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St. Louis Community Foundation Incorporated

Annual Giving
$86.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

St. Louis Community Foundation Incorporated

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $86.4 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $450+ million in charitable fund assets
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000+ (varies by program)
  • Number of Awards: 202 grants in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area (Missouri and Illinois)
  • Total Distributed (5 years): $470 million

Contact Details

Website: stlgives.org

Grant Inquiries: grants@stlgives.org

Scholarship Inquiries: scholarships@stlgives.org or 314-880-4960

Grant Portal: www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=stlgives

Location: St. Louis, MO (Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area)

Overview

Founded in 1915, the St. Louis Community Foundation is the second-oldest community foundation in the United States and has distributed over $1 billion since 1974. The Foundation serves as a steward for over 800 charitable funds totaling more than $450 million in assets. Their mission is to inspire purposeful philanthropy that connects community and donors to build a more equitable and vibrant region. In 2023, the Foundation granted $86.4 million to nonprofits, scholarship recipients, and employee care programs, with 81% of funds remaining in the Greater St. Louis area. Under the leadership of President & CEO Dr. Kelvin Adams (who joined in August 2023), the Foundation's 2024-2028 strategic plan emphasizes their role as a philanthropic connector encouraging dialogue and coordination to effect systemic change. The Foundation concentrates discretionary grantmaking in two priority areas: Economic Mobility and Youth Connections.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation manages multiple grant programs through both its discretionary funds and associated foundations:

Discretionary Grant Programs:

  • Economic Mobility - Workforce Development: $25,000 - $50,000 grants supporting sustained, living-wage employment for adults facing barriers (periodic initiatives)
  • Partnerships for Youth Success: Grants for organizations partnering with K-12 schools and early childhood centers to improve social-emotional and academic outcomes (two-step application process)
  • Financial Education and Asset Building: Programs providing financial education combined with access to financial products for low-to-moderate income individuals (two-step application)

Associated Foundation Programs:

  • Pettus Foundation: $5,000 - $25,000 (invitation-only, twice yearly) - Focuses on workforce development, youth development, and education
  • Charless Foundation: $5,000 - $25,000 single-year grants for nonprofits serving economically insecure seniors in South St. Louis City
  • Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust (EPHT): Grants for primary care, chronic disease, and mental health services for underserved communities (separate application at www.epht.org)
  • Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund: Three-year accelerator grants of $33,333/year ($100,000 total) for small nonprofits; has distributed over $3.4 million since 2006
  • Gateway Regional Environment Fund: Projects reducing the St. Louis region's carbon footprint (currently not accepting proposals)

Priority Areas

Core Focus Areas:

  • Education (early childhood, K-12 public schools, post-secondary preparation)
  • Healthcare (primary care, chronic disease management, mental health services)
  • Workforce development (job training, technical skills, soft skills development)
  • Youth development (workforce readiness, social-emotional learning)
  • Environment (carbon footprint reduction, sustainability)
  • Arts and culture
  • Job skills and economic mobility
  • Equity and inclusion
  • Neighborhood revitalization

Geographic Priority:

  • Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area (Missouri and Illinois bistate region)
  • High-need zip codes particularly prioritized for Economic Mobility initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Pettus Foundation specifically excludes:

  • Technology projects
  • Advocacy programs
  • Research initiatives
  • Systems-level initiatives (focuses on direct services)
  • Organizations without evidence of stable governance, solid financials, and multiple funders

Charless Foundation food bank grants:

  • Maximum $10,000 per site

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Dr. Kelvin Adams joined as President & CEO in August 2023, bringing 14 years of experience as Superintendent of Saint Louis Public School District. He succeeded Amelia Bond, who retired after leading the organization.

Board Chair: Shelley Seifert

Board Members Include:

  • Carla Jackson - Sr. VP, Senior Portfolio Manager at First Bank
  • Nina Leigh Krueger - CEO of Nestlé Purina U.S.
  • James D. Maher - Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Archford Capital
  • Michael Whittle - Vice President and General Counsel of the St. Louis Cardinals
  • Clint Zweifel - President and CEO of Northern Trust – Missouri

Key Staff:

  • Dr. Jackson-Jennings - Managing Director for the Regional Response Team
  • Ellen Vietor - Scholarship Manager

Organizational Structure: The Foundation operates with approximately 38 employees managing a $500 million organization serving over 800 charitable funds.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Discretionary Grant Programs: Most grant opportunities use a two-step application process:

  1. Letter of Interest (LOI) submitted first
  2. Full Application invited only for organizations moved to the second stage

Application Portal: Access applications at www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=stlgives

Application Methods Vary by Program:

  • Rolling basis: Some programs accept applications throughout the year
  • Fixed deadlines: Most discretionary programs operate on specific cycles with published deadlines
  • Invitation-only: Pettus Foundation accepts applications twice yearly by invitation only after initial inquiry

Making Initial Contact: Organizations should reach out to St. Louis Community Foundation staff at grants@stlgives.org to learn about each funder's specific priorities and process before applying. Include the specific RFP name in your subject line (e.g., "Financial Health RFP" or "Partnerships for Youth Success").

Pettus Foundation Process:

  1. Submit inquiry to St. Louis Community Foundation
  2. If deemed a potential fit, Foundation requests a letter of intent
  3. May include a Trustee site visit
  4. Final step: Submit customized version of Missouri Common Grant Application 2.0

Pre-Application Support: The Charless Foundation offers office hours on multiple dates for applicants to ask questions about their RFP before submission.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program and initiative. The Foundation administers its Discretionary Grant Program through periodic initiatives, with each having its own timeline. Specific decision timeframes are published with each Request for Proposals (RFP).

Notification: Applicants are typically notified via email through the grant portal system.

Success Rates

In 2023, the Foundation made 202 awards from its various programs. Application success rates vary by program and are not publicly disclosed. The competitive nature of funding varies significantly:

  • Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund: Highly competitive three-year accelerator grants (only 1 renewable grant of $100,000 total in 2022-2023 cycle, though smaller grants also awarded)
  • Multiple Programs: The Foundation manages grants for numerous independent foundations, each with different acceptance rates

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented and vary by individual foundation. Organizations should contact grants@stlgives.org to inquire about reapplication opportunities after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Read RFPs Carefully: The Foundation emphasizes that each Request for Proposals contains Letter of Interest and application questions along with scoring criteria used by reviewers. Applicants should study these carefully to understand how their application will be evaluated.

Answer All Questions Thoroughly: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Answer all questions that apply to your organization, even if not marked "required." The Foundation uses specific scoring rubrics for evaluation.

Demonstrate Financial Stability: The Pettus Foundation specifically requires "evidence of stable governance, solid financials, and multiple funders" for programs they support. This suggests the Foundation values organizations with diversified funding streams and strong financial management.

Show Multiple Funding Partners: Applications demonstrating multiple funding partners and match or challenge grant opportunities are particularly favored by trustees, especially for the Pettus Foundation.

Geographic Alignment: For programs prioritizing high-need areas, demonstrate clear connection to the communities served. The Economic Mobility - Workforce Development program specifically targets residents in high-need zip codes.

Evidence-Based Approaches: For youth programs, applications should demonstrate measurable improvements in social-emotional and academic outcomes through partnerships with K-12 schools and early childhood centers.

Contact Staff Before Applying: The Foundation strongly recommends that nonprofit organizations reach out to staff to learn more about each funder's priorities and process before submitting applications. This personal connection can help ensure alignment and avoid wasted effort.

Focus on Direct Services: Some foundations (like Pettus) prioritize direct services and small capital improvements over advocacy, research, or systems-level initiatives. Tailor your approach to match the specific foundation's philosophy.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two-step process: Most programs require a Letter of Interest before inviting full applications - invest time in a compelling LOI to advance
  • Study scoring criteria: RFPs include specific scoring rubrics - align your responses directly to these evaluation criteria
  • Build relationships first: Contact grants@stlgives.org before applying to ensure fit and understand nuances of each funder's priorities
  • Demonstrate financial diversity: Show stable governance, solid financials, and multiple funding sources - single-funder dependence is a red flag
  • Local focus matters: 81% of grants stay in Greater St. Louis - emphasize your regional impact and connection to the bistate metropolitan area
  • Match funder philosophy: Some foundations (Pettus) fund direct services only; others (EPHT) focus on healthcare access - don't force fit your program to the wrong funder
  • Leverage office hours: When available (like Charless Foundation), use pre-application office hours to clarify questions and strengthen your submission
  • Incomplete = rejected: This Foundation will not consider incomplete applications - triple-check that all relevant questions are answered before submission

References

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