Harlene and Marvin Wool Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 46-4519154
• Annual Giving: Approximately $1.7 million (2022)
• Decision Time: Approximately 3 months (September 3 deadline, notification by November 30)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
• Average Grant: $29,028
• Geographic Focus: Greater St. Louis area (preference), but supports programs throughout the United States
• Total Assets: Over $30 million

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
The Harlene and Marvin Wool Foundation
c/o Plancorp, LLC
Jacob Malina
540 Maryville Centre Drive, Suite 105
St. Louis, MO 63141

Phone: 636-532-7824

Email: woolfoundation@plancorp.com

Website: https://thewoolfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 2013 by Marvin and Harlene Wool, the Harlene and Marvin Wool Foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of this St. Louis business family who believed strongly in giving back to their community. Marvin Wool, a St. Louis University graduate who built successful businesses including M-R Plastics and Coatings and Dash Multi-Corp, passed away in 2014, followed by Harlene in 2018. Their three adult children—Sandy Wool, Deni Wool, and Amye Wool Carrigan—serve as trustees and continue their parents' mission to support organizations making a positive impact on the St. Louis community.

The foundation distributes funds to non-profit organizations that enrich lives through health, education, social services, and the arts. With assets exceeding $30 million, the foundation made 24 grants in recent years and funded 50 charities in 2022. The foundation primarily focuses on community programs that transform the lives of children and adults, with particular emphasis on supporting children undergoing treatment for cancer and blood-related diseases. Notably, one-third of all foundation giving goes to child-related charities, reflecting the family's commitment to family and child empowerment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation considers three types of grant requests:

• Operational Funding: Support for general operations and ongoing programs
• Specific Programs or Projects: Funding for designated initiatives or new programs
• Capital Campaigns: Support for building projects, equipment purchases, and other capital needs

Grant Ranges by Focus Area:

• Arts and Culture: $10,000 - $15,000 (average: $13,333)
• Education and Research: $50,000 (average: $50,000)
• Health and Social Services: Variable (average across all grants: $29,028)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses support on four key areas:

1. Education
Support for educational programs that seek excellence in teaching and research, with historical connections to St. Louis University

2. Health and Wellness

• Programs expanding access to better health care
• Initiatives addressing gaps in care for the underserved St. Louis community
• Support for children undergoing treatment for cancer and blood-related diseases
• Cardiac care and rehabilitation programs

3. Family and Child Empowerment

• Organizations supporting family and child empowerment efforts
• Programs helping children thrive as part of caring and nurturing families
• Foster care and child welfare initiatives
• One-third of all foundation giving goes to child-related charities

4. Cultural Engagement

• Arts organizations
• Museums and cultural institutions
• Programs enriching community cultural life

Special Emphasis:
The foundation believes in helping the economically disadvantaged and those in need, supporting St. Louis area organizations that empower and assist people to help themselves.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation:

• Gives preference to programs operating in the Greater St. Louis Area (though programs throughout the United States are eligible)
• Only funds 501(c)(3) organizations

Recent Grant Recipients (2020)

• St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum
• Foster Care Coalition of Greater St. Louis
• Friends of Kids With Cancer
• The Miriam Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House ($20,000-$24,999 as "Heart of Courage" donor)
• Schwab Charitable Fund
• Operation Food Search (2024)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is managed by three trustees, all children of the founders:

Sandy (Sandon) Wool
Longtime board member and treasurer of Next Step. According to Sandy, the foundation gave funds to 50 charities in 2022, with a full third going to child-related organizations. He describes the foundation's collaborative approach: "We each bring ideas for different organizations that we know of personally to the group. In our discussion, one of us might say, 'Here's an organization that I think is worthy of our support.' And we typically are unanimous in our decision to either give or not give."

Deni (Denise) Wool
Volunteer for the Little Bit Foundation and the St. Louis Area Food Bank. She notes that the trustee role "has brought us a lot closer for a common purpose, and the purpose is to do good. To give away money to people who need it in the community." Deni characterizes their work simply: "We just say that we get together to give away money."

Amye Wool Carrigan
Has served on the board of Jewish Family Services, bringing her board experience and social services perspective to the foundation's grant-making.

All three trustees are members of Temple Emmanuel and dedicate time to their roles without compensation. Their collaborative, consensus-based approach to decision-making ensures that grants reflect shared family values and commitment to community impact.

Family Legacy

The Wool name appears throughout St. Louis on facilities and programs honoring Marvin and Harlene's philanthropy, including:

• The Harlene and Marvin Wool Ballroom at the Busch Student Center at St. Louis University
• The Marvin Wool Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield
• The Harlene and Marvin Wool Endowed Professorship in Cardiology at St. Louis University (created in appreciation of care Marvin received from an SLU cardiologist)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Submission:
Applications may be submitted via email or mail:

• Email: woolfoundation@plancorp.com (Word or PDF format)
• Mail: The Harlene and Marvin Wool Foundation, c/o Plancorp, LLC, Jacob Malina, 540 Maryville Centre Drive, Suite 105, St. Louis, MO 63141

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must have 501(c)(3) determination from the US Internal Revenue Service
• Programs must operate within the United States
• Preference given to programs focusing on the Greater St. Louis Area

Application Materials:
Download the grant application from https://thewoolfoundation.org/grant-applications/

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadline: September 3 (for consideration in the current calendar year)
• Late Applications: Applications received after September 3 will be considered for the following year
• Notification: Applicants will be notified in writing of acceptance or decline by November 30 of the current year
• Processing Time: Approximately 3 months from deadline to notification

Success Rates

While specific acceptance percentages are not publicly available, the foundation made 24 grants in recent years and funded 50 charities in 2022. The foundation welcomes applications from any 501(c)(3) organization striving to make a positive impact in the community.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for declined applicants is not publicly available. Applicants may contact the foundation directly at woolfoundation@plancorp.com for guidance.

Reporting Requirements

All applicants that receive grant funding for specific projects, programs, or capital funding will be expected to submit a report:

• Timing: One year after the grant is received OR when the project is completed, whichever comes first
• Content: Reports should detail use of funds, compliance with grant terms, and progress toward achieving grant purposes

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Collaborative Decision-Making: The trustees bring ideas for organizations they know personally and make unanimous decisions, suggesting that personal connections or demonstrated community impact matter.

Focus on Children: With one-third of all giving dedicated to child-related charities, organizations serving children have strong alignment with foundation priorities.

Empowerment Philosophy: The foundation seeks to support "St. Louis area organizations that empower and assist people to help themselves," not just provide temporary relief.

Serving the Economically Disadvantaged: The foundation explicitly states they "believe in helping the economically disadvantaged and those in need."

Health Care Access: Programs that expand access to better health care and address gaps in care for the underserved are particularly aligned with the foundation's health and wellness focus.

Examples of Funded Work

Organizations that have received funding demonstrate the foundation's priorities:

• Friends of Kids With Cancer and Ronald McDonald House align with the focus on children facing health challenges
• Foster Care Coalition of Greater St. Louis demonstrates support for family and child empowerment
• St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum reflects cultural engagement priorities
• The Miriam Foundation and Operation Food Search address basic needs of economically disadvantaged populations

Strategic Considerations

Personal Connection Matters: According to Sandy Wool, trustees "bring ideas for different organizations that we know of personally to the group," suggesting that organizations known to the trustees or their networks may have advantages.

Strong Community Impact: The foundation seeks organizations "striving to make a positive impact in the community" and those that help people "help themselves."

Preference for St. Louis Area: While the foundation accepts applications from programs throughout the United States, preference is given to Greater St. Louis Area organizations.

Clear Outcomes: The requirement to report on progress toward achieving grant purposes suggests the foundation values measurable outcomes and accountability.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Align with child-focused priorities: With one-third of all grants going to child-related charities, organizations serving children have significant alignment with foundation values
• Submit by the annual deadline: Mark September 3 on your calendar—late applications wait a full year for consideration
• Emphasize empowerment over dependency: Frame programs around helping people help themselves rather than creating ongoing dependency
• Demonstrate service to economically disadvantaged populations: The foundation explicitly seeks to help those in need and underserved communities
• Focus on St. Louis area impact: While other locations are eligible, Greater St. Louis area programs receive preference
• Consider the family's personal connections: The foundation trustees value organizations they know personally and make unanimous decisions, suggesting relationship-building and community visibility matter
• Expect to report on outcomes: Plan for meaningful outcome reporting one year post-grant or at project completion

References

• Harlene and Marvin Wool Foundation official website: https://thewoolfoundation.org (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Grant Applications page: https://thewoolfoundation.org/grant-applications/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• CauseIQ Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/harlene-and-marvin-wool-foundation,464519154/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• St. Louis Jewish Light, "The Story Behind The Name: The Wool family's philanthropy": https://stljewishlight.org/top-story/the-story-behind-the-name-the-wool-familys-philanthropy/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "After founding a successful company, Marvin Wool donated millions to St. Louis organizations": https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/obituaries/after-founding-a-successful-company-marvin-wool-donated-millions-to/article_a75a131c-41f8-5e37-ac22-88ae4a7e31c3.html (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Grantable Foundation Profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/harlene-marvin-wool-foundation-us-foundation-464519154 (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/464519154 (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=2993679 (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Ronald McDonald House Charities St. Louis Heartbeat Newsletter, 2020-2021 editions (Cornerstone Society Donors listing)