Boniface Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 43-1841204 · since 1999bonifacefdn.org·St. Louis·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$12.6M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $260k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$25,000

Typical grant (median)

96 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

Boniface Foundation focuses on St. Louis counties and city, funding education from middle school onwards for untapped students, behavioural health work such as addiction, abuse and neglect support and suicide prevention in area middle and high schools, and community well-being initiatives for vulnerable children and low-income communities.
It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit cannot simply submit a proposal; building a relationship or being identified by the foundation is the route in.
Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 241 grants fall between $5,000 and $260,000, with a median grant of $25,000, though the largest grant was about $6,300,000, so a typical ask in the lower range is realistic while very large requests are unusual.
A majority of its grant dollars, 69%, went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two years, suggesting it leans towards continuing existing relationships rather than funding new organisations each year.
Given the invitation-only process, organisations without an existing connection to the foundation should not expect to apply directly and should instead focus on becoming known to it through its collaborative, resource-sharing approach.

Overview

Boniface Foundation is a US private foundation based in ST Louis, MO.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Boniface Foundation supports charitable and educational activities intended to promote individual and community health and well-being in St. Louis counties and city. Its education work focuses on high-quality education from middle school onwards for untapped students, helping them progress to further education and addressing academic, social, financial and emotional needs. It supports organisations working with people affected by drug and alcohol addiction, children and families affected by abuse, neglect and emotional or behavioural issues, and suicide prevention and counselling in area middle and high schools. Its community well-being work seeks systemic improvements through initiatives serving vulnerable children and helping low-income communities become safe places with good housing and the services needed to succeed. Collaboration and shared contributions of resources are part of its approach.

Themes

Education
Behavioral health
Community well-being

Geographic Focus

Priority: St. Louis counties and city.

How to apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 69% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 241 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It works through collaboration and shared contributions of resources.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Missouri100%

Florida<1%

Ohio<1%

Illinois<1%

The largest single recipient received 40% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 69% of grant dollars went to organisations Boniface Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

96 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $25,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 96 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k3%

$1k–$2.5k4%

$2.5k–$5k2%

$5k–$10k5%

$10k–$25k29%

$25k–$50k19%

$50k–$100k18%

$100k–$250k6%

$250k–$500k7%

$500k–$1M3%

$1M and over3%

Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Saint Louis Zoo Foundation · Wildcare park
$3,000,0002024 tax year
Dogs for Our Brave · New building
$1,800,0002024 tax year
Mercy Hospital South · Cyberknife
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Beyond Housing · Normandy community development
$750,0002024 tax year
Saint Louis Community Foundation · Post-secondary scholarships for underserved students
$588,0002024 tax year
InvestSTL · Neighborhood solidarity fund & community development efforts
$500,0002024 tax year
Loyola Academy of Saint Louis · Secondary education support for the underserved
$451,5002024 tax year
Health Homes · Westflo project for street infrastructure
$375,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Tracy Mathis — Member
James G Powers — Treasurer
Daniel F Bippen — Secretary
Winthrop B Reed III — President & Chairman
Kelly Wetzler — Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$12,677,200	$14,469,850	$276,754,697	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$12,872,813	$12,567,450	$305,347,361	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$46,119,146	$12,645,765	$327,045,572	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.