programs that Bayer Fund will support include those that focus on patients and their families needing assistance with issues to managing cardiovascular disease and cancer. This includes education, disease awareness, and supportive services for these diseases. In areas related to cardiovascular disease, priority (though not exclusivity) will be given to charitable organizations that focus on programs and support for the African American community due to the high incidence rate of disease in this population.

Giving in this category will focus on support services such as education, disease awareness, and general access to care (e.g., housing for families traveling for cancer or heart care).

All funding requests and budgets must be for program activities and expenses that start after funding decisions are made. All programs must be completed within one year of the start date, except in limited situations where longer term programs have been agreed upon. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the size of the community, the type of programming, and the reach of the organization.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Senior Fund Background

St. Louis City Senior Fund was created by a voter supported ballot initiative in November 2016. The approved legislation allows the City of St. Louis to levy and collect a property tax of five cents per hundred dollars of valuation, “for the purpose of providing services to persons sixty years of age or older.”1

Our vision is for the City of St. Louis to be an aging-friendly city where older residents can age in place. We support this vision by providing grants to local nonprofits and government entities to help older adults continue living in the home and community that best serves their needs and interests. All grants from Senior Fund are connected to serving residents in the City of St. Louis who are 60 years or older.

Fund Defined Grants

Funding awarded to address needs of older St. Louis City residents in specific focus areas determined by Senior Fund Board based on community needs assessments and other sources. Most grant awards under this funding opportunity are awarded for a three-year time period. 

The BJC Scholars Fund was established and funded by BJC HealthCare in response to community needs identified by the Ferguson Commission. It is administered through The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis for college-bound high school seniors who reside in counties where BJC hospitals are located.

BJC HealthCare is the largest employer in the St. Louis region and one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois and mid-Missouri regions. Serving the health care needs of urban, suburban and rural communities, BJC includes 15 hospitals and multiple health service organizations. Services include inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, community health and wellness, workplace health, home health, community mental health, rehabilitation, long-term care and hospice. BJC’s nationally recognized academic hospitals, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, are affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine. BJC HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of the people and communities it serves through leadership, education, innovation and excellence in medicine.

The BJC Scholars Fund is intended to serve youth in pursuit of higher education from communities and surrounding areas in which BJC hospitals are located. Awarded students will receive a scholarship of up to $12,000 per academic year, which is renewable through graduation or up to ten semesters, provided the student continues to meet eligibility and selection criteria.

Mission & Vision

Mission

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization founded in 1920, is based upon the conviction that an educated society is essential to a healthy democracy. The Scholarship Foundation provides access to postsecondary education to members of our community who otherwise would not have the financial means to fulfill their educational goals.

Vision

The Foundation sees higher education as a catalyst, an agent of change for individuals, families, communities, and nations. We envision a community that recognizes the importance of educational attainment and assures positive educational outcomes are accessible to all regardless of economic circumstance. In our community, doors will not be closed to those who lack financial resources, and postsecondary education will be available to all with the potential to succeed.

James C. Bates & Alison Bates Charitable Lead Annuity Trust

Established by Alison Bates in 2005, the James C. Bates & Alison Bates Charitable Lead Annuity Trust provides financial assistance to financially needy students for undergraduate education. When reflecting on her reasons for creating the trust, Mrs. Bates said, “I got to thinking about how important education could be to those who want to start a business, as my husband James did, or who long for the knowledge that college would give them.” Before her death in 2009, Mrs. Bates enjoyed meeting students and knowing the difference a higher education can make for individuals and families.

The Development of One Life makes a Difference for Many

This Scholarship is established in memory of Marilyn and Morton Werner and the positive impact they had on the lives of others. Their lives exemplified kindness, community participation, leadership, entrepreneurship and advancing humanitarian values. This fund honors the ingenuity and industriousness that Marilyn and Morton brought to uplifting the lives of others.

The Egality Fund honors the role of human potential in creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive world. Egality acknowledges the imperative of dismantling systemic inequities and accelerating an ongoing leveling of society. This fund is for students who are motivated to advance systemic change through fields of study that involve civic engagement.

Marilyn and Morton Werner Egality Scholarship Fund

The Marilyn and Morton Werner Egality Scholarship Fund will be awarded to graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in fields of study which advance civic engagement (e.g. policy, law, community service, public administration, and/or leadership) who also meet one or both of the following criteria (listed in descending order of priority):

• Current or past participation in The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis’ Policy Fellowship Program
• Participation in leadership roles in campus or community activities

This opportunity is a scholarship grant that does not need to be repaid after graduation. Awards will be made to graduate students over a maximum of three years in an amount up to $10,000 annually. Undergraduate students will be awarded a maximum of $6,000 annually for up to five years.

The New Era Scholarship is a collaboration between The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis (SFSTL) and select youth development agencies and high schools, whose active participants and students are eligible to apply. These agencies and high schools include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, College Bound, Jennings High School, KIPP St. Louis, St. Louis Internship Program, The Little Bit Foundation, UMSL Bridge Program, and Wyman’s Teen Leaders Program.

This renewable scholarship of up to $12,000 annually may be used at an accredited, nonprofit two- or four-year college, university, or technical school located in the state of Missouri or a select number of institutions in Illinois.

Deaconess Foundation

Our Mission

In the spirit of our faith heritage, the mission of Deaconess Foundation is the improved health of the community and people of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Our Vision

Deaconess Foundation envisions a community that values the health and well-being of all and gives priority attention to the most invisiblized. This community only thrives if the allocation of power and distribution of resources, benefits, opportunities and burdens are not predictable by, nor predicated on race.

Nursing Scholarship Grants

The Deaconess Nursing Scholarship Program honors the nursing heritage of the Deaconess mission by supporting local students with demonstrated financial need. These grants are administered through a partnership with the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis and the St. Louis American Foundation.

Upon returning in 1946 from service in World War II, brothers Elie (Bud) and Raymond Collier had dreams of starting their own business in St. Louis. Despite facing racial and financial barriers, they built a thriving auto body business in their community, hiring and training men from the neighborhood. Generations later, Collier Autobody has been open for 77 years, in the same location for over 65 years, and is managed by Bud’s son and Ray’s grandson.

In addition to founding the autobody business, Reverend Elie Collier also went on to establish Ecclesia of Christ Cosmopolitan, a church committed to serving the community. Rev. Collier was a big proponent of training and education to earn a living wage. To honor his memory and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church, this scholarship has been created.

The Reverend Elie Collier Memorial Scholarship was established to provide support to community members and to equip students to be self-sufficient. The endowment provides grants of up to $4,500 to students seeking vocational training. These grants are renewable through graduation or for a maximum of ten semesters. Awards may be used for tuition or tools required for enrollment in an accredited, nonprofit vocational program. Scholarship funds may from time to time also be provided to cover initial career-related costs students may encounter, such as business training so that they can start their own businesses or tools and supplies necessary to practicing their trade.

The Saigh Foundation’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life in the St. Louis metropolitan region through support of charitable projects and initiatives which primarily benefit children and youth through education and health care." To that end, the Saigh Foundation has supported grants through The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis to recently graduated high school students pursuing postsecondary education since 2005.

Saigh Bravo Grants are renewable scholarship grants of $12,000 per year and are awarded to graduating high school seniors with significant financial need, who have overcome extraordinary barriers to their education.

For over 100 years, Edward Jones has worked to create a better future by providing clear and straightforward guidance to its clients as they work toward long-term financial goals. A St. Louis institution, Edward Jones is committed to having a positive community impact, especially regarding the potential of young people. The Edward Jones Girls Inc. Scholarship is a $12,000 renewable, annual grant for graduating high school seniors who have participated fully in the programming provided by Girls Inc. through each of their high school years.

This scholarship is funded by Edward Jones, Geraldine and Robert Virgil, and Penny Pennington and Mike Fidler. In the words of Robert Virgil, “Because of this scholarship, girls who otherwise would not have the opportunity, indeed who could not have imagined it possible, now will be able to go to college. Education is the surest path to a satisfying future.”

Mission & Vision

Mission

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization founded in 1920, is based upon the conviction that an educated society is essential to a healthy democracy. The Scholarship Foundation provides access to postsecondary education to members of our community who otherwise would not have the financial means to fulfill their educational goals.

Vision

The Foundation sees higher education as a catalyst, an agent of change for individuals, families, communities, and nations. We envision a community that recognizes the importance of educational attainment and assures positive educational outcomes are accessible to all regardless of economic circumstance. In our community, doors will not be closed to those who lack financial resources, and postsecondary education will be available to all with the potential to succeed.

The Edward Jones Scholarship

For over 100 years, Edward Jones has worked to create a better future by providing clear and straightforward guidance to its clients as they work toward long-term financial goals. A St. Louis institution, Edward Jones is committed to having a positive community impact, especially regarding the potential of young people. The Edward Jones Scholarship is a $12,000 renewable, annual grant for low-income students who are active participants with any of the following youth development agencies:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis
• Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis
• Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School
• College Bound-St. Louis
• Girls Inc. of St. Louis
• LifeWise StL

Pew Biomedical Scholars 

The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level.

Based on their performance during their education and training, candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to human health. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply.

Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. In evaluating the candidates, the National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal.

Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict with the Pew scholars program.

Funding

The current grant level is $300,000.

An award of $75,000 per year for four years will be provided to the sponsoring institution for use by the scholar, subject to annual review of the scholar’s progress. Grant agreements will be issued in August of the award year. The awarded funds may be used at the discretion of the Pew scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the scholar's research and as to best advance his or her research and career.

• The amount of the award that may be used for the principal investigator’s salary is limited to $12,500 per year (including benefits) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries.
• Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs).
• Should the funds not be immediately required, they may be accumulated and carried over through the grant period and, with written approval of the program office, the grant may receive a no-cost extension for one additional year (without additional funds).
• Subawards are allowed.

During the four-year grant term, program participants are required to attend an annual meeting held in March or April. All eligible expenses for attendees’ travel, lodging, and meals are paid by Pew. The meeting provides Pew scholars with an opportunity to present their research and for scientific collaboration and exchange with other scholars and members of the National Advisory Committee.

The Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (SOS) strengthens the Greater St. Louis community through informed, focused grant-making by educating and inspiring women to engage in significant giving.

SOS Commitment To Diversity, Equity And Inclusion

SOS is committed to equity, diversity, collaboration, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability because all people deserve to live full and abundant lives free of prejudice, discrimination and oppression.

We will prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in our philanthropy.

means full participation of all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender orientation, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, ability, citizenship status, language, religion, geographic location, and national origin, among other identities.

is the condition that would be achieved if one’s identity no longer predicted how one fared in life.

creates a culture and environment for diverse individuals to bring their authentic and full selves. Inclusion results when underrepresented people are seen as fully belonging in a community.

Focus Areas

Grants are not restricted to issues dealing exclusively with women, but are made to organizations focusing on at least one of the following areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services

Single-year Eligibility

Single-year grants of $5,000 – $25,000 are awarded to nonprofit organizations in the Greater St. Louis community. Applicants are encouraged to submit Letters of Inquiry for general operating support, project/program support, and capacity building. Capacity building strengthens the development of an organization’s core skills and capabilities, such as leadership, management, finance/fund-raising, programs, and evaluation, in order to build the organization’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Multi-year Eligibility

In the 2022-2023 granting cycle, SOS will be investing in one, renewable, three year accelerator grant for $33,333 a year, totaling $100,000. The application can be for a specific project or for general operating support.

Organizations that apply for multi-year grants must:

• Demonstrate a history of successful programming and financial stability
• Show collaboration with other agencies
• Exhibit strong leadership in board and organizational management
• Have a clear multi-year plan that is visionary, meets an urgent community need and significantly enhances the applicant organization’s ability to serve their mission into the future
• Demonstrate how having consistent funding will allow your agency to think big and take chances
• Have specific and numerically measurable project goals, objectives/actions and outcomes/impact described for each year
• Include a three year budget:
  • If applying for a project include a separate project budget for each year
  • If applying for general operating support, submit the organization’s budget for the current year and two subsequent years
  • Have the option to include up to 2 additional supporting documents such as an Annual Report or Strategic Plan
• Organizations that have received single-year SOS grants for the past two consecutive years CAN apply for a multi-year grant. However, organizations applying for a multi-year grant CANNOT apply for an SOS single-year grant in the same grant cycle.

Our New Funding Framework 

In 2001, the Trio board established the grantmaking framework which has effectively guided our giving for over 20 years, with the mission statement: “The Trio Foundation of St. Louis values community enhancement, fulfillment of human potential and ecological well-being. The Foundation expresses these values through supporting programs that promote independence, equality of opportunity, creativity, and environmental preservation.”

Over the last few years the Trio board undertook a planning and vision process to define a framework for Trio’s future grantmaking. The board is now putting the new framework in place that we hope will be even more responsive to community needs.

Trio will focus even more on increasing opportunity for everyone, particularly those who may experience discrimination in regard to their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and/or physical ability. In particular, we recognize the impact of racial discrimination in our community. Many of the problems Trio continually works to address through our giving will be unsolvable until racial equity is achieved.

We will also continue to strive to be empowering—creating opportunities for people to live up to their potential. Our work will be even more trust-based, collaborative, stressing the building of authentic relationships with all our partners and the community.

As we reaffirmed our values, purpose and goals, we also updated our mission statement to better reflect our vision for success:

• The Trio Foundation of St. Louis values community enhancement, fulfillment of human potential and ecological well-being.
• The Foundation expresses these values through supporting programs and organizations that promote equity of opportunity, independence, equitable access to the creative experience, ecological preservation, and environmental justice.

Our Focus Areas

Our focus will be on increasing opportunity for everyone, particularly those who may experience discrimination in regard to their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and/or physical ability. In particular, we recognize the impact of racial discrimination in our community. Many of the problems Trio continually works to address through our giving will be unsolvable until racial equity is achieved. Trio will continue to focus the vast majority of giving in the St. Louis City and immediate near counties

The new framework includes the following three strategic funding areas:

Women's Economic Empowerment

Giving women and girls in the St. Louis region the opportunities to participate in all aspects of society and care for themselves and their families in all stages of life. Trio supports all organizations that propel all women, girls, non-binary and gender-expansive people towards long term economic security in the following areas:

• Education
• Job Training
• Employment

Arts

Support for arts and cultural organizations in the St. Louis region that increase opportunities to engage with a creative experience with a focus on:

• Small and mid- sized arts organizations
• Efforts to provide equitable access to the arts for undeserved communities
• Efforts that emphasize diversity and inclusion through the arts

Environment

Provide for the betterment of the environment and ecology in the St. Louis area in the following areas:

• Biodiversity and climate change
• Environmental Education
• Environmental Justice
• Preservation of Natural Resources ( air, land, water)

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.