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William R. Orthwein Jr. and Laura Rand Orthwein Foundation Inc.

Annual Giving
$5.7M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.7M
Decision Time
6mo

William R. Orthwein Jr. and Laura Rand Orthwein Foundation Inc.

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,665,380 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $76.7 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 5-6 months (June deadline, decisions by November)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $656,403
  • Geographic Focus: Missouri (emphasis on St. Louis area), Tennessee, and Oklahoma
  • Number of Grants: 43 grants in 2024, 51 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Chesterfield/Saint Louis, MO
EIN: 46-4746588
Type: 501(c)(3) Private Foundation

Note: Website, email, and phone number are not publicly available. Contact information may be obtained through application guidelines or foundation databases.

Overview

The William R. Orthwein Jr. and Laura Rand Orthwein Foundation Inc. was established in 2004 by William R. Orthwein Jr. (1917-2011), a prominent St. Louis businessman who served as president and chairman of McDonnell Automation Co. and on the McDonnell Douglas board of directors for 36 years, and his wife Laura Rand Orthwein. By 2009, the foundation had grown to $33 million in assets, and as of 2024, holds approximately $76.7 million in assets.

The foundation's sole charitable activity is making grants and contributions to qualified charitable organizations, with no direct charitable activities conducted. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, and human services, primarily supporting nonprofit organizations in Missouri with an emphasis on the St. Louis area, while also funding organizations in Tennessee and Oklahoma. Notable major gifts include $2.5 million to Yale School of Medicine in 2007, $1 million to Wings of Hope in 2019, and $3 million to The Muny in December 2024 for accessibility improvements—the largest single gift from the Orthwein Foundation to The Muny.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single general grantmaking program:

  • General Support & Project Grants: $10,000 - $656,403 (typical range based on recent awards)
  • Application method: Fixed annual deadline (June 1)
  • Decision notification: By November 30

Priority Areas

Based on IRS filings and public grant announcements, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Education: Support for educational institutions and programs
  • Arts & Culture: Major support for cultural institutions (e.g., Missouri Botanical Garden, The Muny)
  • Human Services: Programs serving community needs
  • Healthcare: Medical institutions and health-related initiatives
  • Aviation & Humanitarian Aid: Support for organizations like Wings of Hope
  • Philanthropy & Grantmaking: Support for other philanthropic organizations

The foundation emphasizes accessibility and community impact, as evidenced by the $3 million commitment to improve patron accessibility at The Muny.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the United States
  • Direct charitable activities (foundation only makes grants, does not operate programs)

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a three-member board of directors:

  • Nettie O. Dodge - Director and President (receives $10,000 annual compensation)
  • Stephen C. Jones - Director and Secretary (uncompensated)
  • Elisabeth Bacon - Director and Treasurer (uncompensated)

Note: Previous board members included Laura Hartmann and Nina O. Durham who served as treasurer/directors from 2018-2022.

The foundation operates with minimal overhead, dedicating 80.6% of its expenses directly to charitable disbursements. Revenue is primarily generated through asset sales (76.5%), dividends (18.6%), and contributions (5.0%).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applicants for funding must submit a complete proposal including:

  • A completed application form
  • A two-page cover letter

Application Deadline: June 1 (annual deadline)

Note: Specific application forms and detailed submission instructions are not readily available online. Prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly or consult foundation databases for current application materials.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: June 1
  • Decision Notification: By November 30
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 5-6 months from submission to final decision

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose the number of applications received, making it impossible to calculate a precise success rate. However, the foundation makes 43-56 grants annually (43 in 2024, 51 in 2023, 43 in 2022, 56 in 2021), suggesting a selective grantmaking process.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation has not published detailed guidance on what makes applications successful, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals several key factors:

Geographic Alignment: The foundation strongly favors organizations in Missouri, particularly the St. Louis region where the Orthwein family had deep roots. Organizations in Tennessee and Oklahoma are also considered, but Missouri-based nonprofits appear to receive priority.

Established Institutions: Recent major grants have gone to well-established organizations with strong track records (The Muny, Missouri Botanical Garden, Wings of Hope, Yale School of Medicine). This suggests the foundation values organizational stability and proven impact.

Accessibility & Community Impact: The foundation's largest single gift—$3 million to The Muny for accessibility improvements—demonstrates commitment to making community resources more inclusive and accessible to all.

Connection to Family Legacy: William R. Orthwein Jr.'s career in aviation and business (McDonnell Douglas) may explain support for organizations like Wings of Hope, an aviation-based humanitarian organization.

Multi-Year Relationships: The $3 million gift to The Muny was described as "the largest single financial gift to The Muny from the Orthwein Foundation," suggesting the foundation has made multiple gifts to this organization over time. Building long-term relationships appears valuable.

Scale of Impact: The foundation makes grants ranging from $10,000 to over $650,000, indicating flexibility to support both smaller projects and major institutional initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strong geographic preference: Missouri organizations, especially in St. Louis, have a significant advantage. If outside Missouri, be in Tennessee or Oklahoma and demonstrate compelling regional impact.

  • Once-a-year opportunity: With only one annual deadline (June 1), timing is critical. Plan well in advance to ensure a complete, compelling application.

  • Long decision timeline: Expect 5-6 months between submission and notification. Factor this into your funding timeline and cash flow planning.

  • Relationship building matters: Major grants go to established institutions, many with apparent multi-year relationships with the foundation. Consider starting with a smaller request to establish a track record.

  • Emphasize accessibility and inclusion: The foundation's largest recent gift supported accessibility improvements, suggesting these values resonate with trustees.

  • Limited public information: With no website or published guidelines, gather intelligence from foundation databases, Form 990s, and networking with organizations that have received grants.

  • Moderate competition: With 43-51 grants awarded annually and assets of $76.7 million, this is a mid-sized private foundation. Competition exists but may be less intense than larger national foundations.

References

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