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Ten Talents Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.0M

Ten Talents Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,972,743 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (preselected grantees only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $116 - $1,966,061
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Missouri, Florida, and Illinois
  • Total Assets: $143,824,901 (2023)

Contact Details

Address: Saint Louis, MO 63146

Note: Contact information is not publicly listed. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

Overview

Founded in 1995, the Ten Talents Foundation is a private foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri, with substantial assets of approximately $143.8 million as of 2023. The foundation focuses its grant-making on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, primarily supporting Christian agencies, churches, and human service organizations. Operating primarily through investment income (rather than ongoing contributions), the foundation distributed approximately $2.97 million in grants across 52 awards in 2023. The foundation experienced significant growth through major contributions in 2019-2020 ($40.95M and $26.31M respectively) and has since entered a strategic distribution phase, focusing on investment management and targeted grant-making to preselected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Ten Talents Foundation operates a single grant program focused on supporting preselected organizations. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees rather than through an open application process.

Grant Range: $116 - $1,966,061

  • Recent giving shows 52 awards in 2023, 49 awards in 2022, and 71 awards in 2021
  • Average grant size varies significantly based on organizational needs and trustee priorities

Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Priority Areas

Based on IRS filings, the foundation focuses on:

  • Human Services: Supporting organizations providing community assistance and social services
  • Christian Agencies and Churches: Faith-based organizations aligned with the foundation's mission
  • Education: Educational institutions and programs
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting other charitable infrastructure and giving organizations

Geographic Focus: Organizations primarily operating in Missouri, Florida, and Illinois

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has explicitly stated that it:

  • Does not accept unsolicited requests for funds
  • Only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations
  • Does not operate an open grant application program

Governance and Leadership

The Ten Talents Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who manage the foundation's assets and make grant decisions.

Key Personnel

Paul T. Thonnard - Executive Director

  • Compensation: $202,586 (2023)
  • Responsible for overall foundation operations and strategy

Larry D. Vander Maten - Trustee

  • Serves on the board providing governance oversight

Richard Grote - Investment Director

  • Compensation: $70,302 (2023)
  • Manages the foundation's investment portfolio

Diane Hough - Senior Accountant

  • Compensation: $74,178 (2023)
  • Oversees financial operations and reporting

The foundation's trustees exercise discretion in selecting grantees, reflecting a strategic approach to philanthropy focused on organizations with which they have existing relationships or knowledge.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Ten Talents Foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's board of trustees to organizations they have previously identified and vetted.

Organizations cannot submit grant applications, letters of inquiry, or proposals to this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than an application review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as there is no public application mechanism.

Application Success Factors

Since the Ten Talents Foundation does not accept applications, the traditional success factors for grant applications do not apply. However, based on the foundation's profile, the following insights are relevant:

Foundation Giving Patterns:

  • The foundation has maintained consistent grant-making activity, distributing 52 grants in 2023, 49 in 2022, and 71 in 2021
  • Grant amounts vary widely from $116 to nearly $2 million, suggesting the foundation tailors grants to specific organizational needs
  • Focus areas include education, human services, and Christian organizations, with geographic concentration in Missouri, Florida, and Illinois

Selection Criteria (Based on Foundation Focus):

  • Organizations aligned with Christian values and mission
  • Human service providers addressing community needs
  • Educational institutions and programs
  • Organizations operating in the foundation's priority geographic areas
  • Established organizations with demonstrated track records

Strategic Approach: The foundation operates through investment income rather than ongoing fundraising, with a strategic approach to grant-making through trustee discretion. The significant assets ($143.8M) and steady annual giving suggest long-term sustainability and continued grant-making capacity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications - do not submit grant requests
  • Preselected Grantees Only: All grants are made to organizations already known to and selected by the trustees
  • Substantial Resources: With nearly $144 million in assets and approximately $3 million in annual giving, the foundation has significant capacity
  • Faith-Based Focus: Strong emphasis on Christian agencies, churches, and organizations with faith-aligned missions
  • Geographic Priorities: Focus on Missouri, Florida, and Illinois - organizations outside these states are unlikely to receive funding
  • Investment-Driven Model: The foundation operates primarily from investment returns rather than ongoing contributions, suggesting stable, long-term grant-making
  • Not Accessible to Most Organizations: Unless your organization already has a relationship with the foundation's trustees or operates within their established network, funding is not available

References

Note: The Ten Talents Foundation in Saint Louis, MO (EIN 43-1719896) is a separate entity from the Ten Talents Foundation based in Central California, which operates as a donor-advised fund intermediary. This overview pertains solely to the Saint Louis private foundation.

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