← Back to US Funders Directory

World Wide Technology Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.6M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,311,239 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $100 - $625,000
  • Median Grant: $5,000
  • Number of Grants: 208-270 annually
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily St. Louis, Missouri region; grants also made in other US states

Contact Details

Address: 1 World Wide Way, St. Louis, MO 63146-3002
Phone: 314-569-7000
EIN: 26-3571211
Foundation Type: Private Corporate Foundation

Overview

The World Wide Technology Foundation was established in 2009 as the corporate foundation of World Wide Technology, Inc., a global technology solution provider founded by David L. Steward. The foundation holds approximately $16.5 million in assets and distributed over $7.3 million in grants in 2023, supporting over 200 organizations annually. The foundation focuses its giving primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area, though grants are also made to organizations in other states. The foundation aligns with World Wide Technology's broader commitment to community impact, particularly in STEM education, youth development, arts and culture, health, human services, and leadership development. The foundation filed its most recent Form 990-PF in October 2024, demonstrating ongoing active grantmaking operations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The World Wide Technology Foundation operates a single grant program with a wide range of funding levels:

  • Grant amounts range from $100 to $625,000
  • Median grant: $5,000
  • The foundation does not appear to have multiple distinct program streams; rather, it funds across several priority areas through a unified decision-making process

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations involved with:

  • Arts and Culture: Significant funding to organizations such as Jazz St. Louis ($589,588 in 2023) and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
  • Education: Particularly STEM education and youth educational initiatives
  • Youth Development: Including programs like the World Wide Technology Scholars program in partnership with Boys Hope Girls Hope
  • Health: Support for health-related organizations and disease-specific causes
  • Human Services: Community-based human service organizations
  • Leadership Development: Programs that develop leaders, particularly in underserved communities

What They Don't Fund

Based on available information:

  • Organizations outside their areas of focus
  • The foundation has stated it "will not knowingly provide support to any non-religious organizations that have a written policy of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity"

Governance and Leadership

The World Wide Technology Foundation is closely affiliated with World Wide Technology, Inc. and its founder, David L. Steward. Steward serves as Chairman and Co-Founder of World Wide Technology and is recognized as one of America's wealthiest businesspeople. He and his wife, Thelma Steward, are active philanthropists who also operate the separate Steward Family Foundation.

David Steward has demonstrated a strong commitment to education and workforce development, particularly for underrepresented communities. He committed $500,000 over five years in college scholarships for Boys Hope Girls Hope collegians with a focus on STEM career networking and leadership development, stating the importance of providing pathways to economic opportunity for young people.

Specific trustee names and officer details are available in the foundation's Form 990-PF filings but were not fully accessible in public databases at the time of this research.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to GrantExec, the World Wide Technology Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. This means the foundation operates on an invitation-only or trustee-discretion basis, identifying grant recipients through existing relationships and strategic alignment with the foundation's priorities.

Organizations cannot directly apply for funding through an online portal or submit unsolicited proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations may increase their visibility through:

World Wide Technology's STEM and Community Programs: The foundation is closely connected to WWT's broader community impact initiatives, including the STEM Student Forum (which brings together 200 high school students annually and awards more than $30,000 to local schools) and partnerships with organizations like NPower, Boys Hope Girls Hope, and the Kalisu Foundation. Organizations working in similar spaces or participating in WWT community programs may naturally come to the foundation's attention.

Board Connections and St. Louis Nonprofit Ecosystem: David Steward serves on multiple boards including United Way of Greater St. Louis, Washington University, Greater St. Louis Inc., and Concordance Academy of Leadership. Organizations connected to the St. Louis nonprofit ecosystem, particularly those where foundation leadership has board involvement, may be more likely to be considered for funding.

Strategic Partnerships in STEM and Youth Development: The foundation's documented grants show strong support for organizations working in STEM education, youth development, and economic opportunity programs. Organizations doing significant work in these areas, particularly those serving underrepresented communities in the St. Louis region, align most closely with the foundation's demonstrated giving patterns.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a private foundation calendar, filing annual Form 990-PF returns that reflect the prior year's grantmaking activity.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation made 208-270 grants annually based on recent filings, suggesting a focused portfolio of supported organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, patterns in the foundation's grantmaking reveal key characteristics of funded organizations:

Strong St. Louis Connection: The vast majority of funding goes to St. Louis-based organizations or those serving the St. Louis metropolitan area, including Boy Scouts of America-Greater St. Louis ($625,000), Variety - The Children's Charity of St. Louis ($600,000), and Jazz St. Louis ($589,588).

Alignment with STEM and Youth Focus: Organizations working in STEM education, youth development, and creating pathways to economic opportunity appear prominently in the foundation's giving. The foundation's support for programs like the World Wide Technology Scholars program demonstrates a commitment to long-term educational and professional development.

Cultural and Community Impact: Significant grants to arts and cultural organizations like Jazz St. Louis and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra show the foundation values organizations that contribute to community vibrancy and cultural enrichment.

Focus on Equity and Opportunity: The foundation's documented support for organizations serving underrepresented communities, veterans, and young people from under-resourced backgrounds suggests a priority on expanding opportunity and addressing inequality.

Size Flexibility: With grants ranging from $100 to $625,000 and a median of $5,000, the foundation supports both large established institutions and smaller community-based organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This is an invitation-only foundation; unsolicited proposals are not accepted
  • St. Louis-centric: Strong geographic preference for St. Louis metropolitan area organizations
  • STEM and youth development priorities: Organizations working in these areas receive significant support
  • Wide grant range: The foundation makes grants from very small ($100) to very large ($625,000), with most grants around $5,000
  • Corporate foundation alignment: Giving patterns align with World Wide Technology's broader corporate social responsibility initiatives in STEM, workforce development, and community engagement
  • Relationship-based giving: Foundation appears to identify recipients through board connections, corporate partnerships, and community engagement activities
  • Annual giving capacity: With over $7 million distributed annually, the foundation has substantial resources to support aligned organizations

References

← Back to US Funders Directory