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Maccarthy Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.3M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,255,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $515,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: St. Louis, Missouri region
  • Total Assets: $105,326,864 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 16620, St. Louis, MO 63105-1120

Phone: (314) 512-2253

Website: Not available

Email: Not publicly listed

Note: This is a private foundation without a public application process.

Overview

The Maccarthy Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. With total assets exceeding $105 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $8.3 million (2024), the foundation supports local cultural, educational, and community organizations. The foundation is led by three trustees from the Kindle-Taylor family: Jo Ann T. Kindle, Carolyn Kindle Betz, and Alison Hogan. Jo Ann Kindle serves as President of Enterprise Holdings Foundation, while her daughter Carolyn Kindle Betz serves as President of the Enterprise Holdings Foundation and is a prominent St. Louis philanthropist known for her civic leadership. The foundation operates with no paid staff, with grantmaking decisions made at the trustee level. Recent grants have supported arts and cultural organizations including City Academy ($515,000), St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Musicians Association ($175,000), and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis ($20,000).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees. Recent grants range from $20,000 to $515,000, with most grants falling in the six-figure range.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the Maccarthy Foundation focuses on:

  • Arts and Culture: Support for major St. Louis cultural institutions including opera, symphony, and performing arts organizations
  • Education: Funding for educational institutions, particularly those serving underserved communities
  • Youth Development: Support for organizations focused on children and young people, including Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
  • Community Development: Local St. Louis nonprofit organizations

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation without published guidelines, specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, grantmaking appears focused exclusively on established St. Louis-area organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Jo Ann T. Kindle - Trustee Jo Ann Kindle is President of Enterprise Holdings Foundation and daughter of Enterprise Holdings founder Jack Taylor. She is part of the Taylor family, one of St. Louis's most prominent philanthropic families, known for giving hundreds of millions of dollars to local institutions.

Carolyn Kindle Betz - Trustee
Carolyn Kindle Betz serves as President of Enterprise Holdings Foundation and is the granddaughter of Enterprise founder Jack Taylor. She leads the ownership group of St. Louis CITY SC, the city's MLS team, making it the first majority female-owned franchise in MLS history. She previously served as Secretary for the Crawford Taylor Foundation and chairs the Gateway Arch Park Foundation board. Under her leadership at Enterprise Holdings Foundation, the foundation has contributed more than $50 million in charitable gifts to diverse nonprofit causes.

Alison Hogan - Trustee

All trustees serve without compensation. The foundation operates with no paid employees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Maccarthy Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, with organizations identified through the trustees' existing relationships and knowledge of the St. Louis nonprofit community.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals. Organizations are selected by the trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing connections to the St. Louis community.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Since the Maccarthy Foundation does not accept public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that receive support from this foundation typically share these characteristics:

  • Established St. Louis Organizations: All identified grant recipients are well-established institutions with strong reputations in the St. Louis community
  • Cultural and Educational Focus: Strong emphasis on arts, culture, and education sectors
  • Alignment with Family Values: Connection to causes supported by the broader Taylor/Kindle family philanthropic network, which emphasizes education, youth development, and community well-being
  • Operational Excellence: Recipients tend to be organizations with proven track records and strong community impact

Organizations seeking support would need to be well-known within St. Louis philanthropic circles and have existing connections to the trustees' networks.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process - This foundation awards grants solely through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
  • St. Louis focus - All grantmaking appears concentrated in the greater St. Louis region
  • Arts and education priority - Recent grants heavily favor cultural institutions and educational organizations
  • Large grant capacity - With $8+ million in annual giving and assets over $105 million, the foundation can make substantial six-figure grants
  • Family foundation - Led by the Kindle-Taylor family, known for supporting St. Louis institutions through multiple philanthropic vehicles
  • Relationship-driven - Success depends on visibility within St. Louis philanthropic circles and connections to the trustees
  • No staff - With zero employees, all decisions are made directly by the three trustees

References

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