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Firefly Scientists Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.2M

Firefly Scientists Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,833,238 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $74.9 million
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,151,800
  • Average Grant Activity: 46-49 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota, Oregon, and California
  • Application Process: Preselected organizations only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: 7777 Bonhomme Ave, Suite 2001, Saint Louis, MO 63105-1946

EIN: 47-2340029

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or inquiries.

Overview

The Firefly Scientists Foundation was established in 2015 as a private grantmaking foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri. With assets of approximately $74.9 million and annual charitable disbursements of $3.8 million, the foundation operates under the mission of "helping make every life a story worth telling through expanded programs in experiential enrichment, education, and entrepreneurial training for all ages and abilities." Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 248 individual grants totaling $25.8 million, focusing its grantmaking efforts on education, human services, and philanthropy across Minnesota, Oregon, and California. The foundation takes a trust-based philanthropy approach, proactively identifying and selecting organizations to support through trustee discretion rather than accepting open applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Firefly Scientists Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Size Range: $5,000 - $1,151,800

Annual Activity:

  • 2024: 49 grants awarded
  • 2023: 46 grants awarded
  • 2022: 24 grants awarded

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses its grantmaking on three primary areas:

Education: Supporting programs that provide experiential enrichment and educational opportunities for all ages and abilities. This aligns with President Melanie Broida Werl's background in science journalism and educational training.

Human Services: Funding organizations that serve vulnerable populations, particularly programs benefiting children with disabilities and special needs.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting the nonprofit sector infrastructure and other philanthropic organizations.

Geographic Focus: The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Minnesota, Oregon, and California, though it is based in Missouri.

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations outside their trustee-identified network
  • Organizations outside their primary geographic focus areas (Minnesota, Oregon, California)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Melanie Broida Werl, President
Melanie Broida Werl serves as President and leads the foundation's strategic direction. Her career evolved from electrical engineering studies at Stanford University to technical writing at Tektronix, Inc., technical training at Honeywell's military avionics division, and homeschooling before becoming President of the foundation. She completed post-graduate work in science journalism at the University of Minnesota and currently resides in Minnesota. Her vision for the foundation is "helping make every life a story worth telling through expanded programs in experiential enrichment, education, and entrepreneurial training for all ages and abilities."

Daniel Werl, Secretary
Daniel Werl serves as Secretary of the foundation with compensation of $80,000 (2024).

Miriam G. Wilhelm, Trustee
Serves on the board of directors providing governance oversight.

Scott Mortensen, Trustee & Administrative Officer
Serves as both trustee and handles administrative functions for the foundation.

The foundation appears to be managed through Wilhelm & Wilhelm.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Firefly Scientists Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee Discretion: The board of directors identifies and selects organizations to support
  • Invitation Only: Organizations are approached by the foundation rather than applying
  • Pre-existing Relationships: The foundation works with organizations already known to trustees

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's trust-based philanthropy approach means getting noticed requires indirect strategies:

Geographic Connection: The foundation's leadership has strong ties to Minnesota (where President Melanie Broida Werl resides), Oregon, and California. Organizations in these states working in education, human services, or serving children with disabilities may align with the foundation's demonstrated interests.

Personal Mission Alignment: The foundation appears to have personal significance tied to supporting children with disabilities, particularly given the connection to the Pookie Bear Foundation (named in memory of Melanie Broida Werl's son Jeremy, who attended Lubavitch Early Childhood Living & Learning Center). Organizations serving children with special needs and experiential education programs may resonate with the foundation's mission.

Sector Connections: As the foundation is managed through Wilhelm & Wilhelm and based in Missouri while funding in other states, connections through the philanthropic sector, particularly other foundations and nonprofit infrastructure organizations, may provide networking opportunities.

Scientific and Educational Focus: Given President Werl's background in electrical engineering, science journalism, and technical training, organizations focused on STEM education, experiential learning, and entrepreneurial training for diverse abilities may align with the foundation's values.

Decision Timeline

As grants are made through trustee discretion rather than formal application cycles, there are no published decision timelines. Grants appear to be awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year based on trustee meetings and identified opportunities.

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 49 grants in 2024 and 46 grants in 2023 from a pool of preselected organizations only. There is no public success rate as the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's values and patterns can help organizations understand alignment:

Mission Alignment with "Every Life a Story Worth Telling": The foundation's guiding principle emphasizes creating opportunities for all people, regardless of ability, to live meaningful lives. Organizations whose work helps individuals develop their potential through experiential learning and enrichment programs align with this vision.

Focus on Experiential Education: The foundation's stated commitment to "experiential enrichment, education, and entrepreneurial training for all ages and abilities" suggests value placed on hands-on, practical learning experiences rather than traditional academic approaches.

Inclusive Programming: The emphasis on "all ages and abilities" indicates strong support for organizations serving people with disabilities and creating truly inclusive programs.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation's trust-based approach suggests they prefer building ongoing partnerships with organizations rather than one-time grants, allowing for sustained impact over time.

Geographic Considerations: While based in Missouri, the foundation's primary grantmaking occurs in Minnesota, Oregon, and California - states with personal significance to the leadership.

Range of Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $5,000 to over $1 million, the foundation appears willing to support both small-scale projects and major initiatives, suggesting flexibility based on organizational need and project scope.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations - do not submit unsolicited proposals or inquiries
  • Trust-Based Philanthropy: The foundation proactively identifies grantees through trustee networks and relationships rather than competitive applications
  • Geographic Focus: Priority given to Minnesota, Oregon, and California despite Missouri headquarters
  • Mission-Driven Grantmaking: "Every life a story worth telling" emphasizes experiential enrichment, education, and entrepreneurial training for all abilities
  • Flexible Grant Sizes: Awards range from $5,000 to over $1 million, with 46-49 grants made annually totaling $3.8-4.4 million
  • Focus Areas: Education, human services (particularly for children with disabilities), and philanthropic infrastructure
  • Personal Significance: Leadership has deep connections to special needs education and experiential learning based on personal experience
  • Relationship-Based: Building visibility in the Minnesota, Oregon, and California nonprofit sectors - particularly in disability services and experiential education - may create indirect pathways to foundation awareness

References

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