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Mysun Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
$50K - $1.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,000,000 - $3,400,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $1,500,000 (multi-year grants common)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Missouri/St. Louis area, with select national environmental law education initiatives

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 11356, Clayton, MO 63105-0156
Phone: 314-746-7329
EIN: 43-7037871
Website: No public website

The foundation is managed by Commerce Trust Company. Cindy Lewis at Commerce Trust Company handles administrative matters.

Overview

The Mysun Charitable Foundation was established in 1968-1969 by Myron and Sonya Glassberg to continue their legacy of environmental conservation and public service. With total assets of approximately $67.8 million, the foundation awarded $3,408,034 in charitable disbursements in 2024. The foundation operates as an independent trust managed by family members and Commerce Trust Company. The foundation's name combines "My" from Myron and "Sun" from Sunny (Sonya's nickname). The Glassbergs, both passionate conservationists, were instrumental in major environmental efforts including the preservation of the Meramec River in Missouri. Their children and grandchildren continue this legacy through selective, high-impact grants focusing on environmental conservation, education, and community access to natural spaces, particularly in the St. Louis region where the family built their philanthropic legacy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes substantial, multi-year grants rather than numerous small grants. Recent patterns show:

  • Multi-Year Conservation Grants: $1,000,000 - $1,500,000 over 3-5 years for major environmental restoration projects
  • Environmental Law Education Endowments: Endowed chairs and fellowships at law schools with strong environmental law clinics
  • Community Greenways/Trails: $1,000,000 challenge grants for trail development and public access improvements
  • Scholarship Programs: Partnership funding for education initiatives

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation & Restoration

  • Forest and woodland habitat restoration
  • Native habitat preservation
  • Conservation area protection
  • Ecological assessment and long-term restoration strategies

Environmental Justice & Education

  • Clinical legal education in environmental law
  • Environmental justice clinics serving low-income communities
  • Fellowships for environmental law students
  • Endowed chairs in environmental law at major law schools

Parks, Trails & Public Access

  • Greenway and trail development
  • Park improvements and accessibility
  • Community recreation spaces that connect nature and education

Scholarship & Education Programs

  • Programs serving underrepresented students
  • Education initiatives with environmental or community focus

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's grant history suggests they do not fund:

  • General operating support for large organizations
  • One-time events or short-term programs
  • Projects outside their core focus areas of environment and education
  • Organizations without demonstrated long-term impact potential
  • Projects lacking connection to St. Louis region (with rare exceptions for major environmental law education initiatives)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Sally Sands - Board member, daughter of Myron and Sonya Glassberg, retired educator
  • Dr. Richard "Dick" Glassberg - Son of Myron and Sonya Glassberg
  • Adam Glassberg - Trustee (likely grandson based on naming patterns)
  • Michael D. Mulligan - Trustee, attorney with Lewis Rice law firm
  • Commerce Trust Company - Corporate trustee providing fiduciary and asset management services (represented by individuals who receive compensation for trust services, approximately $451,825 in 2024)

Leadership Perspective

Sally Sands (Board Member): "The project preserves our family legacy and commitment to St. Louis... [We prioritize] opportunities at the intersection of environment and education."

Adam Glassberg (Trustee): "We are especially pleased to partner with a law school that places such a strong emphasis on clinical practice."

The board maintains strong ties to the Glassberg family's original vision, emphasizing projects that preserve ecosystems, expand public access to nature, and support environmental justice through education.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not have a public application process. According to aggregated nonprofit data, while the foundation technically "accepts applications," there is no published application form, guidelines, or portal. Grants appear to be primarily trustee-directed, with the foundation identifying and approaching organizations aligned with their mission.

The foundation makes very selective grants—recent data indicates approximately 1 major grant commitment annually, though this may represent multi-year commitments rather than new grants each year.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on specific patterns in the foundation's grant-making:

  • Long-term relationships matter: Forest Park Forever received initial support starting in 2015 before receiving a major $1.5 million commitment in 2020, demonstrating the foundation's preference for sustained partnerships with proven organizations
  • Family connections to St. Louis: The Glassberg family has deep roots in St. Louis (Myron graduated from Washington University in 1927), and many grants honor the family's legacy in the region
  • Named recognition opportunities: Several grants have resulted in named facilities (Mysun Charitable Foundation Trailhead, Myron and Sonya Glassberg Chair in Environmental Law, Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area)
  • Projects connecting environment and education: Board member Sally Sands explicitly stated this intersection represents the foundation's highest priorities
  • Commerce Trust Company relationship: As the foundation's corporate trustee, Commerce Trust Company may be aware of worthy projects, though there is no indication they accept unsolicited proposals

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Based on grant patterns, the foundation appears to conduct due diligence over extended periods before making major commitments.

Success Rates

Not available. Given the highly selective nature (approximately 1 major grant annually) and lack of public application process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to lack of public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept public applications, this section focuses on patterns that characterize successful grant recipients:

Characteristics of Funded Projects:

  1. Long-term, transformative impact: Grants are substantial ($1 million+) and designed to enable major initiatives rather than supplement existing budgets

    • Example: The $1.5 million Kennedy Forest grant doubled Forest Park Forever's Nature Reserve crew and enabled expansion from 20.7 to 22.1 acres under restoration

  2. Environmental conservation with community benefit: Projects must preserve or restore natural resources while creating public access and educational opportunities

    • Example: Gravois Greenway's $1 million challenge grant created infrastructure (drinking fountains, restrooms, bike stations) alongside habitat restoration

  3. Alignment with family legacy: Many grants explicitly honor Myron and Sonya Glassberg's commitment to environmental conservation and St. Louis

    • Sally Sands noted the Kennedy Forest project "preserves our family legacy and commitment to St. Louis"

  4. Environmental justice focus: Recent grants emphasize serving underserved communities

    • Miami Environmental Justice Clinic fellowship works specifically with low-income communities
    • Scholarship programs target underrepresented students

  5. Clinical and practical education: Education grants focus on hands-on, real-world application rather than theoretical study

    • Adam Glassberg praised UC Irvine Law's "strong emphasis on clinical practice"

  6. Measurable, specific outcomes: Funded projects have clear, quantifiable goals (acres restored, miles of trail created, number of students served)

  7. St. Louis connection: Vast majority of grants benefit the St. Louis region, reflecting the Glassbergs' hometown commitment

What Makes Organizations Stand Out:

  • Proven track record with demonstrated capacity for large-scale projects
  • Willingness to provide naming opportunities honoring the Glassberg family
  • Multi-year implementation plans showing sustainability beyond grant period
  • Partnerships and matching funds that leverage foundation investment
  • Ability to articulate environmental AND educational/access benefits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not an application-based foundation - They identify and approach organizations rather than reviewing unsolicited proposals. Building long-term visibility in St. Louis environmental/conservation circles is essential.

  • Think big and long-term - The foundation makes transformative gifts ($1M+) for major initiatives, not small grants for modest projects. Projects should have 5+ year horizons and clear legacy potential.

  • Emphasize the environment-education intersection - Board leadership explicitly prioritizes projects at this nexus. Pure conservation or pure education projects are less aligned than integrated approaches.

  • St. Louis connections are crucial - Nearly all grants benefit the St. Louis region. National organizations should demonstrate strong St. Louis impact or focus on environmental law education with clear Glassberg family relevance.

  • Multi-year relationships precede major grants - Forest Park Forever received smaller grants starting in 2015 before their $1.5M commitment in 2020. Initial smaller partnerships may lead to transformative support.

  • Environmental justice matters - Recent grants emphasize serving low-income communities and expanding access, not just wilderness preservation.

  • Honor the Glassberg legacy - Projects that explicitly connect to Myron and Sonya's values (conservation, public service, community access to nature) and offer naming opportunities appear more successful.

References

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